FREETOWN, Oct 2, 2006 (AFP) - Sierra Leone's national anti-AIDS coordinating agency, the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS), has terminated the contracts of 30 local non-governmental organisations for poor management of project funds.
The NGOs had failed "to account for the use of some 600,000 US dollars (470,000 euros) allocated to projects between 2002 and 2004," said Abdul Rahman Sesay, deputy director of NAS, which coordinates Sierra Leone's HIV/AIDS programmes.
"The money was meant for them to intervene in various HIV/AIDS responses in their localities and communities for sensitization and mobilizing people to go for testings," Sesay said at a news conference.
Out of 30 NGOs surveyed, only 16 gave accounts on how allocated funds were used, "but their reports were unsatisfactory," Sesay said, adding that all 16 have defaulted in the terms and conditions of the contracts entered into with NAS.
As a result, NAS has revised its allocation of funds and is channelling the funds through local government councils for distribution within their districts, according to Sesay.
NAS, which operates as a quasi-government department based in President Ahmaed Tejan Kabbah's office, is itself funded by such international donors as the World Bank and The Global Fund.
The NGOs, however, remain registered and can operate elsewhere in the country but will not do any business with the anti-AIDS agency.
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