Audit Uncovers NLe 275,000 Disbursement Irregularities in Freetown City Council Youth Scheme

Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has uncovered irregularities in the disbursement of NLe 275,000 allocated to support 200 youth beneficiaries under the Freetown City Council’s SME scheme between 2021 and August 2023, raising serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of public spending.

The Youth Start-up fund is aimed at providing financial support and training to help young entrepreneurs launch or expand businesses.
The auditors, from the Audit Service Sierra Leone found that none of the disbursements followed due process.

The funds, NLe 1,000 per youth in 2021, and NLe 1,500 per youth in 2022 and 2023, were distributed without any formal application, business plan, proposal, or documented criteria, as alleged. Additionally, the audit revealed that there was no evidence of vetting, contact verification, or justification for the selection of recipients.