By: Nyima Sillah
Hon Madi Ceesay, National Assembly Member for Serrekunda Constituency said the names mentioned in the imprest should be arrested.
In an exclusive with The Voice on Wednesday, Honourable Madi Ceesay said “This is government money taken by civil servants, the names are clear and the amounts are clear. What the government should have done is to go for each of them, bring them before the court, prosecute them and let them pay the money as simple as that,”
“There is no other way than arresting them because this is a criminal act. Take them before the court, prosecute them accordingly if they are guilty let them be punished accordingly by the law,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, he said financial discipline is all that is needed in this country. Adding that would save a lot of money so that the monies that are saved can be put into the development sector to move this country forward.
“This country has been in budget deficit for years. The gap is getting bigger and bigger. The resources raised to meet our demands, that gap is a budget deficit and this is what we are going through year in and year out.
“I am quite sure in the next budget session; we will have more budget deficit than the previous ones. So, therefore, financial discipline must start from the president himself.” He added.
He pointed out that the president himself should retire his imprest and then makes sure that all the other people retire their imprest. Adding that is the only way to have financial discipline within the system.
Honourable Ceesay, therefore, advised the people who are having the imprest to come forward and pay the monies. Adding “If they cannot pay all together it is only proper for them to come forward and come out with a payment plan with the government.
“That is the only way they can pay but this money should not go like that even if it will take them to sell their properties and return the money it should be paid, and the best way is for them to come forward voluntarily before the law follows them,” he said.
