By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a significant financial recovery effort, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sierra Leone Parliament, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, announced the recovery of over 40 billion old leones in tax arrears. The announcement was made on Friday, 23rd August 2024, at the Kenema District Council in the presence of Heads of devolved sectors.
The recoveries pertain to arrears from the 2021 and 2022 audit periods, with the Committee focusing primarily on Corporate Taxes, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and withholding taxes.
Highlighting the Committee’s work, Hon. Tawa Conteh revealed that a significant portion of the recovered funds came from GST payments. He noted that the PAC examined the cases of eleven taxpayers, collaborating closely with the Ministry of Finance and the National Revenue Authority (NRA) throughout the inquiry. “Over 30 billion leones was recovered,” Hon. Conteh stated, crediting the NRA for its pivotal role.
Further recoveries were made from mobile network operators and internet service providers, with 10.5 billion old Leones paid into the Universal Access Development Fund. Additionally, Hon. Conteh reported that small and medium-sized businesses, alongside micro-tax contributors, owed over 3.5 billion old Leones. Out of this, more than one billion old Leones has already been recovered, while payment plans have been arranged for the remaining amounts.
For transit accounts and machinery operations, the Chairman confirmed that a substantial sum has been deposited into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Hon. Tawa Conteh emphasized that the PAC Secretariat is actively sending correspondences to the NRA and other agencies to address outstanding arrears, while also working to resolve inter-agency tax liabilities. He assured that all recovered funds have been deposited into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, with the PAC Secretariat maintaining all necessary documentation for verification.
The Deputy Speaker reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to holding all institutions accountable for any outstanding Government debts. “Any institution owing the Government will be held accountable and must eventually pay its dues to the state,” he asserted.
Hon. Conteh also used the occasion to urge Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to operate within legal frameworks and adhere to audit standards, stressing the importance of compliance with rules and regulations.
“In the work of the PAC, there is no secrecy; it is open, transparent, and a work in progress. The Committee will never relent in its quest to recover missing funds for the state,” he said.
Looking ahead, Hon. Conteh stated that the PAC will continue to engage MDAs in raising awareness about the importance of prudent public financial management and training.
He expressed gratitude to his fellow MPs for their dedication to promoting transparency and accountability in Sierra Leone’s governance, while also recognizing the contributions of previous PAC Chairmen toward advancing accountability and transparency for the benefit of the state.
The Chairman concluded by noting that the PAC is currently engaging Local Councils across the country, based on the Auditor General’s Reports for the fiscal years 2021/2022.
