By Foday Moriba Conteh
Leader of the main Opposition All People’s Congress Party (APC), Hon. Chernor Maju Bah and Leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Party, Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella in a letter which they wrote dated 18th February 2021 and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, the main thrust was a demand for a parliamentary investigation relating to alleged misappropriation of funds said to have been expended by the current Bio-led Government.
Part of the content of the letter states that in the past few weeks, Sierra Leoneans have been relentlessly bombarded with alarming revelations on the BBC, social media, local electronic and print media etc, purporting that billions of Leones have been inappropriately disbursed and expended by Government.
It was also indicated that such follows on the heels of allegations of serious negative findings within Government Ministries, Departments/Agencies and Parastatals in the 2018 and 2019 reports of the Auditor General.
Almost three months ago, it will be recalled, Hon. Kandeh Yumkella moved a motion, seconded by the Honourable Hassan Sesay (which was supported by the whole House) calling for a debate on the said reports. Repeated reminders about the need for the debate, as required under Sub-Section 5 of Section 119 of the Constitution of Sierra
Leone, have not yielded any fruit so far.
Sub-Section (5) states thus: “Parliament shall debate the report of the Auditor-General and appoint where necessary in the public interest a Committee to deal with any matter arising there from.”
It was stated that with reference to the ongoing serious allegations levelled against the Office of the President, amongst others, they as Parliament should: provide an opportunity for the Government to respond to the allegations with documentary evidence and specific facts and figures, and demonstrate to the citizens that as the arm of Government responsible for both appropriations and oversight, they have the responsibility to hold Government accountable for taxpayers’ money as and when the need arises.
Both Members of Parliament maintain that in pursuit of Section 93 (6) and Section 111 (3) and (4) of the 1991 Constitution, Parliament should request for all relevant information from the Minister of Finance.
They continued that they also believe that Parliament’s select Committees of Finance and Transparency must hold public hearings to address those allegations.
According to them, it is noteworthy that Section 93 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone fully empowers Parliament to carry out that great responsibility, at this critical moment, in the country’s history.
They expressed the view that the above provisions give Parliament the responsibility to investigate those serious allegations, including the interviewing of all those cited in the allegations and to examine all required documents.
Both Members of Parliament said they are urging the Speaker to schedule a debate as required under Sub-Section 5 of Section119 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone so Parliamentarians can pursue those issues transparently in fulfilment of their oath as Parliamentarians.
