The recently released Audit Report for the Year 2023 revealed loats of irregularities. Below are the key highlights:

• Water Supply Distribution Audit
  The Guma Valley Water Company, supplying a whopping 90% of waters to about 1.5 million residents of Freetown, faces enormous problems with water distribution. The audit revealed encroachment into water catchment areas due to increase in population densities and demand for land. This, in turn has led to excessive deforestation and logging that are seen to threaten the sustainability of water resources.
  Leakage in the distribution network was another finding made during the audit, resulting in considerable water loss between the production and end-user points. Without adequate metering systems, measuring the water balance accurately for more operational efficiencies is not possible.
• Results of the Audit on Forest Management
  In addition, the audit has one into the management of forest harvesting which portrays a dismal conversion of forest cover amounting to 19,700 hectares annually as at 2020. Increase in settlements coupled by agricultural activities in the Western Area contributes to environmental vulnerabilities such as mudslides.
  Key findings from the audit on forest management would include:
  Inaccessibility to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): EIA for the forestry sector has not been found hence inability to conduct environmental risk assessment and application of sustainable practices.
  Licensing Inefficiencies: Only 85 out of the 167 power saws in operation are licensed, which results in revenue loss due to unlicensed operations to the tune of NLe422,000. Poor Monitoring and Enforcement: The absence of standard monitoring guidelines in the forestry department and the filling of only 23% of staff positions has made law enforcement in the country ineffective.

Stalled National Tree Planting Project: The implementation of the National Tree Planting Project has stalled due to poor management and unclear targets, even after the government budgeted NLe62,181,400 for climate change efforts.

This report's summary calls for immediate action in addressing these inefficiencies, improving coordination among stakeholders, and urging the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to further enhance its ability to monitor and work collaboratively to conserve critically important natural resources for Sierra Leone.

The finding of this performance audit serves as a call and need to adhere to good internal governance and resource management required for the attainment of sustainable development goals.