By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) is under scrutiny following a recent directive from the Public Account Committee (PAC). On Thursday, July 25, 2024, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, PAC Chairman and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, mandated that SLRSA’s Executive Director Smart Senesie, Finance Director Joseph Momoh, and Human Resource Director repay £3,500. This sum pertains to a training course on corporate governance held at the London Training Institute in the United Kingdom.
Hon. Conteh highlighted a violation of Section 63 of the Act, which stipulates that payments for work, food supplies, or services related to public service must be validated by the Vote Controller or an authorized officer. The Chairman pointed out discrepancies in the documents, noting that the contract was intended to cover expenses for two individuals traveling to the UK. However, records showed only one participant made the trip.
He emphasized that Parliament only processes payments once visa confirmations are verified. In this case, the absence of proper visa documentation has led to the directive for repayment.
In response, Executive Director Smart Senesie stated that SLRSA had contacted the London Training Institute regarding the issue. The Institute has agreed to consider a refund if similar issues arise in the future.
