By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone’s Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Chief Fodie J. Konneh, has delivered powerful insights on supplier selection and procurement governance during a regional training organized by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM).
Speaking virtually to more than fifty participants from across West Africa, Chief Konneh highlighted the practical realities that shape effective procurement and contract management. Although the session was held online, it maintained the energy and engagement of an in-person gathering, with procurement practitioners eager to strengthen their knowledge and improve systems that safeguard public resources.
With over fifteen years of experience managing complex, multi-million-dollar public projects, Chief Konneh has earned a reputation as one of the region’s most grounded and forward-thinking procurement leaders. His delivery reflected that depth not merely presenting technical content, but sharing lived experiences, real-world scenarios, and hard-earned lessons that resonated with procurement officers and regulators.
His presentation, titled “Strategies for Identifying and Selecting Suitable Suppliers/Contractors,” provided participants with a practical and comprehensive guide rooted in the Public Procurement Act 2016* and the *Public Procurement Regulations 2020, enriched with global best practices.
Chief Konneh walked participants through the full procurement lifecycle, including governance and ethical conduct, market analysis and supplier intelligence, pre-qualification and due diligence, procurement method selection and dossier preparation, evaluation models and Total Cost of Ownership, contract award and supplier onboarding and long-term supplier relationship management.
What stood out most was his strong emphasis on transparency, fairness, and accountability values he described as non-negotiable in public procurement. He reminded participants that behind every contract lies a public service, a citizen expecting improvement, and a government striving to build trust.
Participants responded with enthusiasm, noting that his clarity, practical examples, and realistic perspectives helped bridge the persistent gap between theory and practice.
For the NPPA, the engagement signals its growing influence in shaping procurement excellence not only in Sierra Leone but across the region. For Sierra Leone, it underscores the country’s emerging leadership in modern and accountable public procurement.
The NPPA reaffirmed its commitment to championing accountability, value-for-money, and institutional excellence one engagement at a time.