By Foday Moriba Conteh
Lara Taylor-Pearce, the suspended Auditor General of Sierra Leone, has broken her silence regarding a Press Release from State House dated July 9, 2024, and statements made by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Addressing the public and media, Lara Taylor-Pearce, who has served as Auditor General since November 2011, defended her professional integrity and transparency.
The former Auditor General, with a career spanning over three decades, highlighted her commitment to professionalism, diligence and integrity throughout her tenure. She began her career at KPMG Peat Marwick in 1991, qualifying as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in 1998 and later as a fellow in 2003. She also holds an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability from the University of Cumbria, UK.
Appointed as the Auditor General in 2011 after serving as Deputy Auditor General since 2007, Lara Taylor-Pearce emphasized her role in safeguarding public funds for the benefit of Sierra Leoneans. “I have always been guided by the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability,” she stated, noting her leadership roles in international audit bodies like AFROSAI-E and the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI).
Despite her achievements, the erstwhile Auditor General faced suspension in November 2021 for alleged professional misconduct. She asserted that her suspension was unprecedented, given her unblemished record. The Tribunal set up to investigate her and her former Deputy Auditor General, Tamba Momoh, began public sittings in March 2022. She attended all but one session and submitted a comprehensive response to the Tribunal’s allegations.
“The only matters brought up during the Tribunal hearings related to third-party verification issues and regular audit management procedures,” she explained. No evidence was presented to support other allegations and she was not given the opportunity to publicly defend herself against them.
Lara Taylor-Pearce categorically denied any involvement in leaking information, stating, “I have never knowingly or unknowingly provided or leaked any audit information to any person or publication.” She urged those responsible for leaking information to reflect on the consequences of their actions.
Highlighting the professional standards followed by the Audit Service Sierra Leone, Lara Taylor-Pearce reiterated that all audits are managed by a Deputy Auditor General and adhere to international standards. She stressed that performance audits, unlike annual financial and compliance audits, are agreed upon and monitored by an Advisory Performance Audit Committee (APAC).
She also mentioned that the Tribunal’s findings, completed on June 12, 2024, have not been provided to the defendants as of July 14, 2024. Lara Taylor-Pearce expressed frustration at being deprived of a Supreme Court hearing to determine the Tribunal’s constitutional legitimacy.
In her closing remarks, she provided contact information for the professional bodies to which she belongs, inviting the Attorney General to present any alleged evidence of misconduct. She thanked her supporters, both locally and internationally and her legal team led by Rowland S. V. Wright.
“I am grateful for the overwhelming support and continue to stand for truth, integrity and professionalism,” she concluded.
