The Ministry of Defense has on
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Presenting the budget the Director General
of the Ministry of Defence Sanah J Marrah said their 2017 budget was revised to
Le 87billion considering the economic situation in the country and for the
Defense Ministry to be effective and operational.
He said currently each personnel of the Republic
of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) is receiving a bag of rice costing over
Le22 billion per year.He noted that recruitment of 300 soldiers was not
implemented due to inadequate funding from the Ministry of Finance and Economic
Development.
He also noted that they have also cut 30% of
their expenditure due to lack of finances from the Government of Sierra Leone.
Speaking on their achievements on a Power Point
presentation for the financial year 2016, he said they have reconstructed
housing unit’s two military barracks at Wilberforce and Gondama village in the
Southern Province of Sierra Leone.
He also explained about the rehabilitation of the
Daru Barracks, hospital and accommodation for doctors and nurses and also
rehabilitated a community school at Daru.He said 4 out of the 8 houses are near completion
at Wilberforce and also spoke about Military assistance provided by the
People’s Republic of China.
He also highlighted some key deliverables they
did not achieve which includes establishment of a Battalion size barracks in
Kambia amongst others.
He said contract for rice alone
is costing Le24billion whilst medical supply for the army and civilians are
Le15billion and fuel Le 9billion.
To cushion the economic distress on the procurement of rice the ministry of defense will be cultivating over 250 hectares of boli-land around Magban in the Moyamba district for rice production that will be used to supply the army.
To cushion the economic distress on the procurement of rice the ministry of defense will be cultivating over 250 hectares of boli-land around Magban in the Moyamba district for rice production that will be used to supply the army.
The Chief of Defense Staff John Milton said the
2017 budget also requested for the establishment of defense attaches to China
and Ethiopia which is meant to provide security for visitors and to also
support defense diplomacy and lobbying for support from partners.
The CDS also spoke about the
operational challenges and lack of accommodation for soldiers across the
country after a visit recently.
He said ‘I don’t want to comment on the auditor general’s report as we are in the process to respond appropriately he said most of it is centered on receipts.
He said ‘I don’t want to comment on the auditor general’s report as we are in the process to respond appropriately he said most of it is centered on receipts.
The air wing of the army is also operational but
we lack the logistics to do our work.
Concluding on the war wounded he said when he
assumed office he engaged them and investigated with options with the involvement
of Office of National Security but finance ministry is on the verge of
addressing the issue and verification will soon start. He stressed.
The Auditor General Reports detected in the
ministry of defence “overpricing” with over $12.5 million stolen, as well as
possible mis-procurement in construction contracts.
As part of the procurement process, draft
contract agreements are to be submitted to the Solicitor-General for vetting
and advice. In respect of a contract for the supply of arms and ammunition in
the amount of $45,898,250 the Solicitor-General advised “… the Performance Bond
to be provided by the contractor should have a validity period covering the
entire contract period”.
The budget hearing was chaired
by Ansu Tucker Principal Deputy Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance
and Economic Development aided by civil society groups, media and non-state
actors.
Source: Sierraloaded
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