The Director of Internal Audit at the National Social Security Insurance Trust (NaSSIT) Hassan Musa Bangura has revealed that it was the former Director General of NaSSIT John Mans who approved all payments for the Sewa Ground project amounting to $24.9 million. He was being led in evidence by state counsel Musa Mewa before Justice William Atuguba Commission of Inquiry (COI), yesterday Wednesday 14 August 2019. Hassan Musa Bangura said before contracts are awarded it had to go through the Trust Board for their approval including the cost and description of the contract stating that after the validation certificate from the consultant is been raised for the trust requesting for payment.
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Bangura said upon receipt of the validation certificate NaSSIT Investment division will then prepare payment request stating the approved cost of the project by the board, the requested amount to be paid and verified whether the contractor has valid NaSSIT clearance certificate. The Director of Internal Audit said it is the Director General John Mans that will approve all payments upon completion of paper work before payments are made by the finance department. He said since 8 September 2014 to date after more than 73 percent of payments for the construction of the Sewa Ground Shopping mall, reconstruction of a demolished primary school and a multi storey car park were made to the contractor, consultant and FCC, the project is yet to be completed. During cross-examination by Joseph F. Kamara (JFK) for one of the Persons of Interest, the witness said the project was approved by the Investment sub-committee with a ‘No objection’ approval for the use of ‘sole sourcing’ for the said project approved by the NPPA. The witness testified that not all payments were accompanied by valuation certificates stating that others were being done in the form of advance payment requests, which were been approved also by the then Board. The commission was adjourned to Monday 19 August 2019.
By Mohamed Kabba
Twitter: @chikakabba
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