Chinese Contractor in Le19Bn Debt Scandal

Deputy Speaker Intervenes as Controversy Escalates

By Benjamin S Conteh 

The Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has raised alarm over an unresolved debt of over Le19 billion linked to a Chinese contractor, M.A. Ruming. This controversy stems from the Regional Rice Value Chain Project (RRVCP) and the Family Support and Recovery Programme (FSRP), two initiatives intended to boost agricultural productivity and provide support to struggling families.

At the heart of the issue is an outstanding debt of over Le3 billion owed to machinery operators who provided essential services under these projects. According to the agreements governing the initiatives, payments to machinery operators were to include deductions to cover government dues. However, an audit revealed a significant discrepancy, uncovering a total government debt of Le19 billion—much of it attributed to M.A. Ruming’s financial practices.

During a recent PAC meeting in the Administrative Conference Room, the committee decided to deduct 70% of the payments owed to machinery operators in an attempt to recover the outstanding government dues. However, controversy intensified when it was discovered that Ruming had failed to pay two machinery operators despite receiving funds from the government. Reports indicate that after receiving transfers to his account, Ruming failed to disburse the payments as agreed, creating a significant backlash from the operators.

Hon. Tawa Conteh has taken decisive steps to address the issue. In a dramatic move, he personally visited Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) and urged the Managing Director to block the transfer of disputed funds. Hon. Tawa also instructed the bank to refund payments owed to the affected operators. Despite these interventions, Ruming has reportedly been reluctant to comply with the committee’s directives.

In a bid to find a resolution, Hon. Tawa held an informal meeting with Ruming at a local restaurant to discuss the payment challenges. However, the talks failed to yield a satisfactory agreement. As tensions escalate, Hon. Tawa has announced plans to escalate the matter further by directing the bank to transfer the disputed funds into a consolidated account to ensure the machinery operators are compensated.

The PAC Chairman has also invoked the committee’s authority under Section 93 of Parliament, which grants it the power to enforce compliance with its rulings. Criticizing Ruming’s conduct as a symptom of broader governance failures, Hon. Tawa condemned the lack of accountability and financial mismanagement surrounding government projects.

“This is a blatant misuse of taxpayers’ money and a demonstration of poor governance,” Hon. Tawa remarked. “We must adopt a more responsible approach to financial management to restore public trust in these projects.”

This incident has exposed critical lapses in oversight and accountability, raising serious questions about the management of public funds in Sierra Leone. It also highlights the need for stricter measures to ensure contractors and government officials are held accountable for their financial obligations.