PAC Questions Transport Ministry Over Missing Contract Documents

On October 30, 2024, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) convened at the Administrative Building in Parliament to conduct inquiries into the 2021 Auditor General’s Report. During this session, the committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, expressed serious concerns over the Ministry of Transport and Aviation‘s failure to provide adequate documentation regarding a contract valued at over one billion Leones.

The contract in question was between the ministry and Tropical Auto, intended for the supply of two new vehicles designated for the heads of the Hospitality and Communication departments at State House. As the committee scrutinized the details, Hon. Conteh requested a thorough review of the contract to ascertain the specifics of the advance payment guarantee and the overall financial management of the deal.

The Auditor’s Report highlighted that the issues surrounding this contract remain unresolved. Hon. Conteh probed further, questioning whether there was a performance guarantee in place to protect the government in the event of a breach of contract. He emphasized the importance of transparency, insisting that the vehicles should be brought to Parliament for verification to ensure that the terms of the contract were being honored.

According to the contract terms, a 30 percent advance payment was made upfront, followed by an additional 40 percent upon the submission of the bill of lading. However, the supplier, Tropical Auto, failed to deliver the vehicles by the agreed deadline, attributing the delays to global disruptions—an explanation that the committee found insufficiently justified in the report. This raised significant concerns about the ministry’s oversight and the procurement process.

In response to the committee’s inquiries, Charles Kamanda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, outlined the ministry’s actions. He revealed that they had communicated with both the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s Office to seek legal advice on the termination of several contracts that had not met their obligations. Following guidance from the Minister of Finance, Tropical Auto has been directed to repay all funds that were released into the consolidated fund.

Kamanda further stated that all contractors who received advance payments without fulfilling their contractual duties have been formally notified to return the funds. This approach aims to hold suppliers accountable and protect public resources from mismanagement.

As the session concluded, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh announced that a press release would be issued to summon all responsible parties, including representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, for a follow-up discussion on measures for recovering the funds. He made it clear that if the explanations provided by the ministry and the contractors were deemed unsatisfactory, the committee would not hesitate to pursue further enforcement actions.

This inquiry highlights the PAC’s commitment to transparency and accountability in government contracts, emphasizing the need for rigorous oversight to prevent financial mismanagement. The situation serves as a reminder of the importance of due diligence in public procurement processes, especially in cases involving significant sums of taxpayer money.