The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has raised serious concerns over an unresolved debt of over Le3 billion owed to machinery operators under two major initiatives—the Regional Rice Value Chain Project (RRVCP) and the Family Support and Recovery Programme (FSRP). The projects, managed by Chinese contractor M.A. Ruming, are now embroiled in controversy regarding unpaid funds and alleged mismanagement.
According to the agreements governing the projects, payments to machinery operators were subject to deductions to cover government dues. However, recent audits revealed a shocking Le19 billion debt owed to the government. Hon. Tawa accused Ruming of failing to honor payment agreements, adding that his actions have raised doubts about the integrity of financial operations within these projects.
During a meeting held in the Administrative Conference Room, the Public Accounts Committee decided to withhold 70% of the funds owed to machinery operators as a means to recover the government’s outstanding dues. Despite this effort, further revelations showed that Ruming, who employed two machinery operators, submitted a payment schedule but allegedly failed to disburse the promised amounts after funds were transferred to his account.
In response to these allegations, Hon. Tawa instructed the bank to refund the owed amounts directly to the operators. He described an encounter at Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB), where he met with the bank’s Managing Director and demanded immediate action to block the transfer of disputed funds.
Ruming’s reluctance to comply with committee directives has led Hon. Tawa to consider additional measures. Citing Section 93 of Parliament, Hon. Tawa stressed the committee’s authority to enforce compliance. Despite informal attempts to resolve the matter, including a recent meeting at a restaurant, no agreement was reached.
Hon. Tawa has vowed to escalate the issue, directing the bank’s Managing Director to divert the disputed funds into a consolidated account to ensure payments are made to the machinery operators. The situation not only underscores governance challenges within the projects but also raises broader concerns about the management of public funds.
Highlighting what he described as “poor governance and a lack of accountability,” Hon. Tawa urged for a more transparent and responsible approach to handling taxpayers’ money. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of oversight and accountability in the management of public projects and resources.
