By Bobor Dan Kamara
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has exonerated Ambruse T Sesay, the Project Coordinator of the Free Quality Education (FQE) Project, and Mohamed Kamara, the Project’s Procurement Officer, from alleged corruption and misappropriation of public or donor funds meant for the construction of 300-bed block for girls under the FQE project in Kailahun.
The ACC, in a press release dated 21st October, 2024, clarified that the funds for the said project were judiciously utilized for their intended purposes and were mismanaged.
It confirmed that donor partners, including the World Bank, raised concerns about the increased (reported) incidents of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the education sector; on the grounds that they don’t want to be part of a project that could house girls under those circumstances.
The donor partners further asked the Ministry of Basic and Senior School Examination (MBSSE) to explore alternative use of the hostels to ensure that they do not exacerbate GBV risks, for which the project had been stalled.
The ACC Investigation Report posited said the Project was awarded to Unique Solutions Company Limited in March 2022 and that the contract was funded by World Bank at a value of Four Hundred and Seventy-three Million Seven Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty (Old) Leones (le 4,473,718,230).
It further revealed that the verification of the Project site showed that practical completion has been achieved with about 90% of the work completed and that of the contract sum which has already been disbursed, a reason, it said, a certificate of practical completion was issued.
It stated that the outstanding work which includes the installation of gates and a solar-powered electricity system was not completed due to project isolated location and ongoing discussion on additional modifications to the original contracts, which was suggested by representatives from the World Bank during a site visit in 2023.
The Commission concluded by expressing its profound thanks and appreciation to the whistleblower and the public for their interest and patience during the investigation of the FGE Project in Kaniya, Luawa Chiefdom, Kailahun District.
