AUDIT SERVICE HOLDS BREAKFAST MEETINGS WITH KEY MDAs

The meeting was to get updates from them regarding the implementation of the audit recommendations in the 2021 Auditor-General’s Annual Report and the roadmap for the 2022 audit which was set to commence in January

On Tuesday 10th January 2023, the ASSL hosted the Accountant General’s Department, the Sierra Leone Police and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, while on Wednesday 11th January, they met with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Acting Auditor General, Mr Abdul Aziz expressed satisfaction over the collaboration the ASSL has been getting from the auditees and encouraged them to continue in the same drive. He encouraged the MDAs to cooperate with the auditors during the audits and ensure that the audit queries are addressed during the time of the audits.

The Audit Service team expressed concern over the repeated queries in the audit report, especially when some of them are control issues that ought to have been cleared during the audit field work. The ASSL has decided to conduct most of the audits between January and May this year. The ASSL team also informed them that this year’s audit will not only concentrate on financial records and documents but will also focus on service delivery which has a great impact on the citizens. The auditors will also sit with the clients in drafting the recommendations in line with the standard operating procedures.

The MDAs commended the ASSL for inviting them to the breakfast meeting and promised to liaise with other MDAs to immediately develop a strategy in ensuring actions are taken on the implementation of the recommendations.

The MDA officials promised to implement the recommendations in the Auditor-General’s Report and to fully cooperate with the auditors during this year’s audit.