The Auditor General’s report indicated that the Government of Sierra Leone mismanaged payments for overseas travels after they reviewed overseas travel payment vouchers and the accompanying supporting document of the Parliamentary Service Commission and the Office of the Vice President of Sierra Leone.
The 2019 report shows that the Parliamentary Service Commission had overseas travel expenditure with no supporting document. The details of the review reveals that 14 daily subsistence allowance payments made during 2018, which amounted to Le332,973,951, were without the necessary supporting documents such as letter of invitation, travelling itinerary, copy of the passport and boarding passes as evidence of travel.
The Report further showed that there was a payment of Le 104, 580,000 made by the committee to Ecotours Salone as cost of air tickets on November 29, 2018, was earlier paid by the Accountant General’s Department (AGD) on September 13, 2018. It furthered that the issue was later discussed and the team found out that the team revealed that the payment was refunded, but the document in respect of the refund was not presented for audit inspection.
In addition, Karl Travel Agency was also paid Le 246,090,500 on PV no. 110 as cost of air tickets during 2019, but the supporting documents were not attached to the payment voucher presented for audit inspection.
According to the report, the office of the Vice President paid for accommodation, feeding and other expenses to the tune of US$9,872 on behalf of some officers accompanying the Vice President, even though there was evidence that those officers were paid DSA of US$7,767.90 for the same trip. It furthered that those officers who accompanied the Vice President were also entitled to DSAs totaling US$18,800, but they were only paid DSA of US$14,350 which means that they were underpaid and deprived to the tune of US$4,450.
The Report further unearthed that during verification, the office of the Vice President failed to provide retirement details in accordance with the provisions of the law for the outstanding amount of US$7,500.
“The Secretary to the Vice President stated that the amount in question is DSA/travel allowance paid to the Vice President, which he chooses to expend as he wishes. It is not an imprest as such. For any overseas funds, a minute is raised by the Vice President to His Excellency the President for approval. The approved amount is disbursed accordingly. Therefore, if any amount is outstanding, then another minute has to be raised. We note the recommendation and shall raise another minute for consideration of the President,” the report stated.
The report recommended that the Secretary to the Vice President in collaboration with the Senior Accountant should ensure that DSA of US$7,767.90 which should have been paid to those officers be recovered and refunded into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
They further recommended that the Secretary to the Vice President should collaborate with the Senior Accountant to ensure that DSA of US$4,450 owed to those officers concerned be paid.
By George M.O. Williams
14/01/2021. ISSUE NO:7980