Civil Society Dispute Intensifies Over Petroleum and Data Pricing Policies in Sierra Leone
A growing rift within Sierra Leone’s civil society sector has escalated into public controversy, as Alfonzo Manie, head of the Civil Society Consortium (CSO Consortium), has launched a series of serious allegations against veteran activist Edmond Abu. The accusations ranging from blackmail and extortion to perjury and defamation stem from disagreements over national pricing policies for petroleum and mobile data services, involving key institutions like the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and mobile network operators (MNOs).
According to Manie, the controversy was triggered by recent efforts from the newly appointed Minister of Communication to adjust data pricing in response to rising operational costs faced by telecom companies. The CSO Consortium, which Manie claims is recognized by both the World Bank and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Finance for its public education role, participated actively in discussions surrounding these changes.
Manie accuses Abu of repeatedly attempting to extort funds from MNOs and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), including major players like National Petroleum (NP) and Leone Oil. He alleges that these companies rejected Abu’s demands. In a notable incident, Manie referenced a televised confrontation where activist Saio Lamin challenged Abu to deny receiving payments from telecom companies
offering him water to swear to his innocence.
Further allegations include claims that Abu attempted to blackmail the current Minister of Transport and misrepresented his professional credentials, including falsely claiming ownership of a diamond license to attract investors. Manie also accuses Abu of committing perjury in court proceedings that allegedly contributed to the incarceration of Justice Fisher.
A key part of the dispute revolves around the interpretation of the NPRA Act, particularly Section 13(b)(ii), which mandates that displayed fuel prices align with the official pricing formula. Manie criticized Abu for misquoting the law
citing Section 61 instead
and argued that NPRA policy under Executive Chairman Baluwa Koroma has encouraged price competition since 2018. Under this policy, OMCs are allowed to sell below the formula ceiling as long as prices remain above the marketing value price, a practice Manie credits for recent reductions in fuel prices.
To underscore the competitiveness of Sierra Leone’s petroleum pricing, Manie cited comparative fuel prices in neighboring countries: Central African Republic ($38.97), Cape Verde ($29.33), Gambia ($28.78), Guinea ($27.28), Malawi ($28.65), with Sierra Leone priced at $27.30 per gallon.
He clarified that the CSO Consortium works collaboratively with the government but maintains its independence, rejecting suggestions that it is a government mouthpiece or an opposition tool. Manie also announced a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, where the Consortium intends to present a detailed response to the ongoing controversy and clarify its position.
Additionally, Manie stated that attempts by Abu to pressure the Ministry of Transport and the NPRA into reducing transport fares were unsuccessful. Authorities reportedly informed Abu that transport pricing is under the purview of the Ministry of Transport and that current fares are based on the national petroleum pricing framework.
As of the time of this report, Edmond Abu has not publicly responded to the allegations. All eyes now turn to the Consortium’s upcoming press conference, where further revelations are anticipated.
