By Alusine Sesay
Sierra Leone — February 2026: Sierra Leone’s passport production contract with Netpage (SL) Ltd has sparked controversy after revelations that the agreement was extended without Cabinet approval or parliamentary ratification, raising serious constitutional, financial, and security concerns.
Constitutional Breach
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) first flagged the issue in 2025, criticizing the Immigration Department and Ministry of Internal Affairs for extending the expired 2023 contract for another five years. The PAC concluded that the revised agreement—classified as a matter of national importance—was neither presented to Cabinet nor laid before Parliament, in violation of the 1991 Constitution. Legal experts warn that this failure renders the renewed contract potentially invalid, leaving the legal basis for Sierra Leone’s passport system in question.
Financial Concerns
The Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) estimates that Sierra Leone produces 65,000–70,000 passports annually, generating $7–9 million in sales each year. Over the past decade, production revenues are believed to have exceeded $70 million. Despite this, watchdogs report that the state has received little or no royalty income.
- In 2023, a controversial Le5.2 billion royalty refund was approved for Netpage, following the company’s claim that the clause was absent from the original parliamentary-approved contract and that the funds would cover tax obligations.
- The PAC acknowledged that the royalty clause lacks constitutional authority but has not confirmed whether the stated tax liabilities were settled.
The Committee warns that failure to properly ratify agreements undermines fiscal accountability and exposes public revenue to loss.
National Security Risks
Passports, as sovereign instruments, are central to identity verification and migration control. Past incidents of Sierra Leonean passports found with international criminals and deportees who were not verified citizens have already raised alarm. Security experts caution that weak oversight or legal uncertainty in passport production risks eroding international confidence in Sierra Leone’s travel documents.
Calls for Transparency
Governance experts are urging the government to:
- Publicly disclose the full terms of the current contract.
- Clarify the legal foundation for the renewal.
- Commit to competitive international bidding for future passport production.
They argue that transparent procurement would strengthen security standards and ensure fairer revenue-sharing arrangements that protect national interests.
Conclusion
The handling of the Netpage agreement is now seen as a critical test of Sierra Leone’s commitment to constitutional governance, fiscal accountability, and national security.