Accountability failures… 7-Day Ultimatum for Electoral Commission
By John Kelly Marah
A recent investigation by Sierra Leone’s Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has uncovered significant accountability failures within the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), revealing over Le 1 billion in unaccounted election-related funds. During a committee session, Acting PAC Chairman Hon. P.C. Kargboi emphasized that crucial documentation—such as receipts and distribution lists—was notably missing from ECSL’s records. This absence of financial transparency has raised concerns about the effective tracking and use of public funds in recent electoral operations. The committee’s findings indicate that ECSL reported spending Le 3.6 billion on fuel, motorbikes, and logistical support but initially failed to submit required supporting documents. Although fuel receipts amounting to Le 3,092,840,000 have now been presented and validated, a remaining Le 507,256,000 is still unaccounted for. “We are not claiming misuse of funds, but verification is non-negotiable,” Hon. Kargboi stated. He imposed a one-week deadline for ECSL to produce the remaining documentation and has also instructed the deployment of an auditor to assist ECSL in expediting the verification process. In addition to these issues, PAC uncovered outstanding impress funds amounting to Le 7.9 billion allocated between 2016 and 2022 for district electoral offices. These funds were designated for vital operations, including staff and police training and voter awareness campaigns. Of this amount, Le 7,447,039,000 has been reconciled, leaving Le 520,249,000 still pending documentation. Moreover, an estimated Le 3 billion was spent on unspecified electoral activities, with only Le 2 billion of that amount verified so far. This leaves a gap of over Le 1 billion in unverified expenditures, raising red flags over ECSL’s financial stewardship. The PAC’s revelations have sparked renewed calls for transparency, with lawmakers and civil society organizations urging immediate reforms within ECSL to ensure proper financial management ahead of future elections.
