GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF
STATE HOUSE

PRESS RELEASE

Government wishes to inform the general public that the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG), which is the governing body for the implementation of the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI), is in the process of hiring a Reconciler to produce an EITI Report that will cover 2008, 2009 and 2010 period.

The reconciliation exercise will require Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including specific Local Councils and Companies operating in the mineral and oil/gas sectors to disclose to the public material revenues and payments for the period under review.

During the exercise, the Auditor-General will verify reports from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure international auditing standards are met. Similarly, the external auditors of the respective companies will be required to provide opinion on the reports to be submitted to the Reconciler, stating whether or not they are consistent with the auditor’s financial statements.

In view of this, all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including specific Local Councils that receive direct revenues and Companies operating in the mineral and oil/gas sectors that have made payments since 2008, 2009 and 2010 should now put modalities in place to ensure that their reports are subjected to the verification of the Auditor-General and the external auditors.

As soon as the MSG concludes the hiring of the Reconciler, a date will be announced for a consultative meeting where key elements of the SLEITI Reporting Templates will be discussed and a date agreed for submission of reports.

2nd February, 2012