By George M.O. Williams
The Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) convened a consultative meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, with representatives from Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and Local Councils to strengthen collaboration and reinforce its mandate.
Held at the Vanilla Conference Hall in Aberdeen, Freetown, the event was themed “Strengthening the Strategic Partnership Between NPPA, IPRP, and MDAs.” It brought together key stakeholders and government officials to discuss procurement efficiency and accountability.
Delivering the keynote address, Executive Director of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Fodie Konneh, described the engagement as a pivotal moment in advancing a cost-effective and transparent procurement system. He revealed that the government plans to launch the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system in early 2026 to align with modern technological advancements.
Konneh further highlighted that the Public Procurement Act of 2016 laid the foundation for procurement reforms, leading to standardized bid documents, improved competitive tendering, and clearer evaluation criteria. He emphasized that these reforms have resulted in average cost savings of over 12% across public contracts while reducing procurement cycle times by nearly 20%.
Additionally, Konneh underscored the importance of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to ensure fairness and public trust in procurement processes.
James Solomon Koroma, speaking on behalf of the IPRP Board, commended the MDAs for their cooperation, stating that collaboration enhances accountability and ensures responsible procurement practices. He urged stronger partnerships to address challenges within the sector.
Civil Society Organisations (CSO) representative Jeremy Ben Simbo reiterated IPRP’s commitment to mitigating corruption and mismanagement. He stressed that the Procurement Act provides clear dispute resolution mechanisms and guarantees fairness, equity, and transparency.
Simbo also emphasized that while the meeting provided valuable insights into procurement improvements, strict compliance with procurement laws remains essential to the judicious use of public funds.
The engagement marked another step toward enhancing procurement efficiency and fostering strategic partnerships among key stakeholders