Compliance Manager reveals excess salaries paid to workers
May 27, 2019
By Dusuba Koroma
Compliance and Audit Manager at the National Mineral Agency (NMA), Daphne Winnebah, has testified before Justice Biobele Georgewill that their audit report showed that Sierra Leone Commercial Bank paid excess wages to Mines Monitors in the Agency.
The witness stated that her responsibilities at the agency were to maintain an up-to-date laws and legal mandate that regulate the agency, advise the Director General on all financial matters, undertake regular financial audit and continually ensure that there is effective internal control.
When quizzed by lead State Counsel, O.V Robin Mason about the quantum of monies paid, she said the sum of Le33, 956,010.00 was transferred from the NMA Mines monitoring account.
She stated that rental allowances were being paid to mines monitoring officers who were occupying MNA residence in the region, thus adding that, there was no formal agreement on the said residence which they were occupying because allowances were paid to them for the same purpose which was supposed to be the other way round.
When asked to read a portion from the 2014 audit report, she stated that, Gibbs Construction Company was awarded a contract worth Le126, 000,000 for the rehabilitation of Kenema Precious Mineral Trading guest house without following due procurement process.
She added that competitive bidding was not carried out and Gibbs Construction collected the money but failed to do the work.
The witness said the 2017 report revealed that there were payments of vouchers with incomplete details in the sum of Le78, 985,000.00, thus noting that there were no supporting documents to show that those monies were paid to staff.
The report also revealed that top up allowances for 17 Geologists and Engineers amounting to Le517, 000,000.00 which was paid to the Ministry of Mines with no supporting document.
Meanwhile, the proceeding was adjourned to Thursday May 23rd 2019.