By Sallieu S. Kanu
The Office of the President must urgently address the ongoing issues at the Office of the Ombudsman to restore order and ensure proper governance. As the only entity with the authority to oversee the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the President must act swiftly to resolve these matters.
Governance Concerns
There are concerns about whether State House is aware of the issues within some governance institutions or if those close to the Presidency are providing honest and detailed briefings to the Head of the Executive Arm. Reports suggest that powerful individuals within these institutions, due to their personal or political affiliations, are mismanaging their responsibilities. This issue has persisted across various administrations, where conflicts between ministers, deputies, and heads of parastatals have been common.
The Ombudsman’s Predicament
The Office of the Ombudsman is currently embroiled in a quagmire. A recent write-up titled “The Ombudsman’s Quest for Financial Control: A Threat to Accountability” has raised serious allegations against Ombudsman Ahmed Israel Jah Esq. The allegations include attempts to control government funds, misuse of resources, and manipulation of financial systems. However, further investigation reveals that these allegations may be attempts to intimidate the Ombudsman from pursuing reforms.
Financial Discrepancies
Evidence suggests that the Office of the Ombudsman was not fully audited for 2023 due to significant financial discrepancies. The office was notably absent from the 2023 Audit Report of the Auditor General. Allegations that the Ombudsman attempted to control public funds indicate that he was prevented from doing so, while those in charge failed to account for the funds they used. Reliable information suggests that the Executive Secretary and the Finance Director of the Office of the Ombudsman apparently could not account for over One Billion Old Leones (Le 1,000,000,000) at the time of inquiry.
It is crucial to address these issues to maintain public trust in the institution. The Office of the Ombudsman should be held in high esteem, and the public must have confidence in its operations.
Conclusion
The Office of the President must intervene to restore order and ensure proper governance at the Office of the Ombudsman. The next publication will delve into the internal operations of the office, highlighting administrative anomalies and proposing solutions to address these issues.