Freetown, 4th March 2026 – The Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) has intensified its advocacy for transparency in state-awarded contracts, warning that secrecy and weak oversight continue to undermine accountability in Sierra Leone’s governance.
In February, IGR released two reports – Di Hade Pa Di Case, Parts 1 and 2 – which revealed troubling gaps in revenue management and contract oversight. Among the findings:
An estimated $172 million was raised in toll fares at the Wellington–Masiaka highway over nine years, yet only $1 million was paid to government coffers. Between $7–9 million is generated annually from passport sales, but no royalties have been paid into the consolidated revenue fund since 2016.
At least 80% of NLe211 million allocated for prison rice procurement between 2016 and 2023 was deemed wasteful, with records showing an average of 10.2 cups of rice per prisoner per day.
Following the reports, IGR briefed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and opposition MPs, who themselves admitted to limited access to key financial data. Lawmakers disclosed that even Parliament lacks clarity on the loan terms for the Wellington–Masiaka toll road, including repayment schedules and interest rates. Calls for an independent audit of the toll have gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, Netpage reportedly paid NLe3 million in passport royalties to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, though questions remain about whether such payments should go directly to the Immigration Department. The Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) issued a rebuttal to IGR’s prison rice findings, but notably did not dispute the claim of 80% waste.
IGR says two lessons stand out: business interests appear to wield more influence over executive decisions than elected MPs, and citizen-led evidence, when paired with constructive engagement, can push institutions toward reform.
“Neither side can always get everything it wants in a single engagement,” IGR noted, “but slow and steady progress through dialogue can add up to the big change we are all aiming for.”
