By: Marion P. George
Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) and Non-State Actors on Public Financial Management have issued a formal demand for immediate accountability following a widespread failure by 44 public entities to submit their 2025 financial statements. The group made this disclosure on Monday, 4th May 2026, in a press conference held at its head office in Imatt.
Speaking on the reason for the press briefing, the coordinator of BAN, Abubakarr Kamara, stated that non-compliance or the late submission of financial statements by some entities in the country has been a perennial issue that has been happening over the years, as per the 2016 Public Financial Management Act.
He furthered in a midst to address this problem, the audit service act was reviewed in 2023, which also among other things gave the audit service the power to whit hold the salaries of vote controllers if they fail to respond to all of this quarries or fail to submit financial statements, noting that audit service issued out a press statement, outlining the number of institutions that have missed the deadline of march 31st to submit their financial statements. This, he said, has been happening over the years, where they saw a total of forty-four (44) entities that are managing billions of Leones and dollars not submitting their financial statements to the audit service.
in a press release read by the senior programs officer of BAN, Abdurrahman Sesay, the coalition expressed deep concern that the non-compliance spans critical sectors, including health, infrastructure, and regulatory bodies. According to the joint statement, these “blind spots” in public fund management undermine parliamentary oversight and cripple the national audit process. “Compliance with this law is not optional. Rather, it is a legal and moral obligation,” the statement read, further noting that the situation suggests a “culture of impunity” within these public institutions.
The advocates are calling on the Ministry of Finance and Parliament to enforce immediate sanctions to restore discipline. Specifically, they are urging the Audit Service of Sierra Leone to invoke the Audit Service Amendment Act 2023.
This legislation allows for the withholding of emoluments and allowances from officials who refuse or fail to submit their required annual financial statements.
The list of 44 defaulting organisations includes high-profile bodies such as The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, The National Roads Authority, The Independent Media Commission, The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, The Guma Valley Water Company, among others.
On his part, the chairperson of the Non-state actors Honourable Joseph N. Kaindoh said such a report infringes on the country’s transparency and accountability index score globally. He furthered entities know and understand what needs to be done with respect to the PFM laws, but fail to do it. This, he said, is unpatriotic. He maintained that the issue is a bridge to the country’s sovereignty and survival, which makes them uncomfortable as non-state actors.
The groups mentioned in a Press release read by Abdul Rahman Sesay, Senior Programs Officer, Budget Advocacy Network. The groups characterised the lapse as a “blatant disregard” for the Public Financial Management Act 2016, specifically citing Section 86(1), which mandates that vote controllers submit annual financial statements within three months of the close of the financial year.
The Budget Advocacy Network warned that continued inaction will erode public confidence and significantly weaken service delivery nationwide.
