By Joe Turay
Sierra Leone’s agreement with Netpage for the production of passports is facing renewed scrutiny amid concerns over transparency, oversight and the potential loss of state revenue, according to a report by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR).
The report, “Politics and Revenue Failures in Sierra Leone,” questions the circumstances surrounding the extension of the contract, citing what it describes as a lack of due process, including the absence of proper evaluation and adherence to constitutional requirements.
The Netpage deal, first signed in 2016, covers the production of one of the country’s key sovereign documents and is estimated to generate between $7 million and $9 million annually from the issuance of 65,000 to 70,000 passports. However, the IGR report indicates that the government has received little or no direct financial return from the arrangement, despite total revenues believed to exceed $70 million over the life of the contract.
The findings align with earlier observations by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, which raised concerns that the contract’s renewal was carried out without cabinet approval or parliamentary ratification, procedures typically required for agreements involving public funds and national assets.
Governance analysts say the apparent omission of these steps could expose the agreement to legal challenges and reflects broader institutional weaknesses in public procurement systems.
Efforts by the Ministry of Finance to introduce royalty payments in 2021 were later ruled unenforceable by the Public Accounts Committee, which noted that such provisions were not included in the original contract approved by lawmakers.
In a further development, Netpage sought a refund of 5.2 billion leones (around $250,000) in 2023, arguing that royalty payments made the previous year were not contractually mandated. Government records show the Ministry of Internal Affairs approved the reimbursement, a move seen by some observers as reinforcing the company’s position.
The sequence of events, including the refund request and the subsequent renewal of the contract after its reported expiration in 2023, has raised additional concerns among civil society groups and policy analysts about the integrity of the process.
The IGR report places the Netpage agreement within a wider pattern of governance challenges, alleging that procurement processes in Sierra Leone are vulnerable to undue influence and lack transparency. It also points to concerns about administrative decisions being shaped by commercial interests.
Experts warn that the stakes extend beyond financial considerations. As passports are critical national documents, any irregularities in their production could have implications for national security, institutional credibility and public confidence.
Civil society organisations have called for the full disclosure of the contract, including the legal basis for its renewal, as well as an independent audit of revenues generated under the agreement.
Authorities have not publicly stated whether the renewed contract complies with constitutional provisions or addresses concerns over safeguarding the country’s financial interests.
