By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, 6th February 2026- The Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Industry has ordered Accord Logistics Chief Executive Officer, Johnny Kouza, to pay all outstanding salary arrears owed to staff of the Sierra Leone State Lottery within 24 hours.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Veronica Sesay delivered the stern directive during a heated parliamentary summons, warning Kouza that failure to comply would have serious consequences.
“We are mandating you to pay within 24 hours and provide the joint account details between Accord Logistics and Sierra Leone Lottery. Failing to do so, you will regret it,” Hon. Sesay declared.
The order follows months of complaints from Sierra Leone Lottery staff, who allege that Kouza has failed to pay salaries for nearly ten months. Those affected include the General Manager, Deputy General Manager, Director of Marketing, Office Messenger, and Matrix Security Service.
The Sierra Leone State Lottery Company Limited (SLSLC) operates under a joint venture agreement with Accord Logistics and the National Commission of Privatization (NCP), which serves as the supervisory body. Accord Logistics was awarded the contract in 2022 to modernize the lottery sector, boost revenue, and create jobs.
However, staff say Kouza’s failure to honour salary obligations has undermined the agreement and left them struggling.
This is not the first time Kouza has faced parliamentary scrutiny. Earlier, he was given a deadline to pay salaries by February 4, 2026. His failure to comply was deemed contempt of Parliament, breaching Section 95 of the Standing Orders.
When questioned on Thursday, Kouza argued that staff had misused funds and cited an unresolved court case as justification for withholding payments. He further claimed that the employees insisted they were answerable only to President Julius Maada Bio, who appointed them, and not to him.
“When we started the contract, every staff employed was to be paid under the joint venture. Later, they made it clear they were not answerable to me. I wanted to take administrative action but was told not to because they were appointed by the President,” Kouza said.
Hon. Wuyata Songa rejected Kouza’s defense, noting that no court order prevented him from paying staff salaries. She described his actions as “blatant disregard” for the authority of the President and urged that he should have lodged formal complaints rather than acting unilaterally.
In closing, Hon. Sesay announced that Parliament may involve the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter further, stressing that the issue must be resolved after years of debate.
The ultimatum places Kouza under intense pressure to comply or face sanctions, as Parliament moves to assert its authority in protecting workers and ensuring accountability in state-run ventures.
