Investigations into the Seed Multiplication Program (SMP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security reveal continued corruption, despite a previous probe by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2019. The program coordinator, Mr. Edward Smart Gbappie, faced allegations of misappropriating funds amounting to hundreds of millions of Leones, yet no decisive action was taken. As of 2022, corruption within SMP has escalated to billions of Leones.
In 2019, the ACC uncovered several irregularities, including the misappropriation of funds meant for field visits and procurement of equipment. For instance, approved funds for field visits and generator procurement were misused, and discrepancies were found in vehicle and machinery acquisitions. However, no significant consequences followed these findings, as corruption continued unabated.
Further investigations reveal that in 2022, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between SMP and the Sierra Leone Regional Rice Value Chain Development Project (SLRRVCP), yet funds allocated for activities outlined in the MOA remain unaccounted for. The opening of a fraudulent bank account at Zenith Bank, misrepresentation of staff positions, and questionable procurement practices indicate systemic corruption within SMP.
Despite substantial funding for projects such as high-yielding rice seed multiplication and infrastructure development, including stores, drying floors, and vehicle procurement, little to no progress has been made. Equipment provided by the project remains unlisted in SMP’s assets register, and crucial activities outlined in the MOA, such as training master farmers, have not been implemented.
Efforts to reach Mr. Gbappie for comment have been unsuccessful, raising concerns about accountability and transparency within SMP.
