Auditors Demand Missing Payment Vouchers from Sheikh Zayed Eyecare Center

By Binta Jaiteh

The National Audit Office (NAO) Mondaydemanded for the missing payment vouchers from Sheikh Zayed Regional Eyecare Center totaling to over three million, eight hundred and two thousand, five hundred eighty nine dalasi(D3802,589.00).

The report of the NAO stated that Sheikh Zayed Regional Eyecare Center 2020 audit report revealed that over three million dalasi vouchers were missing adding that up to the time of finalizing the report.

Speaking during the consideration stage of the institution’s reports and statements spanning from 2006 to 2022, Kebba Lang Fofana deputizing for the chairperson of the committee FPAC questioned the Finance Director whether the institution has made a payment without raising a payment voucher.

The Finance Director of Sheikh Zayed, Kebba Darboe replied that they had never done that. He said the payment vouchers were available now.
“Maybe the auditors had skipped that part but I can assure you that the vouchers are available,” Mr. Darboe said.

Fofana replied him saying: ‘’The auditors have spent almost two years in trying to get those said vouchers during those years auditors could not get access to the vouchers but now in one week your institution was able to provide them.’’

Director of audit Sering Mass Jallow said the report was provided to Sheikh Zayed before the board and the CEO could sign. The reason is to avail them opportunity to study the draft and if they didn’t agree with any area then they couldget back to NAO to adjust.

“As auditors this is not the time for us to argue that the vouchers were available at that time,” he stressed.

Meanwhile Fofana reiterated that many people have sat in the same position and the situation becoming rampant wherein auditors will ask for reports and they are denied access to documentation at the material time.

Fofana asserted that as soon as parliament’s committee interfere they will now provide the reports. ‘’We want to make it clear that we don’t interfere in the operation of management.’’

“Each voucher represents an expenditure so if the voucher is not provided it becomes unaccounted one,” he remarked.
‘’You cannot tell the committee that you have been ordered by management and you failed to perform but within a week the vouchers are found. As a committee we have heard you and we will take our decision on that issue,’’ Fofana concluded.