Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to the highest standards of accountability and transparency during a meeting with Madam Meisie Nkau, Chief Executive Officer of the African Organisation of English-Speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E). The Chief Justice described the visit as both appropriate and timely, with the goal of strengthening institutional collaboration between the judiciary and audit institutions in order to boost public trust in the administration of justice.
In welcoming Madam Nkau and her delegation, Justice Kamanda emphasised the importance of collaboration among independent institutions while emphasising the need for those institutions to maintain their independence in practical terms. “We need financial independence,” the Chief Justice said, emphasising that financial autonomy is required for the Judiciary and other oversight bodies to function effectively. He further stated: “We must take practical steps to achieve this so that we can effectively perform our duties as independent institutions.”
Justice Kamanda praised AFROSAI-E for its efforts to strengthen the independence and efficiency of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) across Africa. He emphasised the critical oversight role of auditors in ensuring that public resources are properly managed, stating that no country can function effectively without the vital scrutiny provided by the Auditor General and professional auditors. According to the Chief Justice, auditors are critical to service delivery because they examine financial records, evaluate internal controls, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations, all of which directly support transparency and institutional accountability.
Madam Meisie Nkau, in turn, praised the Judiciary’s leadership and commitment to accountability. She described AFROSAI-E’s mandate and history, stating that the organisation, founded in 2005, is a member-based organisation dedicated to strengthening public audit institutions in English-speaking African countries. She stated that AFROSAI-E’s work focuses on increasing the capacity of its 26 member SAIs through professionalisation, training, and quality assurance, all to ensure effective audits of government spending in accordance with international standards.
Madam Nkau stated that AFROSAI-E, which is hosted by the South African Auditor-General, also serves as a platform for peer learning, knowledge exchange, and the adoption of best practices in public sector auditing. “AFROSAI-E plays an enabling role in the region by sharing information with its members and assisting them in carrying out their mandates more effectively,” she continued, emphasising the organisation’s emphasis on both individual and institutional capacity building to increase productivity and competence.
The meeting, which included Supreme Court Justices, the Deputy Auditor General, and senior Judiciary management staff, signalled a mutual willingness to pursue collaborative initiatives. Both parties expressed their willingness to collaborate on capacity-building activities and other measures to improve transparency, accountability, and the effective discharge of institutional responsibilities.
The Chief Justice seeks financial independence as the Judiciary hosts the CEO of AFROSAI-E
Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to the highest standards of accountability and transparency during a meeting with Madam Meisie Nkau, Chief Executive Officer of the African Organisation of English-Speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E). The Chief Justice described the visit as both appropriate and timely, with the goal of strengthening institutional collaboration between the judiciary and audit institutions in order to boost public trust in the administration of justice.
In welcoming Madam Nkau and her delegation, Justice Kamanda emphasised the importance of collaboration among independent institutions while emphasising the need for those institutions to maintain their independence in practical terms. “We need financial independence,” the Chief Justice said, emphasising that financial autonomy is required for the Judiciary and other oversight bodies to function effectively. He further stated: “We must take practical steps to achieve this so that we can effectively perform our duties as independent institutions.”
Justice Kamanda praised AFROSAI-E for its efforts to strengthen the independence and efficiency of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) across Africa. He emphasised the critical oversight role of auditors in ensuring that public resources are properly managed, stating that no country can function effectively without the vital scrutiny provided by the Auditor General and professional auditors. According to the Chief Justice, auditors are critical to service delivery because they examine financial records, evaluate internal controls, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations, all of which directly support transparency and institutional accountability.
Madam Meisie Nkau, in turn, praised the Judiciary’s leadership and commitment to accountability. She described AFROSAI-E’s mandate and history, stating that the organisation, founded in 2005, is a member-based organisation dedicated to strengthening public audit institutions in English-speaking African countries. She stated that AFROSAI-E’s work focuses on increasing the capacity of its 26 member SAIs through professionalisation, training, and quality assurance, all to ensure effective audits of government spending in accordance with international standards.
Madam Nkau stated that AFROSAI-E, which is hosted by the South African Auditor-General, also serves as a platform for peer learning, knowledge exchange, and the adoption of best practices in public sector auditing. “AFROSAI-E plays an enabling role in the region by sharing information with its members and assisting them in carrying out their mandates more effectively,” she continued, emphasising the organisation’s emphasis on both individual and institutional capacity building to increase productivity and competence.
The meeting, which included Supreme Court Justices, the Deputy Auditor General, and senior Judiciary management staff, signalled a mutual willingness to pursue collaborative initiatives.
Both parties expressed their willingness to collaborate on capacity-building initiatives and other measures aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and the effective discharge of institutional responsibilities.
