Freetown, Sierra Leone – August 22, 2023. In accordance with Section 119(2) of the 1991 Constitution, the Auditor-General of Sierra Leone is empowered to scrutinize the Public Accounts of Sierra Leone and all public entities. This includes government offices, courts, universities, and other institutions funded by public funds.
Section 86(1) of the Public Financial Management Act 2016 underscores the obligation for entities to provide their annual financial statements to the Auditor-General for audit within three months of the closing of a financial year. Additionally, Section 118(1)(b) of the same Act mandates the audit of public enterprises’ financial statements by the Auditor-General or an appointed auditor.
The Acting Auditor-General has raised concerns about several institutions that have failed to meet their obligation of submitting financial statements for auditing. Notable among these institutions are:
- Sierra Leone Housing Corporation – Absence of 2022 financial statement
- Electoral Commission Sierra Leone – Absence of 2022 financial statement
- Sierra Block Concrete Products Limited – Absence of 2022 financial statement
- Sierra Leone State Lottery Company Limited – Absence of 2022 financial statement
- Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation – Absence of 2022 financial statement
- Sierra Leone Telecommunication Company – Missing financial statements for 2020-2022
- National Investment Board – Financial statements missing since its formation
- National Asset Commission – Financial statements missing since its formation
This failure to provide financial statements for audit indicates a substantial amount of money generated or allocated by these institutions may not be accounted for. These oversights raise questions about financial transparency and accountability in Sierra Leone’s public sector.
