Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Between Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) and Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL)
On June 23, 2026, the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) and Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) signed a landmark agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic partnership to produce Sierra Leone 2024 – 2025 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Report.
The event was attended by notable figures from both institutions, led by the Auditor General of ASSL – Mr. Abdul Aziz, and the National Coordinator Mr. Mohamed Baimba Koroma, along with reporters from media organizations.
This pivotal agreement aims to enhance transparency, accountability, credibility, and integrity in reporting within Sierra Leone’s extractive sector and reflects the shared commitments by both institutions to revealing accountability gaps, strengthening institutional cooperation, and ensuring that revenues derived from extractive activities are reported accordingly to citizens.
With recent innovations in the EITI implementation, the EITI International Secretariat give implementing countries the option to produce reports using the services of their Supreme Audit Institutions. Therefore, as per Requirement 4.8 of the EITI Standard, SLEITI is thrilled to be partnering with Audit Service Sierra Leone to produce Sierra Leone 2024 – 2025 EITI Report, as SLEITI deemed ASSL to be technically competent, credible, trustworthy, and free from any conflicts of interest with respect to the collection and treatment of any information deemed “sensitive”.
Both leaders present shared their views on the significance and timeliness of this event.
Mr. Abdul Aziz, Auditor General of ASSL, emphasized that the agreement reflects both institutions’ commitment to enhancing accountability, transparency, and effective governance in managing Sierra Leone’s natural resources. He described the MoU as a milestone that will improve existing systems and strengthen the credibility of EITI reporting in Sierra Leone. Given that the Audit Service Sierra Leone is responsible for promoting accountability and transparency in public fund management, and SLEITI focuses on enhancing governance in the extractive sector, both institutions viewed the MoU as vital collaboration toward a shared goal.
Mr. Aziz further explained that prior to the MoU’s signing, ASSL was responsible for certifying the reporting templates submitted by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and districts authorities. Under the new arrangement, ASSL will assume the role of an Independent Administrator, responsible for preparing the Sierra Leone 2024-2025 EITI report, conducting scoping exercises, analyzing data, identifying gaps, and making recommendations to address any challenges encountered.
Mr. Mohamed Baimba Koroma, National Coordinator of SLEITI, expressed gratitude to the leadership and staff of ASSL for their ongoing commitment to transparency, integrity, and accountability, as well as their support of SLEITI over the years. He stated that this landmark agreement underscores a mutual commitment to leverage each institution’s strengths and resources for collective benefit, thereby advancing national efforts to enhance governance in the extractive sector of Sierra Leone.
He highlighted the five stages of the reporting process, which include:
- Scoping
- Data collection and initial analysis
- Data quality assurance
- MSG gap analysis
- EITI reporting for impact
He said the stages aim to assist the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) in enhancing disclosures in accordance with the EITI Standard, aligning with the national work plan, evaluating the comprehensiveness and reliability of the data, and supporting the MSG in making recommendations to reinforce government systems and natural resource governance.
In conclusion, he stated that the MoU represents the shared commitment to exposing accountability gaps, strengthening institutional collaboration, and ensuring that revenues from extractive activities are accurately reported to citizens. Thus, the signing is not merely a procedural achievement; but signifies a renewed commitment to the people of Sierra Leone to diligently safeguard the natural resources, uphold the highest standards of integrity, and ensure that every citizen can benefit from Sierra Leone’s natural resources.
Mr. Morie Lansana, Deputy Auditor General and chair of the meeting, commended SLEITI for its significant contributions to strengthening good governance within Sierra Leone’s extractive sector. He noted that the strong reputation and professional work of ASSL have fostered deeper collaboration between the two institutions.
