By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
Sierra Leone’s Parliament has adopted the report of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Trade and Industry on the inquiry into the expired Joint Venture Agreement between the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company (SLSLC) and Accord Logistics, recommending the termination of the partnership and ordering further investigations into the company’s operations.
Presenting the report before Parliament, Member of Parliament for Bombali District and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Trade and Industry, Hon. Dr. N’fa Koroma (APC), said the inquiry was initiated following complaints from stakeholders within the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company concerning the execution, performance and expiration of the Joint Venture Agreement signed on 20 June 2021.
He explained that concerns raised included alleged breaches of contractual obligations, failure to conduct mandatory reviews, procurement irregularities, governance challenges and outstanding financial liabilities that could undermine public interest.
Dr. Koroma stated that the committee exercised its constitutional mandate under Section 93 of the 1991 Constitution and undertook extensive investigations, including documentary reviews and oral testimonies from the National Commission for Privatisation (NCP), the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company, the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) and Accord Logistics.
According to the report, the committee identified several irregularities, including the expiration of the Joint Venture Agreement, non-compliance with contractual review mechanisms, governance failures, procurement lapses and unpaid financial obligations.
Among its recommendations, the committee called for a formal legal and administrative review of the agreement with a view to nullifying or terminating it due to breaches of the Public Procurement Act, 2016.
The committee also recommended that the agreement be officially declared expired and unenforceable and directed Accord Logistics to immediately cease operations conducted under the expired arrangement.
Additionally, Parliament was urged to strengthen future Public-Private Partnership agreements by introducing enforceable review mechanisms, regular performance assessments and sanctions for non-compliance.
The report further called for improved governance structures in future joint ventures, stronger oversight by the National Commission for Privatisation and balanced government representation in such arrangements.
Dr. Koroma disclosed that Accord Logistics owes outstanding obligations amounting to NLe 1,186,250, and recommended that the company settle the amount within two weeks following the adoption of the report.
The committee also advised Parliament to initiate contempt proceedings and other legal actions against Accord Logistics for what it described as repeated non-compliance with parliamentary and regulatory directives.
Another recommendation was the restoration of full operational control of the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company and the strengthening of its institutional and financial management systems.
Seconding the motion, Member of Parliament for Kailahun District, Hon. Ing. Fallah Tembeh (SLPP), accused Accord Logistics of repeatedly disregarding Parliament and failing to honour tax obligations and contractual commitments.
He said the company had ignored several invitations from Parliament and stakeholders and called for decisive action to ensure accountability.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Industry, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, strongly criticized the conduct of Accord Logistics, describing it as an affront to Parliament and the rule of law.
She stressed that Parliament has the constitutional mandate to oversee public assets and investigate agreements involving state institutions.
“No one is above the law,” she declared, adding that the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company’s assets belong to the people of Sierra Leone and must be protected.
Hon. Veronica Sesay further alleged that Accord Logistics failed to comply with the terms of the joint venture, ignored oversight institutions and operated without proper transparency.
Adding her voice to the debate, Bombali District MP Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawally (APC) accused Accord Logistics of mismanaging state resources and called for stronger action against those responsible.
She recalled warnings raised during the initial approval of the agreement and urged Parliament to revisit the circumstances surrounding the partnership.
Meanwhile, Kenema District MP Hon. Brima Bockarie (SLPP) proposed that the Bank of Sierra Leone be directed to instruct all commercial banks to freeze accounts linked to the joint venture pending further investigations.
Responding to the proposal, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas incorporated two additional recommendations into the report before putting it to a vote.
The House resolved that:
The Bank of Sierra Leone should direct all commercial banks to freeze accounts associated with the joint venture between the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company and Accord Logistics and the Audit Service Sierra Leone should conduct a special audit into the operations of the joint venture and submit its findings to Parliament for further action.
Parliament unanimously adopted the report, effectively endorsing the committee’s recommendations and signaling a tougher stance on accountability, transparency and compliance in public-private partnerships.
Following the approval of the report, Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas adjourned the sitting to Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
