Freetown, 12th January 2026 – A 2024 audit of the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH – Cottage) has uncovered serious financial and infrastructural concerns, raising questions about accountability and service delivery at the country’s leading maternity facility.
Despite earlier recommendations for urgent repairs, auditors found that the hospital’s mortuary remains in a deplorable condition. The cooling system, which preserves corpses from decaying, was reported to be completely damaged, while structural maintenance work had not been carried out. Interviews with mortuary staff confirmed that no remedial action had been taken since the last audit.
The audit also revealed troubling gaps in staff accountability. Twenty hospital staff failed to present themselves for physical verification during the audit exercise. Salaries paid to these staff amounted to NLe432,146.18, but auditors could not confirm whether the individuals were actively working or providing services for which they were compensated.
This raises concerns about possible “ghost workers” within the hospital’s payroll system a recurring issue in public sector management that undermines efficiency and drains limited resources.
The audit report recommended that the Medical Superintendent, in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer and the Senior Permanent Secretary, take immediate steps to address the challenges identified. The auditors stressed that fixing the mortuary and ensuring proper staff verification are critical to restoring public confidence and improving healthcare delivery.
The findings highlight broader governance and financial management challenges within Sierra Leone’s public health sector. With hospitals already struggling under resource constraints, unverified salary payments and neglected infrastructure represent significant risks to both fiscal discipline and patient care.
