Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has earmarked Ministries, government departments and Agencies (MDAs)for prompt investigation over alleged corrupt practices highlighted in the 2021 Audit Report released by Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL).

Key Ministries include: Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Information and Communication, Transport and Aviation, Basic and Secondary Education, Agriculture, Health and Sanitation, Water Resources, Youth Affairs, Political and Public Affairs, Finance, Social Welfare, amongst others.

Other government agencies include: Sierra Leone Postal Services, Sierra Leone Airport Authority, National Disaster Management Agency, Petroleum Directorate, Guma Valley Water Company and others.

Speaking at the media update on the Auditor General’s Report last Wednesday 4th January, 2023 at St. George Cathedral Hall in Freetown, ACC Commissioner,

Francis Ben Kelfala said that the queries raised in the report are quick fix issues for which they need answers from the persons responsible to produce the requisite documents rather than requiring elaborate investigations.

He said the issues raised are often the same year-in-year out emanating from administrative lapses of the persons responsible, notably finance, procurement and administrative departments of these MDAs.

ACC boss further disclosed that the alleged cash lost due to issues of procurement and unavailable documents for disbursement of public funds amounting to over one hundred billion Leones in the aforesaid MDAs and Diplomatic Missions Overseas.

According to him, diplomatic missions are utilizing public funds without adhering to the financial procedures of authorization as if they are not governed by the laws of Sierra Leone.

“Failure of leadership of people who are supposed to supervise their staff to ensure that the correct thing is done. As a commission, we have done a lot to put systems and procedures in place in MDAs and therefore no one will have to reverse the gains made over the years in the country. I do not want anyone to call me when I start to do my job as ACC Commissioner,” he warned.

The commissioner however sounded an optimistic note that the ACC has started to effect arrests and some people have started paying and producing the necessary documents required by ASSL.