Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, the FPAC Chairperson, read out the audit findings which stated: “The findings revealed that revenue worth over 8.2 million dalasis collected by the IEC was not properly tendered into the regulatory consolidated fund within the commercial bank account as indicated.”
“NAO recommend that the IEC provide an explanation on why this revenue was not deposited during the period under review.”
Taking the floor, IEC Vice Chairperson Cherno M. Jallow, insisted that the Commission had “already provided the necessary responses” and maintained that they stood by them. “We have found some of the new regulations very useful and have started implementing them,” he said. “But for importance, we stand by the response we provided.”
Committee chair pressed, pointing to constitutional and financial obligations that bind all public institutions including independent bodies like the IEC to account for every dalasi collected on behalf of the state.
“The IEC may be independent, but that independence does not mean immunity from accountability,” he noted.
The back-and-forth soon escalated over the supremacy of the Constitution versus the Public Finance Act. While IEC representatives argued that their autonomy protects them from direct control by government bodies, FPAC members countered that no institution stands above the law when it comes to public funds.
“Section 150 of the Constitution and Section 3 of the Public Finance Act make it clear,” Chairperson Darboe reminded the room. “All revenues received on behalf of the government must be deposited into the consolidated fund. IEC cannot be an exception.”
Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, member of the committee insisted that the issue was not about political interference, but about transparency and trust. “We are not here to punish the independence of the IEC,” he emphasised, “but to ensure that public funds including those raised by independent bodies are properly managed and reported.”
He argued that allowing the IEC to operate outside the Public Finance framework would set a dangerous precedent for other state institutions. “If we accept that, tomorrow every agency will say they are independent and unaccountable,” he warned.
This part of the questioning ended with the FPAC demanding further explanations from the IEC and a possible recall for clarification once the commission submits additional documentation.
