By Sahrfoa Matturie
Sierra Leone’s public sector reform drive gathered pace as the Ministry of Finance, through its Internal Audit Directorate, convened a one-day stakeholders’ engagement aimed at strengthening control, risk management, and compliance systems across government institutions.
The workshop, supported by the Global Fund and the African Institute of Internal Auditors, was held on 12 February in Makeni at the Apex Hotel under the theme “Strengthening Institutional Capacity in Control, Risk and Compliance in the Public Sector.” It brought together representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local councils, audit committees, and development partners.
The engagement focused on enhancing accountability, transparency, and institutional resilience in entities responsible for managing public resources and delivering essential services.
Senior Non-Key Expert in Internal Audit at EU LINPICO, Augustus Cole, delivered the introductory remarks. He stressed the urgent need for robust internal control frameworks and effective risk management practices within public institutions. He underscored the importance of aligning internal audit functions with international standards to strengthen governance structures and maintain donor confidence.
Assistant Director at the Internal Audit Directorate, Antoinette Doris Omodele Iscandry, explained that the workshop aims to improve compliance mechanisms and embed risk management practices within MDAs and local councils. She noted that many institutions currently lack functional risk registers and fail to systematically prioritize risk mitigation.
According to her, the Directorate intends to equip institutions with the technical knowledge required to develop comprehensive risk registers, identify institutional vulnerabilities, and implement practical mitigation strategies. She further announced a five-day intensive training workshop scheduled to take place in Freetown next week, designed to provide hands-on support to ensure participating MDAs and councils establish operational risk management systems.
Chief Administrator of Port Loko City Council, Julia Tiama Koroma, described the initiative as timely, particularly at the beginning of the fiscal year. She observed that strengthening internal systems at this stage would better position councils for external audits and enhance overall compliance within the public sector.
Jespa Saffia Komba, Chairman of the Audit Committee at Kono District Council, welcomed the initiative and called for a shift in institutional mindset. He emphasized that internal audit should be perceived as a mechanism for institutional improvement rather than a fault-finding exercise and pledged to apply the lessons learned to reinforce governance and accountability within his council.
Stakeholders at the workshop reiterated that strengthening institutional capacity in control, risk, and compliance is fundamental to safeguarding public funds and maintaining public trust. Weak systems, they cautioned, could undermine service delivery, fiscal discipline, and national development outcomes. The initiative signals a renewed commitment by the Ministry of Finance to fortify governance frameworks and build a more resilient and accountable public sector
