Sierra Leone News: Govt. contractors need to be vetted


{Courtsey:AWOKO NEWS}

Sierra Leone News: Govt. contractors need to be vetted

Michala Mackay

Michala Mackay












The Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Michala Mackay of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has called on the Ministry of Finance to vet companies bidding for government contracts, whilst presenting their 2018 budget.
She said that the issue of contracts is a big challenge. “Government entities are giving contracts to companies and not crosschecking their status with us; whether they are compliant or not. Some of them will have a share capital of like Le10 million and are given contracts worth billions of Leones.
The CAC, she said, will be liaising with authorities to see how they can ensure that part of the procurement process will be. “If a contract is being offered above a certain quantum, it has to be given to a company, because companies are bound by law to follow certain procedures. Companies must submit their audited financial statements so at least MDAs will be in a better position to know that they are giving it to people who are capable of implementing.”
She went on to say that, they inherited over 10,000 names in the register, and half of them are non-functional. “So we now know we have over 2,000 companies that are viable and are contributing to the economy and when it comes to taxes you know who to tax,” she said.
Matthew Dingie, Director of Budget, appreciated their intervention on the area of due diligence, as he said he has been pushing for it in their Ministry on the award of contracts. “We would like the procurement authority to check the ability or balance sheets of these companies or businesses that bid on government contracts. The law makes provision for due diligence. It is a matter of for us to put in policies that will force MDAs to follow those policies,” said Dingie.
Businesses are given contracts worth millions of dollars and they (MDAs) don’t even see their audited account or capital base. Maybe they are run by one person and you don’t know their liquidity in the bank.”
Mackay said that coordination with two related institutions is a challenge. She said that the Administrator General Office is still holding on to company files. “If those files are not with us, we cannot offer services to those companies and as far as we are concerned they are non-existent.”
She said, the Ministry of Information and Communication needs to pass two important laws; the Electronics Transaction and Cyber Security Acts. “If not, it is going to hinder our efforts to continue to push electronic processes, because if you say to somebody pay via credit card, who is going to attest to the security of the use of those cards if we do not have the legal regulatory framework to support it.”
ZJ/26/8/17
By Zainab Joaque
Monday August 28, 2017.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DR KADI SESAY 'TIFF LIGHT'- [ BY DIRECT CURRENT]

Image
Kadi Sesay tiff light; Maada Bio tiff passport. Kadi Sesay tiff light; Maada Bio tiff passport. Kadi Sesay tiff light; Maada Bio tiff passport When I read the above words in the Sierra Leone Issues forum, my first expression was - Oh No! not another Big SLPP Fish! ofIt is indeed sad  and dissapointing for people  TRUST to be exposed in prety embarrasing situations. When I was growing up, as a  child, whenever one hears the song  - "Tiffy,Tiffy Jankoliko", one immediately knows that a THIEF has been caught or is being digraced publicly... with much clapping, laughing and in many cases beating, slapping, kicking and all. For someone to be branded a THIEF is one of the most degrading accusions recognised the world over and the LAW frawns upon this failure of human behaviour. In England, the Theft Act 1968, provides for up to 5 years imprisonment for theft defind in Section 3 of that Act. We in Sierra Leone still continue to use the Larceny Act 1916, (virtually a cabon cop
Read more

TOLLGATE TARIFF/TAX INCREASE BY CABINET AND NOT PARLIAMENT- ANUNFAIR BURDEN AND https://youtu.be/SOkbJQuMrhs?feature=shared

Image
https://www.facebook.com/SierraNetworkSalone/videos/3744142002530554/ INCREASE IN TOLLGATE TAXES - A RECIPE FOR ADDITIONAL HIGHER INFLATION ON COMMODITY/ FOOFCOST/ FUEL AND OTHER TRANSPORT PRICES. THIS IS UNFAIR    AND UNREASONABLE!  CATEGORY 5, AN INCREASE   FROM NLe183 to NLe700, an increase of 382.5%.  CATEGORY 6, AN INCREASE FROM NLe100 TO NEW 250    i.e. 150%. These are the categories that will mostly    impact cost of living and increase economic suffering on the people.    The Ministers of Transport, Works, Finance and Trade must conjointly review these increases as these are UNFAIR AND UNREASONABLE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAXES. TAXATION POLICY IS NOT TO PENALISE OR IMPOVERISH THE PEOPLE BUT TO PROVIDE    REVENUE, REASONABLE ENOUGH TO MITIGATE    GOVERNMENT    SPENDINGS IN VARIOUS PUBLIC GOODS! EXECUTIVE CABINET IS NOT THE SUBSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENT; ONLY PARLIAMENT HAS THE POWER TO IMPOSE TAXES. This is an unconstitutional action/policy change by Cabinet! https://www.facebook.com/
Read more

KUSH IS KILLING OUR YOUTHS - WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT?

Image
32 YOUTHS (24 MALES AND 8 FEMALES) BURIED IN MASS GRAVES WITH NO DIGNITY!  WARNING! GRAFIC SCENES IN THE VIDEO! Click to watch at your own discretion! https://youtu.be/u6MPV9zBXYg?feature=shared 32 YOUTHS (24 MALES AND 8 FEMALES) BURIED IN MASS GRAVES WITH NO DIGNITY! They were literally thrown in and the burial assistance can clearly be seen stepping on the dead bodies. The menace of KUSH and other deadly drugs is taking a tool on the youngsters in Sierra Leone. It is time for the government to take drastic actions before this epidemic becomes uncontrollable. The BBC AFRICA coverage of this most recent episode is an eye opener and this is just a glimpse of what this new disaster is. (Click the above link to watch at your own risk). Below, I reproduce comments made by citizens whose expressions paint a vivid picture of the menace of KUSH and the number of unidentified youths dying and being buried in sorrowful conditions. https://youtu.be/fKc3SDBoFtA?feature=shared READ BELOW! CULLED
Read more