Deputy Speaker Bars Finance Ministry from Port Authority Auctions
By Benjamin S Conteh
The Deputy Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Sixth Parliament, who also serves as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has announced that the PAC Secretariat will issue a formal directive to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to cease all auction-related activities within the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA). Hon. Conteh issued this warning on Monday, November 11, 2024, during a PAC hearing at the New Administrative Building in Parliament. The hearing was part of an ongoing review of the Auditor General’s Report for 2021 and 2022.
The PAC investigation revealed growing tensions between the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbour Authority (SLPA) and the Sierra Leone National Shipping Company (SLNSC) over financial liabilities. According to SLPA’s Director General, Yakuba Askia Bio, the SLNSC has been collecting payments directly from private companies, such as Leone Rock, for services that fall under SLPA’s mandate. This arrangement, he argued, has unfairly redirected funds that should be paid to SLPA as the primary clearing and forwarding agency at the port.
Director General Bio emphasized that this practice has created an uneven playing field, with the SLNSC acting as an intermediary for private companies rather than contributing to the revenues SLPA would otherwise generate. He noted that these companies’ payments to SLNSC are significant, and that such funds should ideally flow into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to benefit the nation’s economy.
In response, Hon. Conteh clarified that the SLNSC’s role is fully sanctioned by an act of Parliament. He acknowledged Bio’s concerns but advised the SLPA and SLNSC to develop a collaborative strategy that would optimize revenue collection for the government and safeguard jobs for Sierra Leoneans. He stressed that all parties should prioritize national interests over institutional rivalry.
As the discussion continued, Hon. Conteh advised the two agencies to return to the drawing board and negotiate a solution. He also warned that failure to reach an agreement could result in punitive actions, including garnishing the SLNSC Director General Stefano Rosina’s account. Hon. Conteh underscored that the committee would closely monitor progress and hold both parties accountable to ensure that government revenues are maximized and transparently managed.
The PAC chairman concluded the session by urging SLPA and SLNSC to work towards a framework that benefits the state, ensuring that revenues from the port are properly funneled into the Consolidated Revenue Fund. He stated that maintaining transparency and accountability in financial dealings is crucial for the integrity of the country’s economic system.
