Sierra Leone News: Commission of Inquiry NMA gave away Le114M in donations – without a donation policy

Business

The National Mineral Agency (NMA) gave away over Le114 million in donations from 2014 to 2018, according to a document read by the Human Resources Manager of NMA, Nancy Harvey, at the Commission of Inquiry, before Commissioner Biobele Georgwill, on Monday 29 May 2019. Harvey noted, “We have no policy for donation payments,” adding payments are made by the Finance Department of the Agency. Reading from evidence submitted by the State counsel, K. Bangura, Harvey underscored that in 2014, NMA gave Le3 million as donations, in 2016, they gave away Le45 million. In 2017, Le11,500 million was given away and in 2018, Le51 million were listed as “donations”. She said the donations were approved by the former Deputy Minister of Mines, Ignosis Koroma.

She pointed out that NMA gave Le20 million to the family of the late Moseray Fadika, former CEO of African Minerals, as a contribution from the Agency and the Ministry of Mines to the Fadika family. She confirmed the Director General normally approved payments of money for funerals to bereaved families. According to the handbook of NMA, which is a guide to the work and entitlements of staff, Le5 million should be provided to relatives of employees of the Agency who pass away. Le1 million is paid to employees if a next of kin or other registered relative dies. Reading from the Audit Report of 2011, the Internal Auditor in the Ministry of Mines, Bashiru Kamara, found Le9.653 billion in transfers to the Minister were not recorded in the cashbook. The auditor added that Le4.172 billion was neither recorded in the cashbook nor was there substantial evidence to substantiate the fund.

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