By Ragan M. Conteh
On 30th November 2020, Parliamentary Sub-Appropriation/Committee, on Supply in Parliament, commenced vetting the financial expenditures of Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs). The entire House divided itself into Committees to look at the financial expenditures of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) for the Financial Years 2019 and 2020.
The Committees are also responsible for diagnosing the challenges and successes of the MDAs and proffered solutions/recommendations and report in the Well of Parliament for debate and approval to enhance the work of MDAs effectively and efficiently.
The Committees on Finance, Trade and Industry and Legislative, among many others, have started probing the Petroleum Directorate, Standards Bureau, Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and many others.
The Finance Committee, during the probing exercise, stood-down the Public Sector Reform Unit, for an hour, to properly sort out its documents, which many say are scanty.
The exercise, according to the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon. Francis Kaisamba, would last for six days. All MDAs are required to attend, submit appropriate documents and as well answer questions from Members of Parliament from various Committees.
During the vetting process, MPs also found out that many MDAs have not properly balanced their opening and closing balances for the Financial Year 2019 and monies given for the operations of these MDAs are not properly utilized.
Some Committees Members also observed that there are enormous challenges faced by MDAs to manage funds allocated to them, while others face challenges of lack of funds and late disbursement of funds to carry out their projects and programs and to meet their deliverables’ timeline.
Just recently the whole House debated the 2020 Financial Year budget, which allows MDAs to work towards their plans, deliverables and other activities for the benefit and development of Sierra Leone.
During the budget debate, MPs say monies have been spent by different MDAs without any dividend or productivity, adding that some spent more than what was allocated to them without the approval of Parliament.