The Auditor General has launched a special investigation into the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) following the Ministry of Social Protection’s inability to properly account for the spending of its $250 million budget.
According to the 2019 Audit report which was tabled in the National Assembly yesterday, amounts totalling $249.997 million were expended under the SLED Programme as at 31 December 2019, of which $229.6 million was issued to the Regions with the largest portion $169.555 million being issued to Region №. 9.
The AG noted that an audit examination of a sample of Beneficiaries’ files revealed that application forms were not completed despite it being a requirement. In addition, no criteria or checklist was seen as utilised for the appraisal and approval of grants.
“It was difficult to ascertain the reason(s) for granting approval to the Beneficiaries. At the time of this report, a special investigation was being conducted into the SLED Programme,” he concluded.
