By Anita Dumbuya
Sierra Leone’s parliament has recovered more than 24 million new leones from government institutions following scrutiny of the 2023 Auditor-General’s Report, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, said on Tuesday.
Conteh, speaking as Acting Speaker after the PAC reports were tabled in parliament, said the committee secured domestic recoveries totalling NLe 24,025,499.86 from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The funds have been paid into government-designated accounts, he said.
The PAC also resolved outstanding financial obligations, including a $760,000 royalty settlement from Zoodlabs linked to the management of the country’s fibre landing station, Conteh added.
The reports were presented by the Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, PC Desmond Kargobai, during a parliamentary sitting on Jan. 17, 2026.
Conteh said the committee made “substantial progress” in addressing audit queries, noting that more than 60% of audit issues reviewed across MDAs were either resolved or substantially resolved during the public hearings.
For local councils, he said 34 audit issues – representing 42% – were fully resolved through documentary submissions, corrective measures and compliance by council managements.
Conteh commended members of parliament, describing the recoveries as evidence of the Sixth Parliament’s commitment to accountability and enforcement of public financial management rules.
He said the PAC worked in collaboration with the Finance Committee and the Transparency and Accountability Committee to pursue recoveries and address systemic weaknesses identified in the Auditor-General’s Report.
Conteh urged the two committees to continue engagement on unresolved matters and to produce reports on negotiated settlements, stressing that parliamentary oversight must translate into improved service delivery and stronger fiscal discipline.
He also thanked Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas, parliamentary leadership and members of the PAC for their support during the oversight process.
The PAC’s reports are expected to provide a detailed assessment of the financial performance of MDAs and local councils, highlighting weaknesses and recommending corrective action to strengthen public financial management in Sierra Leone.
