The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman, Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has ordered key officials of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) to refund £3,500. This sum was allegedly misallocated for the educational expenses of two staff members who were supposed to study in London. The directive was issued on July 25, 2024, during a public hearing on the Auditor General’s Report, where committee members unanimously agreed on the reimbursement.
Deputy Speaker Conteh mandated that the refund be completed by the end of August, accompanied by all necessary documentation to facilitate the process. The investigation revealed that £7,000 was paid for two staff members to study in London, with each person allocated £3,500. However, only one staff member received a visa, while the other, Josie Abraham Scott-Manga, Director of Human Resources, did not. Despite being informed about the visa issue and proposing an alternative candidate, it remains unclear if the substitution occurred.
Joseph H. Momoh, the Director of Finance, clarified that the payment was intended for two staff members, but only one obtained a visa. The Auditor General’s Report indicated that SLRSA spent SLE 3,473,266.63 on various activities without adequate supporting documentation. During verification, documents accounting for SLE 3,223,978.17 (93% of the queried amount) were submitted, leaving SLE 249,288.46 unresolved.
Furthermore, the SLRSA faced unresolved issues related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). While some CSR-related concerns were addressed, others remain pending, and the institution is expected to provide further explanations to parliament on a future date.
This directive from the PAC highlights the importance of accountability and transparency within government agencies, ensuring that public funds are properly managed and allocated.
