Freetown, 19th December 2024 –The 2024 Auditor General’s Annual Report has revealed that Sierra Leone lost over NLe 44.8 million to financial irregularities across ministries and departments, with additional losses recorded in foreign currency transactions. The findings, detailed in Table 2 –Pg 71 of the report, highlight systemic lapses in documentation, payroll oversight, and revenue management.
According to the audit, the largest domestic loss stemmed from payroll management, which accounted for NLe 13,771,217.31, followed closely by payments without supporting documents, totalling NLe 11,427,404.03. These figures suggest widespread weaknesses in internal controls and record-keeping across government entities.
Other key areas of concern included: Revenue management losses: Le 10,498,770.00, Statutory deductions (Withholding Taxes, PAYE & GST): Le 3,886,176.62, Contract management irregularities: Le 3,018,467.00 and assets management discrepancies: Le 2,227,810.00
In addition to the domestic currency losses, the audit flagged irregularities amounting to $935,717.33 USD and €7,230.96 EUR, primarily linked to statutory deductions and contract mismanagement. These foreign currency figures reflect Sierra Leone’s exposure to international procurement and donor-funded projects, where compliance lapses can trigger reputational risks and funding delays.
The report emphasized that “payments were made without adequate supporting documentation,” and that “statutory deductions were either not withheld or not remitted,” breaching both financial regulations and tax laws. It further noted that contract files lacked proper evaluation reports, while payroll records showed evidence of ghost workers and duplicate payments.
The cumulative impact of these irregularities, spanning over NLe 44.8 million, nearly $1 million USD, and €7,000 EUR, raises serious concerns about fiscal discipline and accountability. Analysts warn that such leakages undermine budget credibility and weaken Sierra Leone’s ability to deliver essential services.
The Auditor General recommended urgent reforms in financial management systems, including: Digitization of payroll and asset registers, strengthening procurement oversight, enforcing statutory compliance across ministries and enhancing internal audit functions.
