At a conference organized on 21st July 2008 by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on Multi Donor Budgetary Support Review at the Sierra Leone Bank Complex, African Development Bank country Programme Officer, Mr. Cicil Nortey, explained that the ADB is very serious about procurement procedures because it is through this system loans are being used. He warned that if there are entities that are not having procurement plans then means the NPPA is urged to institute one and prevail on such institutions to treat as serious procurement procedures. “If the bull should be taken by the horn then NPPA should be taken by the horn” he said.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Public Procurement Agency (NPPA), Prof Alfred Kandeh, 12 procurement plans were collected with data not submit because of lack of cooperation by some heads of institutions. He continued in his presentation that 29.8% procurements were not open with competitive bidding while 29.4 were valued through competitive bidding.

When responding to the donor’s assessment to NPPA, Professor Kandeh insisted that NPPA should be commended for new initiatives that have been achieved and the upgrading of personnel by procuring the services of 24 graduates from IPAM as procurement officers. He said that these twenty four officers shall have a major role to play in the NPPA as there is no procurement professional in the NPPA. He concluded by saying that there are always lapses due to the slow disbursement of funds at the Ministry of Finance.