ACC probe underway
July 18, 2018
By Ibrahim Tarawallie
Youth Affairs Minister Mohamed O. Bangura says he met an empty kitty
Minister of Youth Affairs yesterday claimed that billions of Leones meant for the implementation of several projects by the ministry could not be accounted for by those allegedly involved.
Mohamed Orman Bangura said there was no trace of huge sums of money remitted for projects in the ministry, while the existence of some projects claimed to have been implemented by the former government remains in doubt.
He was speaking at a presser hosted in the ministry’s conference room to update journalists on the activities of the ministry.
He said the discovery was made after an internal audit of the ministry was carried out, adding that signatories to the account, including former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Adekalie Samura, should be held accountable. He however didn’t disclose the names of the suspected masterminds of the alleged missing funds.
Mr. Bangura disclosed that based on advice from the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he has sent the files to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further probe into the alleged missing of funds meant for projects implementation.
The construction of a youth farm and creation of a youth village was trumpeted by former Youth Minister, Bai Mamoud Bangura.
But some youth activists challenged the then minister as to the validity of the projects, claiming that they were white elephant.
The current Youth Minister stated emphatically that neither a youth farm existed under the former All People’s Congress (APC) administration, nor a youth village created.
He urged youth across the country to come on board and help the ministry in finding lasting solutions to the myriad problems confronting them.
He added that along the line, there might be challenges and misfortune but they should be able to confront their challenges and move forward.