By: Aminata Sesay
Members of Parliament have praised the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) for the significant progress it has made in strengthening Sierra Leone’s public procurement system, while urging the institution to sustain reforms aimed at enhancing accountability, transparency, and value for money in public spending.
The commendation came during an engagement between the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Finance and the NPPA on Thursday, 18 June 2026. The meeting provided lawmakers with an opportunity to assess the Authority’s achievements, discuss ongoing challenges, and gain a deeper understanding of its reform agenda.
According to the Committee, the visit was intended to strengthen collaboration between Parliament and the country’s procurement regulator, while equipping Members of Parliament with the information needed to explain procurement reforms to their constituents and support initiatives that promote transparency in the management of public resources.
Addressing the Committee, NPPA Chief Executive Officer, Chief Fodie J. Konneh, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to ensuring openness, accountability, efficiency, and fairness in public procurement processes.
He highlighted several key reforms implemented under his leadership, including the introduction of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System, the revision of procurement thresholds, and the completion of outstanding Annual Public Procurement Compliance Assessment Reports, which had accumulated over a four-year period.
Chief Konneh also identified the successful completion of the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS) assessment, conducted with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, as a major milestone in evaluating and strengthening Sierra Leone’s procurement framework.
In addition to policy and regulatory reforms, he outlined a range of institutional improvements within the Authority. These include the completion of a Management and Functional Review, the establishment of a staff grading structure and career development pathway, improved staff welfare, expansion of office facilities, and strengthened monitoring of donor-funded projects.
He noted that the Authority is now placing greater emphasis on contract monitoring to ensure that government projects are implemented according to approved specifications, timelines, and quality standards.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee welcomed the progress made by the NPPA, particularly the elimination of the backlog of compliance assessment reports, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening procurement accountability and public trust.
However, Members of Parliament also raised concerns regarding sole-source procurement practices, enforcement of procurement regulations, the long-term sustainability of the e-GP platform, public awareness of procurement reforms, and the need to develop more qualified professionals.
Responding to these concerns, Chief Konneh explained that the NPPA is collaborating with academic institutions, including the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), to promote procurement education and strengthen professional capacity within the sector.
He further noted that the Authority is utilizing various communication platforms including radio, television, social media, and digital channels to increase public awareness and understanding of procurement policies and reforms.
On the future sustainability of the e-GP system, Chief Konneh disclosed that the NPPA has established a dedicated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Directorate tasked with managing, maintaining, and enhancing the platform while building local technical expertise.
He also assured lawmakers that the Authority remains committed to accountability and transparency through regular audits conducted by the Audit Service Sierra Leone.
The engagement concluded with both Parliament and the NPPA reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration in strengthening procurement governance, improving public financial management, and ensuring that government-funded projects deliver quality services and value for money to the people of Sierra Leone.