The Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has concluded a one-day Mid-Year Review Meeting aimed at assessing the institution’s performance during the first half of 2026 and developing practical strategies for the successful delivery of its audit mandate in the remaining six months of the year.

The review meeting, held on Friday, 10th July 2026, at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown, brought together management and staff from across the institution to evaluate progress made between January and June 2026, identify challenges, and agree on priorities for the remainder of the year.

Delivering the keynote address, Auditor-General, Mr Abdul Aziz, commended staff for their dedication and hard work during the first six months of the year, noting that their commitment had contributed significantly to the progress made by the institution.

He explained that the purpose of the Mid-Year Review was to critically assess work completed from January to June and to develop a realistic work plan for the remaining six months of 2026.

“The next six months are extremely important for the Audit Service Sierra Leone,” he said. “This is the period within which we have to complete audit reports, submit the Auditor-General’s Reports within the statutory deadlines, and begin planning for next year’s audits. It is therefore important that we review our commitments and plan realistically.”

Mr Aziz encouraged staff to provide honest feedback during the review sessions, stressing that discussions should focus on improving performance rather than criticising colleagues.

“We are here to add value to each other’s work. Let us use this review to identify solutions and strengthen our collective performance instead of focusing on criticism,” he stated.

The Auditor-General highlighted three key values that every member of staff must embrace to ensure the continued success of the institution: Commitment, Professionalism and Collaboration.

On commitment, he emphasised that every staff member must remain dedicated to delivering quality work and that this commitment should be demonstrated at every level of the institution.

“Commitment should not only rest with Divisional Heads and Team Leaders. It must cascade to every officer under their supervision because every member of staff has a role to play in achieving our institutional goals,” he said.

Speaking on professionalism, Mr Aziz underscored the importance of maintaining high ethical standards and producing work that creates meaningful impact.

“As professionals, we must distinguish ourselves through integrity, competence and excellence. We must always be seen doing the right thing while delivering work that makes a difference,” he noted.

He further called for stronger collaboration among divisions, stressing that teamwork remains essential to achieving ASSL’s objectives.

“We must plan together, support one another and implement our activities as one team. Without effective collaboration, we will not achieve the desired results.”

The Auditor-General also underscored the importance of continuous capacity building, noting that investments in staff development should be reflected in improved audit performance and service delivery.

He reminded staff that quality is everyone’s responsibility, urging all officers to prioritise excellence over the volume of work produced.

“Our concern should always be quality and not quantity. Every assignment should meet the highest professional standards, and Divisional Heads and Team Leaders have a critical responsibility in ensuring quality assurance throughout the audit process,” he said.

Mr Aziz further highlighted the importance of the institution’s Performance Appraisal System, describing it as an important tool for staff development.

He encouraged supervisors to use performance appraisals to identify staff strengths and weaknesses, provide constructive feedback and support professional growth.

“Performance appraisal should never be viewed as a punishment. It should be an opportunity to help staff improve, develop their skills and perform better,” he emphasised.

The Training Manager, Mr Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, presented an overview of the institution’s performance during the first half of 2026, highlighting key achievements and challenges encountered across the audit divisions.

His presentation provided an analysis of audits that had been completed, including those for which final management letters had been issued, as well as audits nearing completion with draft management letters already issued or awaiting issuance. He also outlined the outstanding audit assignments that require completion before the end of the year.

During the interactive planning sessions, staff developed practical work plans for completing the outstanding audits within the next six months. The meeting also encouraged greater collaboration among divisions to provide technical and operational support for audit teams, ensuring the timely completion of all planned audit assignments and the delivery of high-quality audit reports