Lara Taylor-Pearce Faces Potential Dismissal Over Breach of Confidentiality
Written By: Theresa Thomas
Lara Taylor-Pearce is an auditor and civil servant, best known for her work as the Auditor General of Sierra Leone from 2011 to 2021. During her tenure, she gained international attention for exposing corruption related to the 2014–2016 Ebola pandemic response. Taylor-Pearce conducted a real-time audit of Ebola relief funds, revealing faulty documentation of government spending and leading to the recovery of several billion Leones. Her efforts to improve government accountability were commendable, earning her the National Integrity Award from the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone in 2015.
Currently, the suspended Auditor General of Sierra Leone, Lara Taylor-Pearce, faces an uncertain future as Parliament prepares to deliberate on whether to remove her from office. This follows recommendations from a Tribunal convened to investigate allegations of misconduct. During a recent press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown, the Director of Public Prosecution, Osman Kanu, revealed that the Tribunal had concluded its investigation and put forth recommendations concerning both Taylor-Pearce and her deputy.
“The Tribunal has recommended the removal of the Auditor General,” Kanu informed journalists. “This recommendation now awaits Parliament’s decision, which requires a two-thirds majority vote under Section 137(7a) (b) to determine her fate. Meanwhile, the case of the Deputy Auditor General will be decided by the Audit Service Sierra Leone Board.” Kanu detailed the grounds for the Tribunal’s decision, highlighting breaches of confidentiality by Taylor-Pearce during a third-party confirmation process. “As a professional auditor, maintaining confidentiality is crucial,” Kanu emphasized. “The breach of this principle prompted the inquiry and subsequent recommendations by the Tribunal.”
Taylor-Pearce and her deputy, Tamba Momoh, were suspended in 2022 amidst allegations of professional misconduct related to interactions with third parties during a compliance audit of the Office of the President. Specifically, the Tribunal investigated claims that they had unauthorized contacts with hotels in Lebanon, South Africa, and The Gambia. Regarding Taylor-Pearce’s involvement with the Freetown City Council (FCC), Kanu disclosed that the matter would be referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigation.
The developments surrounding the suspended Auditor General have stirred considerable debate and scrutiny within Sierra Leone, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting Parliament’s decision on her future. The outcome is poised to have significant implications for the country’s governance and accountability framework moving forward.
