Without a checklist or criteria, APNU+AFC funneled $169M to Region 9 – Audit report

The APNU+AFC coalition government gave out $249M under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme in 2019 but the Auditor General’s office report revealed that there was hardly any structured accounting process by which the money was handed out.

The report, released Wednesday, noted that most of the money went to residents in Region No. 9. The other regions that benefited under the SLED programme in 2019 were Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10.

Some $169.5M was issued to Region 9 but 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, the report noted. As a result, it was difficult to ascertain the reason(s) for granting approval to the beneficiaries.

The Auditor General has since launched a special investigation into the SLED Programme.

The SLED programme was managed by the former Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally.

Back in February 2019, Ally visited the Region and told residents that in 2019, SLED would have prioritised empowering the residents through the setting up of small businesses such as sewing and garment and block making.

At that time, Ally said her Ministry has already received proposals from various communities.