BAN Holds Audit Accountability Training for CSOs and Local councils
By Mohamed Konneh
With support from Irish Aid, The Budget Advocacy Network has concluded two-day training and launched the simplified version of audit issues, civil society, WCSG and local council structures in Port Loko city. The training is part of effort to support local councils and building the capacity of civil society and word development committees in seven operational districts.
Making his presentation the Coordinator of Budget Advocacy Network BAN, Abu Bakarr Kamara said the project is implemented in 7 districts noting that the training geared towards building the capacity of CSOs and local council structures in all seven districts.
Mr. Kamara said the 2020 audit report on Port Loko was not good and that Audit service raise a number of quarries including recommendations.
‘The 2021 audit report for Port Loko shows 13 receipts were not provided at the time of the audit and that the council also had some issues with the EU funded project. The same for the Tonkolili district council where audit report says the financial statement does not gives a true and fair view of the financial position of the Tonkolili district council for 2020.
Mr. Kamara noted that auditors could also not access the CASDASTRE system as a result of the death of council valuator.
He said similar situation happens in most council and the need for the training
Mr. Madieu Kallon, of the Karineh District council speaking unbehalf of the councils said they were happy to be part of the training adding that training of this nature help not only council but civil society who plays monitoring role of councils.
‘Our district Karineh is a new district as it came into existence after the amalgamation. The district is among deprived districts in the country and that is the more reason for the dismal performance. I hold no brief for the dismal performance on the audit report but we had difficulties, he said.’
Mr. Kallon assured that moving forward the Karineh district council is now more than ready to compete with other districts.
He however noted that the district is still challenge in with poor road network couple with other challenges, while calling for support towards the district.
Mr. Kallon said it is high time people change the way they do things and that the 2020 audit report came while they were trying to set up the office.
Ibrahim Bureh, Deputy Director, Fiscal Decenstarlization Department, of the Ministry of Finance while making his statement calls for the strengthening of council internal audit department.
Mr. Bureh said if this is done councils will not have dismal performance when it comes to audits issues.
He said the funds utilized by government, be it council or agencies are public funds and must be accounted for.
‘The Ministry of Finance and the FDD are happy for this meeting because BAN is a partners and are helping a whole lot. Moving forward it is no longer the business as usual and the new local government act that is coming now has punitive measures for defaulting councils, he said.’
Mr. Bureh noted that they have signed MOU on the use of the school busses and that funding collected from buses is for maintenance. So as civil society there is need to monitor these services as well as the use of the facilities.
He said the second grant for councils will be made available before the end of the year.
Mr. Bureh called on civil society to be attending council monthly meetings noting that the ministry is now developing agenda for these meetings.
The Acting Auditor General, Abdul Aziz giving the keynote address and launching the simplified council audit report said audit is the most difficult job to do.
‘We are not liked by institutions because they see us as police officers. We are not police but what we do is to add value to the work that they do. Why one should be jittery if we go to audit you or civil society go to monitor what you are doing, he asked.’
Mr. Aziz noted that transparency is about been open while noting that most people are just interested in positions but don't want to be accountable.
Sierra Leone he said had numerous challenges including challenges in hospital that are struggling with inadequate bed and drugs, water supply and the rest.
‘This is the more reason we are put emphasis on performance audit. On the empowerment of women we need to support them. We also support this project because it is supporting women, he said.’
Mr. Aziz noted that public accounts committee of parliament also plays critical role and hope to see increase women in that committee and this will give more participation to women in financial management.
