For all intents and purposes, it would seem as if the monolithic New Direction/PAOPA Government has decided to let bygones be bygones and has come to terms with allowing the small axe agency of the Auditor General (AG) to continue in her position. Therefore, the 2020 Audit of this current government is on, and we should expect fireworks as the revelations of 2019 are expected to be mere drops in the ocean for what 2020 has in store for us.

However, by conceding, PAOPA has shown itself to be at most paying attention to and at least willing to listen to the public in all its questionable intentions and actions. The outcry from segments of the population on radio, TV, online and print including this medium calling for government to back off from its very worrying smear campaign aimed at embarrassing the Auditor General that was a blanket embarrassment on Sierra Leone to the international community, surely struck the right chord with the government.

In line with the Sierra Leone Constitution and international best practice, the government of Sierra Leone has agreed in principle to allow for the independence of the Auditor General’s office as her role is not political and certainly not in the interest of any individual. Audits are done based on an entity or individual’s actions and decisions on how to disburse or spend allocated monies. The AG is not responsible for the outcome of an audit, nor is she responsible for how someone executes his or her fiduciary responsibilities. She is much like a reporter and in her reporting gives us a window into how monies are spent based on the rules and regulations governing such.

By agreeing to disagree on the very ironical and contradictory nature of how Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) should have deposited monies it collected from MDA’s into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, of which she would have had no control and from where her actions would have been curtailed and even derailed, PAOPA has agreed on a Single Treasury Account 100% controlled by the AG. It follows that short of death, illness or other unforeseen, natural and unnatural acts or actions, the AG is set to conduct the execution of the 2020 audit of this present government.

This fact should send revelations to vote controllers on how public monies are spent or handled to get their houses in order by ensuring that monies are spent on and for their intended purposes, and with traceable proof of how such spending were done including on equipment, machines and materials bought in that regard. Remember, the word is ‘forensic’ auditing.

Here is what we know; due to COVID-19, the halt and disruption to major economic activities would have led to a severe or massive situation for poor and dependent countries like Sierra Leone were it not for the help through grants and aids from lending agencies, development partners and countries, and well-meaning individuals here at home and in the Diaspora.

It is expected that such monies would be spent to allow the country to meet up with its basic responsibilities of providing succour to the populace under such trying circumstances or times. Such monies are not expected or meant to go into individual or private accounts, with equipment, machinery or furniture and others seen as actual government revenue in the service of the people to be given an account of when needed, not parked collecting dust in people’s compounds and yards.

It would be shameful for other governments or agencies to use their tax payers’ monies – paid by their people for their people – to help us and then hear that the money has been fleeced, stolen, conveniently explained away or anything that has to do with misappropriation.

The failure by PAOPA to railroad the Auditor General and ASSL by ganging up on her using lame-duck and birdbrain excuses meant to discredit and embarrass her should act as a rallying call hence an encouraging message to all those who would out of consideration for jobs and or how people would see them, to do their jobs and let the righteousness of their actions/work vindicate them. There is a new day gaining momentum in Sierra Leone where we are tired of being painted or labelled with all kinds of character and behaviours based on how our leaders behave. Not all of us behave that way, and we are going to continue speaking up or against something until we see concrete actions.

We the people you serve will speak up on your behalf to bring local and international attention to your predicament. There should never be a situation where public/civil servants are made to forego their constitutional and moral obligations to the people by having to consider job security or made to consider party, tribal or regional allegiance over one to the people/country.

The culture of denial when seeing a wrong being done and not speaking up; the culture of hero-worshipping of public officials to the point of seeing them as infallible; the culture of shooting the messenger/ beating the whistleblower; of state sponsored and threat of violence; of sacred cows who though they have done and are proven wrong are mysteriously not brought to book or sanctioned, and are mostly recycled to other MDA’s; of not standing up for the people when it means standing up against the party, government or leader; of lies, corruption, lawlessness, leakages and indiscipline, will all come to an end, if we continue to speak up against them when they raise their ugly heads.

A new day must dawn for Sierra Leone where patriotism and nationalism play a critical role in our developmental projections, actions and outcomes. Public leadership is not a license to steal; far from it, it is the highest honour to be bestowed on any individual citizen to use his or her God endowed gifts to serve and uplift the entire lot of his brethren for posterity, not to selfishly enrich yourself while the rest of your people are on dire straits. Far from being an observer of the progress of a nation, public service makes you a key or an active participant in our, hence your development.

So, short of any trickery or politricking, the 2020 Auditor General’s Report and all other audits under Lara’s tenure, are set to be executed, PAOPA!

Now to Lara, remember that you are not the desired person for your position. When you audited the past regime, you were their darling. But when you pointed your scope homeward, you are now their enemy. So, watch your back; we got your front. Every and all tricks to enter and so corrupt and discredit you will be utilised.

For the sake of the people you serve and care about, maintain your integrity, and be mindful of informants. Lonta!