A storm is brewing in Sierra Leone’s public financial landscape as the Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) uncovers what appears to be a disturbing pattern of deliberate obstruction and bureaucratic sabotage within the Public Financial Management Unit (PFMU) and the Ministry of Finance. The revelation has sent shockwaves through the contractor community, raising urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the government’s procurement systems.
According to findings released by the IPRP, multiple contractors have been systematically frustrated in their efforts to execute government-awarded projects. The report alleges that certain officials within PFMU and the Ministry of Finance have been deliberately stalling procurement processes, withholding approvals, and engaging in excessive scrutiny under the guise of “due diligence” — a process some now describe as a smokescreen for political interference or institutional inertia.
The result? Contractors say they are unable to access funds or commence project implementation, despite having met all contractual obligations and procurement criteria. The delays are not only eroding trust in public institutions but also threatening the timely delivery of critical infrastructure and service delivery projects across the country.
“We are dealing with a culture of intentional bottlenecks,” said a senior contractor who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It is becoming clear that some elements within the system are not interested in facilitating development — they are more concerned with control, patronage, and undermining progress for reasons best known to them.”
The IPRP’s findings suggest that the current structure and conduct of procurement oversight may be enabling impunity rather than curbing corruption. In several cases, contractors reportedly went through the full spectrum of procurement stages — from bidding to final approval — only to be met with sudden and unexplained reversals, non-responsiveness, or additional demands at the payment stage.
Civil society organizations and development partners have taken notice. The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) has called for a full-scale audit into procurement practices at PFMU, citing the need for institutional reform and stronger oversight mechanisms. “What we are seeing is a classic case of administrative sabotage,” said Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director of CARL. “If contractors cannot rely on the sanctity of government contracts, then we are eroding the foundation of service delivery and national development.”
The Ministry of Finance has yet to issue an official response to the IPRP’s report, but sources close to the ministry have downplayed the allegations, claiming that delays are often due to gaps in documentation or the need for heightened scrutiny in light of past abuses.
However, for many, the timing and frequency of these frustrations suggest something more systemic — a culture of deliberate delay, used either to punish perceived opponents, extract illicit benefits, or simply exert control over public expenditure pipelines.
As the nation grapples with economic challenges and rising public expectations, the exposure of these procurement irregularities could not have come at a more critical time. The public now looks to President Julius Maada Bio’s administration for swift and decisive action to restore confidence in government systems and protect contractors from undue victimization.
The IPRP’s report is a wake-up call — and one the government cannot afford to ignore.
Would you like this laid out in a press release format or adapted for social media next? storm is brewing in Sierra Leone’s public financial landscape as the Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) uncovers what appears to be a disturbing pattern of deliberate obstruction and bureaucratic sabotage within the Public Financial Management Unit (PFMU) and the Ministry of Finance. The revelation has sent shockwaves through the contractor community, raising urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the government’s procurement systems.
According to findings released by the IPRP, multiple contractors have been systematically frustrated in their efforts to execute government-awarded projects. The report alleges that certain officials within PFMU and the Ministry of Finance have been deliberately stalling procurement processes, withholding approvals, and engaging in excessive scrutiny under the guise of “due diligence” — a process some now describe as a smokescreen for political interference or institutional inertia.
The result? Contractors say they are unable to access funds or commence project implementation, despite having met all contractual obligations and procurement criteria. The delays are not only eroding trust in public institutions but also threatening the timely delivery of critical infrastructure and service delivery projects across the country.
“We are dealing with a culture of intentional bottlenecks,” said a senior contractor who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It is becoming clear that some elements within the system are not interested in facilitating development — they are more concerned with control, patronage, and undermining progress for reasons best known to them.”
The IPRP’s findings suggest that the current structure and conduct of procurement oversight may be enabling impunity rather than curbing corruption. In several cases, contractors reportedly went through the full spectrum of procurement stages — from bidding to final approval — only to be met with sudden and unexplained reversals, non-responsiveness, or additional demands at the payment stage.
Civil society organizations and development partners have taken notice. The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) has called for a full-scale audit into procurement practices at PFMU, citing the need for institutional reform and stronger oversight mechanisms. “What we are seeing is a classic case of administrative sabotage,” said Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director of CARL. “If contractors cannot rely on the sanctity of government contracts, then we are eroding the foundation of service delivery and national development.”
The Ministry of Finance has yet to issue an official response to the IPRP’s report, but sources close to the ministry have downplayed the allegations, claiming that delays are often due to gaps in documentation or the need for heightened scrutiny in light of past abuses.
However, for many, the timing and frequency of these frustrations suggest something more systemic — a culture of deliberate delay, used either to punish perceived opponents, extract illicit benefits, or simply exert control over public expenditure pipelines.
As the nation grapples with economic challenges and rising public expectations, the exposure of these procurement irregularities could not have come at a more critical time. The public now looks to President Julius Maada Bio’s administration for swift and decisive action to restore confidence in government systems and protect contractors from undue victimization.
The IPRP’s report is a wake-up call — and one the government cannot afford to ignore.
