Chairman denies Le 112m embezzlement
The Chairman of the Council of Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL), Claudius Malama-Thomas, denied recent media reports that the council has embezzled the sum of 112 million Leones.
During a recent interview with Sierra Express in his office at A.J Momoh Street, Tower Hill in Freetown, Mr. Malama-Thomas described the allegation as utterly ridiculous, unfounded and malice-oriented, possibly spread by those who do not want to see the council succeed in driving away corruption from the SSL.
Chairman Malama-Thomas maintained that all monies remitted to the council are judiciously utilized and properly accounted for, adding that he is not a vote controller and does not have the mandate to disburse funds. He furthered that all sitting fees were paid to council members and there is a clean record to show.
Malama-Thomas lamented that the council is deeply disturbed by such unwarranted smear campaign waged against its members while they are endeavoring to restructure and stabilize the SSL.
He recalled that the council was established by government in March, 2014, with the mandate to probe and restructure the SSL, adding that a number of mechanisms had to be put in place in readiness for the council to operate, committees had to be set and briefing from management needed and because this is a census year it was necessary for meetings to be held to catch up with the census activities.
The Chairman quoted the SSL Act, 2002 section 9 (2) which provides for the formation of a statutory committee called, National Census Advisory Committee responsible to supervise the work of census.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2014, https:. All rights reserved.
