By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) and the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, credibility and accuracy in reporting within Sierra Leone’s extractive sector.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, at the Conference Room of the Audit Service Sierra Leone in Freetown and marks a significant step towards improving governance and public confidence in the management of the country’s natural resources.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Auditor-General, Abdul Aziz, described the agreement as a reflection of the shared commitment of both institutions to promoting accountability, transparency and good governance in the extractive industries sector.
He explained that under the new arrangement, ASSL and SLEITI will collaborate in the production of Sierra Leone’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) reports in accordance with international EITI standards.
“The Audit Service Sierra Leone is mandated to promote accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, while SLEITI is responsible for strengthening transparency, accountability and governance in the extractive industries sector. We see ourselves as partners working towards a common goal, which is why this MoU is important,” Abdul Aziz stated.
The Auditor-General described the agreement as a major milestone that will enhance existing reporting systems and improve the credibility of EITI reporting in Sierra Leone.
He disclosed that prior to the signing of the MoU, ASSL was responsible for certifying reporting templates submitted by mining companies, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as chiefdom authorities. However, under the new framework, ASSL will now serve as the Independent Administrator responsible for preparing EITI reports, conducting scoping exercises, analyzing data, identifying reporting gaps and making recommendations to address challenges identified during the process.
“With this new role, the ASSL can no longer certify the same templates it will later assess and report on. As the saying goes, you cannot be both the referee and the player at the same time,” he remarked.
Abdul Aziz also acknowledged the critical role played by Civil Society Organizations in promoting transparency and accountability within the extractive sector and commended their continued support to the EITI process.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator of SLEITI, Mohamed Baimba Koroma, described the MoU as a landmark partnership that demonstrates the commitment of both institutions to leveraging their expertise and resources in support of national development and good governance.
He noted that Sierra Leone, as an EITI-implementing country, regularly publishes reports containing disclosures on the legal and institutional framework governing the extractive sector, contracts and licences, production and exports, revenue collection and allocation, the sector’s contribution to the economy, as well as environmental, social and governance issues.
Mohamed Baimba Koroma stated that in line with Requirement 4.8 of the EITI Standard, SLEITI was pleased to partner with ASSL in the production of Sierra Leone’s 2024–2025 EITI Report.
“SLEITI considers ASSL to be technically competent, credible, trustworthy and free from any conflict of interest regarding the collection and treatment of sensitive information,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of ASSL for their unwavering commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Auditor-General, Morie Lansana commended SLEITI for its contribution to strengthening governance within Sierra Leone’s extractive industries sector. He noted that ASSL’s strong reputation for professionalism and independence had paved the way for deeper collaboration between the two institutions.
“The confidence reposed in the ASSL by the people of this country continues to motivate us to remain committed to promoting transparency, accountability and effective oversight within the extractive industries sector,” Morie Lansana stated.
The signing of the MoU is expected to usher in a new phase of cooperation between ASSL and SLEITI, further strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust in the management of Sierra Leone’s extractive resources.
