By: Saidu Jalloh
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Fodie J. Konneh, on Tuesday held a strategic engagement with the Chief Electoral Commissioner of Sierra Leone, Sylvester Edmund Alpha, aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and improving public procurement standards across state institutions.
The meeting, held at the NPPA headquarters in Freetown, brought together management teams from both institutions to discuss procurement compliance, institutional capacity building, and governance systems within the public sector.
Welcoming the delegation, Konneh underscored the importance of professionalism in the evolving procurement sector and stressed the need for institutions to attract and retain competent personnel capable of responding to emerging demands.
“The public procurement sector is evolving rapidly, and to effectively respond to emerging demands, we must continue to attract and retain competent and professional personnel,” Konneh stated.
He added that the engagement reflected the shared commitment of both institutions to transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery.
Konneh further emphasized that stronger collaboration between public institutions would enhance governance systems and improve public confidence in state operations.
Speaking during the engagement, Alpha commended the NPPA for what he described as its strong oversight and regulatory role in promoting accountability and compliance within public institutions.
“The Electoral Commission values the important oversight role of the NPPA in promoting accountability and compliance within public institutions,” Alpha said.
He noted that strengthening cooperation between the two institutions would contribute significantly to ensuring integrity and professionalism in national processes.
Discussions during the meeting reportedly focused on institutional cooperation, procurement procedures, compliance monitoring, and professional training opportunities aimed at improving the operational effectiveness of the Electoral Commission’s procurement unit.
Concluding the engagement, Konneh called on both institutions to begin implementing recommendations contained in the tripartite framework, while reaffirming the NPPA’s commitment to supporting public institutions through sound procurement practices.
The partnership between the NPPA and the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is expected to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in electoral procurement processes, particularly in the acquisition of electoral materials, logistics, and related services.