The Government says its message on the management of District Development Programme (DDP) accounts is simple: public money must be accounted for and public officials must be held accountable.
“Public money must be accounted for. Public officials must be accountable. But allegations of corruption must also be supported by evidence,” the Government said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The statement follows Samoa Observer reports detailing large cash withdrawals from bank accounts linked to the Faleata No. 2 and Safata No. 1 district councils. The reports examined financial records but did not allege that the money was stolen or corruptly used.
Faleata No. 2 was left with $1,017.70 in its district development account and cannot access the Government’s next $2 million allocation until acquittals are provided. Council chairwoman Muaaufaalele Mary Tae’u withdrew more than $1.5 million in cash over four months.
“The Government takes the management of public funds seriously,” the statement said, adding that a significant portion of district expenditure during the period was connected to the Back-to-School Assistance Programme.
