Coalition of Organizations Demands Release of Tribunal Report on Auditor-General Investigation.

On July 30, 2024, a coalition of organizations in Sierra Leone formally requested the full release of the tribunal report concerning the suspended Auditor-General, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce, and Deputy Auditor-General, Mr. Tamba Momoh.

This request was directed to the Secretary to the President and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, invoking the Right to Access Information Act of 2013.

The coalition, which includes prominent groups such as Christian Aid Sierra Leone (CASL), Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Western Area Budget Education Advocacy Network (WABEAN), ActionAid Sierra Leone (AASL), Talking Drum Studio (TDS), and Transparency International Sierra Leone (TISL), underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability. They argue that the public’s right to access information is essential for maintaining trust in government and judicial processes.

These organizations, alongside others like Fifty Fifty Group, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), International Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Citizens’ Barray, and the Eminent Women Peace Mediators-Sierra Leone (EWPM-SL), have called for an expedited and comprehensive response from the government.

The tribunal’s findings, presented to President Julius Maada Bio on June 12, 2024, have already been accepted by him, further intensifying public interest in the details and implications of the report. The coalition asserts that disclosing the report is crucial for upholding democratic principles and ensuring that governance processes are conducted with integrity.

The organizations are urging the Office of the President and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to comply with the Right to Access Information Act by releasing the report. This step is seen as essential for promoting transparency and reinforcing the principles of good governance.

PROFOUND INJUSTICE