By: yusufibrahimkamara@hopemediasl.com
In a sustained effort to deepen public awareness and strengthen accountability, the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has engaged journalists from both print and electronic media on the key findings of the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report. The engagement was held at the Freetown City Council Building on Wallace Johnson Street, bringing together media practitioners and senior officials of the Audit Service.
Addressing participants, the Auditor-General of Sierra Leone, Mr. Abdul Aziz, underscored the critical role of both the Audit Service and the media in promoting good governance and improving citizens’ wellbeing. He emphasized that accountability is most effective when audit findings are clearly communicated to the public and when duty bearers are compelled to explain how public resources are managed.
Mr. Aziz urged journalists to focus their reporting on service delivery gaps identified in the audit, particularly in key sectors that directly affect citizens’ lives. He noted that the Audit Service has adopted a new audit approach that prioritizes service delivery outcomes, rather than only financial compliance. According to him, the 2024 report revealed worrying shortcomings in the health sector, which require sustained public attention and policy action.
The Deputy Auditor-General, Mr. Morie Lansana, provided a comprehensive overview of the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report. He explained that the audit covered Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), donor-funded projects, local councils, and Sierra Leone’s foreign missions. Mr. Lansana stated that modern public sector auditing now goes beyond examining financial statements to assessing whether public funds are translating into real and measurable benefits for citizens.
He highlighted several cross-cutting issues identified in the report, including weaknesses in tax deductions, asset management, human resource administration, and contract management. These challenges, he stressed, have a direct impact on the quality of service delivery across the country. He also drew attention to performance audits, which assess economy, efficiency, effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and equity in the use of public resources.
Another Deputy Auditor-General, Mr. Aiah Gbondo Tugbawa, described the media as a key partner in the success of the Audit Service Sierra Leone. He noted that the cordial relationship between ASSL, the media, and other accountability institutions has helped to amplify audit findings and promote public discourse on governance and transparency.
Journalists present at the meeting commended the Audit Service for consistently fulfilling its constitutional mandate of auditing and reporting on the public accounts of Sierra Leone. They reaffirmed their commitment to using the media as a platform to inform citizens, stimulate debate, and hold public officials accountable to Parliament and the people.