Freetown, Sierra Leone — Six prominent organizations in the country have formally requested access to the final report from the tribunal investigating the suspended Auditor General, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce, and her Deputy, Mr. Tamba Momoh.
In a statement released on Tuesday 30 July 2023, the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), 50/50 Women’s Group, Eminent Women Peace Mediators Sierra Leone (EWPM-SL), and the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy (ILRAJ) called on the Secretary to the President and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to provide the comprehensive report.
“Access to this report is crucial for upholding transparency, accountability, and public trust in both government and judicial systems,” said the organizations in their statement. “The public’s right to information is a cornerstone of democracy, and we are dedicated to ensuring its preservation.”
The request is grounded in the Sierra Leone Right to Access Information Act of 2013, which guarantees public access to government-held documents.
The organizations are urging a swift and thorough response from the Office of the President and the Attorney General.
About the Organizations:
– BAN
BAN is composed of local and international organisations such as Christian Aid Sierra Leone (CASL), Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Western Area Budget Education Advocacy Network (WABEAN), ActionAid Sierra Leone (AASL), Talking Drum Studio (TDS) and Transparency International Sierra Leone (TISL).
– 50/50 Women’s Group
The 50/50 Group Sierra Leone is a non-partisan organization advocating for equal rights and political participation of women in Sierra Leone.
– Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ)
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) is the umbrella membership body for the media in Sierra Leone established to protect and promote free speech and a free press and hold public officials accountable.
– ILRAJ
An independent non-partisan public policy research and educational think tank established to explain, monitor and contribute to the protection of human rights and the rule of law.
– Citizens’ Barray
Citizens’ Barray promotes civic empowerment and active civic engagement to advance social justice in Sierra Leone.
– Eminent Women Peace Mediators-Sierra Leone (EWPM-SL)
The (EWPM-SL) evolved from The Women’s Situation Room (WSR) that The Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) for Leadership and Women’s Empowerment in Liberia, had set up in Sierra Leone in 2012 and 2018, to monitor, prevent and mitigate elections related conflicts. The EWPM-SL has worked through two election cycles (2018 and 2023) observing local and constituency elections and setting up a situation room to monitor the 2018 and 2023 general elections.
