Efforts to deepen public financial accountability in Sierra Leone received a significant boost on Wednesday, 26th November 2025, when the Senior Management of the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) hosted the Chief Executive Officer of the African Organisation of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E), Madam Messie Nkau, in a high-level engagement with the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Parliament, who also serves as Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh.
The meeting, held in Parliament, formed part of Madam Messie Nkau’s working visit to Sierra Leone to assess the institutional progress and operational capacity of ASSL as an active member of AFROSAI-E. The organisation represents 26 Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) across English-speaking Africa, including two Portuguese-speaking countries and plays a central role in advancing audit excellence and accountability across the region.
Speaking during the engagement, Madam Messie Nkau underscored AFROSAI-E’s core mandate of strengthening the capacity of Supreme Audit Institutions to effectively audit public institutions and enhance service delivery. She highlighted that sustainable audit independence, both operational and financial, is essential for a credible and effective national oversight system.
“A strong and independent SAI is the foundation of public accountability,” she stated. “We encourage deeper collaboration between the Public Accounts Committee and the Audit Service to ensure that audit recommendations are implemented and that accountability mechanisms remain robust.”
Madam Messie Nkau emphasized that AFROSAI-E will continue to support ASSL through capacity-building programmes, technical guidance and institutional strengthening initiatives aimed at improving the quality and impact of public sector auditing in Sierra Leone.
Responding, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Parliament’s unwavering commitment to accountability and transparency in the management of public finances. He acknowledged the long-standing collaboration between PAC and ASSL and noted that the Committee continues to yield significant results through timely hearings and recoveries arising from issues highlighted in the Auditor General’s Reports.
“The PAC remains fully committed to upholding audit accountability and ensuring that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies comply with audit recommendations,” he said. “We appreciate the role of AFROSAI-E in supporting ASSL to improve its institutional effectiveness.”
The Deputy Auditor General of ASSL, Morie Lansana, also commended AFROSAI-E for its sustained technical support. He highlighted that the organization’s interventions, particularly in training, methodology enhancement and quality assurance, have greatly contributed to strengthening ASSL’s audit processes and improving the institution’s overall performance.
He reassured the PAC of ASSL’s continued dedication to working collaboratively to drive the full implementation of audit recommendations for enhanced accountability and better management of public resources.
The Public Accounts Committee, one of Parliament’s key oversight bodies, plays a pivotal role in examining findings of the Auditor General’s Reports, ensuring corrective actions are taken and promoting strong financial governance across all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The engagement between AFROSAI-E, ASSL and the PAC marks a renewed commitment to building a more transparent, accountable and efficient public financial management system in Sierra Leone; one that aligns with international audit standards and reinforces public trust in the management of national resources.
