Payments vouchers from the Accountant General’s Department totaling Le1.47 billion (Le1,470,378,846) for 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively were made in respect of overseas travels by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
The above amount was expended without relevant supporting documents such as executive clearance, evidence of travels, i.e., copies of air tickets and boarding passes, back-to-office reports etc. according to Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL).
For expenditure on overseas travels, the Auditors noted that relevant supporting documents such as executive clearance, boarding passes and back-to-office reports were submitted for payments totaling Le297 million (Le297,489,105) out of the total of Le1.47 billion leaving an outstanding amount of Le1.17 billion (Le1,172,889,741) without supporting documents. “The issues are therefore partly resolved.”
It was also observed that there were other expenditure without supporting documents as Bank withdrawals from the Ministry’s imprest account held at the Bank of Sierra Leone which amounted to Le2.75 billion (Le2,756,076,478) for 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively were not supported by payment vouchers and relevant supporting documents.
Even though the Permanent Secretary told the Auditors that the requested documents are available for inspection. From a total of Le2.75 billion supporting documents (such as payment vouchers, requests, invoices, delivery notes, receipts etc.) were submitted for bank withdrawals amounting to Le1.49 billion (Le1,496,635,478) leaving an outstanding amount of Le760 million (Le760,931,000) without supporting documents.
ZJ/2/2/2021
By zainab.joaque@awokonewspaper.sl