An additional investigation is set to be conducted regarding the procurement of goods and services related to the 52nd Asian Development Bank Annual General Meeting held in 2019, amid concerns of potential material mismanagement within the Ministry of Civil Services.
In Parliament, Esrom Immanuel, Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, proposed a motion to discuss the findings of a special investigation report focused on this procurement matter. The Ministry of Civil Service was tasked with organizing this significant international event, which saw participation from over 3,000 attendees across 76 countries.
As the host nation, the previous government allocated $10 million for the event, but the actual expenses amounted to $10.9 million, raising significant questions regarding financial transparency and management.
The Assistant Minister for Finance noted that the Auditor General’s report, which prompted the investigation, identified several critical issues, including potential fraud, breaches of financial regulations, and conflicts of interest related to vendor selections. Key findings indicated that the Auditor General’s office had found adequate evidence of fraudulent activities concerning certain payments.
Immanuel pointed out that the investigation uncovered delays in the contract processing for the event and inefficiencies in fund management. He stated that while the investigation and subsequent improvements were essential, there was a considerable delay in the release of the report. Although finalized in December 2020, it was not presented to Parliament until May 2023.
He stressed the significance of this investigation in instituting necessary reforms and called for ongoing oversight to avert future mismanagement of public funds. Meanwhile, Speaker Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu invoked Standing Order 20 to refer the issue to the public accounts sub-committee for further examination, awaiting their findings.