By Mohamed Kamara
In a shocking 2023 audit report released by the Auditor General, serious discrepancies have been revealed within the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, pointing to possible financial mismanagement, lack of accountability, and unfulfilled promises.
The audit report exposes a range of issues, including unapproved demolitions, uncompleted government projects, and unsupported financial transactions that could potentially cost taxpayers millions.
Leased Government Properties in Danger
The Ministry’s management of leased government properties, including iconic hotels like Bintumani Hotel and New Brookfield Hotel, has raised red flags. The Ministry failed to update the fixed assets register, and key lease agreements were either missing or not reviewed in time, even though their terms had expired.
Despite government loans like the US$500,000 seed money for the Bintumani Hotel’s renovation, no evidence has been provided to show whether the hotel was upgraded to its promised five-star status. The lack of monitoring raises concerns that these assets may have been exploited for personal gains, resulting in significant loss of government revenue.
Official Response
The Ministry acknowledged that an inventory list for Bintumani and Lungi Hotels was available. However, they cited management refusal to sign the review document for Bintumani Hotel, which had been communicated to the Office of the Attorney-General and the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
The Ministry also claimed that reviews had been completed for the New Brookfield Hotel, Lungi Hotel, and Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko.
Auditor’s Comment
While some documents were submitted, the reviewed lease agreements for New Brookfield Hotel, Lungi Hotel, and Bintumani Conference Centre were still missing, leaving the issue partially resolved. Additionally, the Ministry did not respond to the database maintenance issue showing lease amounts and outstanding payments.
Demolition without Approval
The Ministry also faced backlash for demolishing approved beach bars and structures along the Lumley-Aberdeen Beach. Despite being aware of these actions, the Ministry failed to submit the necessary documentation or provide a solid explanation for the demolition, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the rationale and legality of the action.
Official Response
There was no response from the Ministry or any evidence that the recommendation for approval submission was implemented.
Auditor’s Comment
This issue remains unresolved due to the Ministry’s failure to provide the required evidence.
Unfinished Pavilion Project
One of the most alarming issues revealed in the audit is the incomplete construction of a mini pavilion at the Ministry’s headquarters. A contract worth NLe398,000 was signed in November 2023, with an 80% payment made by December 2023.
However, by August 2024, nearly 10 months later, the pavilion remained unfinished, with a balance of NLe81,500 worth of work left incomplete. This delay could result in a potential waste of public funds, as the contractor has yet to meet the project’s obligations.
Official Response
The Permanent Secretary confirmed that appropriate action was taken regarding the pavilion’s construction but did not provide details of the measures taken or the completion status.
Auditor’s Comment
The response was deemed inadequate, and no evidence was provided showing the completion of the pavilion project. Therefore, this issue remains unresolved.
Unsupported Payments Raise Alarm
Large sums of money were withdrawn from the Ministry’s imprest account without any supporting documents, including NLe388,931 from the Bank of Sierra Leone.
Payments totaling NLe1,206,744 lacked vital supporting evidence, including receipts and concept notes. Even more troubling, the Ministry failed to submit documents for major projects like the UNESCO Film Project and the ‘Meet the People Tour’, leaving citizens questioning whether the funds were used for their intended purposes.
Official Response
The Ministry confirmed that the supporting documents for NLe1,206,744 and NLe388,931 had been made available for verification during the audit, although some documents were still missing. For the UNESCO Film Project and ‘Meet the People Tour,’ the Ministry failed to submit the relevant documents.
Auditor’s Comment
The response was partially satisfactory. While 88% of the missing documents were submitted for the NLe1,206,744 query, the remaining documents for the UNESCO Film Project, ‘Meet the People Tour,’ and other missing amounts remain unresolved.
Withholding Taxes Unpaid
In another critical oversight, withholding taxes totaling NLe20,087.20 were deducted from payments to suppliers but never remitted to the National Revenue Authority. Despite efforts to resolve the matter, the required Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the NRA has yet to be issued, and the taxes remain unpaid, raising concerns about lost government revenue.
Official Response
The Ministry claimed that they had sent a letter to the NRA requesting a Tax Identification Number (TIN) for the Agency but were still awaiting a response. The process was reportedly ongoing.
Auditor’s Comment
The withholding taxes remain unpaid, and no TIN had been issued at the time of the audit, so the issue remains unresolved.
