The Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) for effective collaboration in providing access to information as a vehicle to enabling transparency, accountability and good governance.
The ceremony was held in the conference room of the head office of Audit Service Sierra Leone located at the Freetown City Council Building in Freetown on Wednesday 15th May, 2024.
The ceremony climaxed a series of dialogues and negotiations between the two entities on how they can collaborate and develop Public Authorities in their service delivery.
During the signing ceremony, the Acting Auditor-General, Mr Abdul Aziz, welcomed the delegation from RAIC and stressed the need for effective collaboration between both institutions. He noted that the work done by both institutions is for the development of Sierra Leone, and the synergy must be there for a partnership.
The Acting Auditor-General spoke about the ASSL’s mandate as enshrined in section 25 (1)) of the Audit Service Act 2014 which gives it unhindered access to information and records to carry out its work. He commended the RAIC for its role in ensuring that MDAs comply with the audit process by submitting records to auditors. He reiterated that in the past, there were lots of queries on payment without supporting documents or adequate supporting documents in the AuditorGeneral’s Annual Report, but stressed that it has been minimized as a result of the intervention of the RAIC.
Abdul Aziz said this historic event is significant to their work which aims to scrutinize and report the performance of MDAs to the highest level and that can only be possible where there is access to public documents, which is why the MOU with the RAIC will be a stepping stone to the dreams of the two institutions. He added that the constitution of Sierra Leone gave a clear mandate to them to audit with unhindered access to be able to perform that function and express opinion. He highlighted the five Es, Economic, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Equity and the Environment as key to their area of audit.
Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, said the work of the RAIC is to ensure there is access to data held by MDAs as stated by the Right to Access Information Act of 2013. He observed that as RAIC clocks 10 years this year, the RAIC will engage auditors that are embedded in MDAs to develop guidelines that will help in the service delivery of MDA. He said Part 2 Section 2 of the RAI Act provides that everybody has the right to access information held by public authorities.
The RAIC CIC noted that section 27 of the Act states that all public institutions should have access to records of information they generate. Dr Shaw pointed out that the signing of an MOU with the ASSL is the first time the RAIC is signing an MOU with a like-minded institution and stressed that more MoUs will be signed with other institutions. He noted that the MoU with ASSL can foster capacity building for auditors and record officers in the country.
Welcoming all present earlier, Deputy Auditor General Aiah Gbondo-Tugbawa said the seeds of what has now germinated were sown when the two institutions held talks on how they can team up to change the dynamics. He expressed delight on the change this MOU will bring in the public and sector.
The MoU was signed by the Acting Auditor General and the Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC with two officials each from the two institutions signing as witnesses.
For media inquiries, contact:
David Patrick Kamara
Public Information Officer Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC)
National Secretariat +23278407847
