Office of the President Asked to Provide Documents on D9.8 Million Contract Variations by Early March

By Fatou Sillah

The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly has directed the Office of the President (OP) to submit supporting documents for contract variations totaling D9.8 million related to the Banquet Hall Project, following concerns raised in the 2023 Auditor General’s Report on Government Accounts.

Auditors informed the committee that an increase in the contract price had been identified and recommended that management ensure clearer contract terms and conduct regular reviews to prevent future cost overruns.

In response, the Office of the President explained that the project was initiated under the previous administration and subsequently upgraded to meet the requirements of the current government, resulting in variations to the original contract.

“The project, which was initiated by the previous regime, was to be upgraded both in terms of POQ and specification to be fit for purpose and the taste of the new government, hence the need for such variations,” management stated.

However, auditors said the explanation was not supported by documentary evidence, noting that payments amounting to D9,802,232 remain unsubstantiated.

“Management response was not substantiated with evidence as to the overpayments that were made to the contract amounting to D9,802,232; as a result, the findings remain unresolved,” the auditors reported.

Management further indicated that several addenda were issued during the course of the project due to changing circumstances and pledged to work with the National Audit Office to provide the required documentation. “A series of addenda was actually done to this project because of the different circumstances, so we will work with NAO to provide the relevant documentation they need.”

The Office of the President requested additional time to compile the records, a request the committee granted, extending the submission deadline to the first week of March.