07/08/2026
BEYOND A STUDY TOUR: WHY SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA ARE BETTING ON PROCUREMENT COLLABORATION TO DRIVE BETTER GOVERNANCE
Monrovia, Liberia, 7th August 2026. Public procurement rarely attracts headlines, yet it remains one of the most powerful instruments through which governments translate national budgets into roads, hospitals, schools, medicines and other essential public services. When procurement systems fail, citizens pay the price through inflated contracts, delayed projects and weak service delivery. When they work efficiently, governments save money, improve transparency and build public trust.
It is against this backdrop that Sierra Leone’s National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), led by Chief Executive Officer Chief Fodie J. Konneh, embarked on a two-day management study tour to Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) from 6–7 August 2026. Far from being a ceremonial exchange, the visit represented a strategic effort by two neighbouring countries to accelerate public sector reform through collaboration, peer learning and digital innovation.
Held under the theme “Learning from Liberia’s Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System Implementation,” the engagement reflected a growing recognition across Africa that countries pursuing similar reforms stand to benefit more by sharing experiences than by working in isolation. Both Sierra Leone and Liberia are implementing Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) systems—digital platforms designed to make procurement more transparent, efficient and accountable—and each country has reached different stages of implementation.
For Sierra Leone, which is steadily rolling out the Salone e-GP System, Liberia’s experience offers practical lessons on sequencing reforms, managing institutional change and building user confidence. At the same time, Sierra Leone brings to the table its own evolving legislative reforms, including proposals on beneficial ownership disclosure, gender-responsive procurement, sustainable procurement and the introduction of the Most Advantageous Bid methodology.
The significance of the visit therefore extended beyond institutional benchmarking. It underscored a broader shift towards regional cooperation in public financial management, where neighbouring countries are increasingly treating governance reforms as shared challenges requiring collective solutions.
Receiving the Sierra Leone delegation at the PPCC Headquarters in Monrovia, Executive Director Hon. Bodger Scott Johnson described the visit as a demonstration of the enduring relationship between Liberia and Sierra Leone and a reaffirmation of their shared commitment to strengthening public institutions. He argued that procurement should no longer be viewed merely as an administrative process but as a strategic governance function with direct implications for economic growth, fiscal discipline and citizens’ confidence in government.
According to Hon. Johnson, every procurement decision influences how effectively governments deliver services and manage scarce public resources. He therefore encouraged procurement institutions across Africa to strengthen collaboration, arguing that regional partnerships create opportunities to exchange ideas, avoid costly mistakes and accelerate reforms that have already been tested elsewhere.
His remarks reflected an increasingly accepted principle within public sector reform: countries do not need to reinvent successful solutions when practical experiences already exist within the region.
Leading the Sierra Leone delegation, Chief Fodie J. Konneh said the primary objective of the visit was to obtain first-hand knowledge of Liberia’s implementation of the Electronic Government Procurement System, exchange experiences and identify areas for sustained institutional collaboration. For Sierra Leone, the study tour was particularly timely. The country has already commenced implementation of several modules under the Salone e-GP System and is preparing for broader nationwide adoption. Understanding Liberia’s implementation journey—including the challenges encountered and how they were addressed—provides valuable operational insight that could reduce implementation risks and improve long-term sustainability.
Throughout the first day, technical experts from the PPCC walked the delegation through Liberia’s procurement reform journey. Nathan N. Bengu, Director of Communication at the PPCC, traced the country’s gradual modernization of its procurement system, highlighting the legal and institutional reforms that have strengthened transparency, accountability and value for money.
Subsequent presentations by Maude A. Saye, Director of Training and Capacity Building, together with the Commission’s ICT Division and e-GP Project Manager, provided detailed demonstrations of how Liberia manages procurement electronically; from planning and bid publication to evaluation, contract award and reporting. One of the strongest messages emerging from the sessions was that successful digital transformation depends as much on institutional readiness as it does on technology.
Liberia explained that rather than launching the platform nationwide immediately, it adopted a phased implementation strategy, beginning with six pilot institutions. The approach allowed the Commission to test the platform under real operating conditions, refine business processes, strengthen technical support mechanisms and improve user experience before wider expansion.
Equally important was Liberia’s investment in people.
Recognising that technology alone cannot transform procurement, the PPCC invested heavily in training procurement professionals, financial managers, auditors, ICT officers and suppliers. Officials stressed that continuous capacity development has been critical in encouraging user adoption and ensuring that the digital reforms produce measurable improvements in procurement performance.
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LIBERIAN SENATE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE: The study tour also reinforced the growing role of legislatures in procurement reform.
A courtesy visit to Liberia’s Senate Public Accounts Committee brought procurement governance into the political arena, where oversight institutions ultimately determine whether reforms receive the legislative support required for long-term success. Discussions centred on digital transformation, legal reform, regional cooperation and parliamentary oversight of procurement systems.
Introducing the delegation, Hon. Johnson informed senators that the visit formed part of broader efforts to deepen collaboration between procurement institutions while also strengthening cooperation through the African Public Procurement Network (APPN). He disclosed Liberia’s interest in hosting a future APPN event, signalling its intention to play a more active leadership role in continental procurement reforms.
Addressing the Committee, Chief Konneh emphasised that effective procurement reforms require strong legislative backing. He commended Liberia’s Legislature for supporting the PPCC’s modernization agenda and acknowledged the country’s progress in implementing electronic procurement. Beyond the immediate purpose of the visit, Chief Konneh revealed that informal discussions had already begun regarding possible cross-border procurement arrangements between Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Although still at an early stage, such discussions point towards a future where neighbouring countries could increasingly cooperate in procurement planning, knowledge sharing and potentially regional purchasing arrangements, an approach that could reduce costs, improve market access and strengthen regional economic integration.
The legislative dialogue also enabled both countries to compare ongoing legal reforms.
Committee members explained that Liberia had amended its procurement law to incorporate Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and sought insight into Sierra Leone’s legal framework.
Chief Konneh responded that Sierra Leone already operates under dedicated PPP legislation while the NPPA continues reviewing the Public Procurement Act to strengthen oversight of PPP procurement and integrate concession-related provisions. He outlined several proposed reforms expected under the revised legislation, including enhanced preference schemes for women-owned businesses, youth enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and local businesses. He further disclosed that the revised law proposes introducing Beneficial Ownership Disclosure to improve transparency by revealing the individuals who ultimately own or control companies bidding for public contracts. Another notable proposal is the adoption of the Most Advantageous Bid methodology, allowing procurement decisions to consider quality, innovation, sustainability and long-term value for money rather than focusing exclusively on the lowest evaluated price.
These reforms attracted considerable interest from Liberian lawmakers, who expressed admiration for Sierra Leone’s efforts to institutionalise gender-responsive procurement and inclusive participation within public procurement legislation.
Perhaps the most important outcome of the study tour, however, lies not in the presentations delivered or meetings held, but in the recognition that procurement reform has become a regional rather than purely national agenda.
As governments increasingly digitise procurement systems and seek greater accountability in public spending, collaboration between institutions offers practical advantages. Countries can exchange tested solutions, harmonise standards, strengthen professional networks and accelerate reforms without duplicating costly experimentation.
For Sierra Leone and Liberia, two countries with deep historical ties and similar governance aspirations, the partnership represents an opportunity to build procurement systems that are more transparent, resilient and responsive to citizens’ expectations.
The study tour therefore stands to be more than an exchange of technical expertise. It reflects a shared understanding that stronger procurement institutions contribute directly to stronger public institutions, better development outcomes and deeper regional integration across West Africa.
As both countries continue advancing their digital procurement agendas, the lessons exchanged in Monrovia may well shape not only the future of procurement administration in Sierra Leone and Liberia but also provide a model for collaborative public sector reform across the region.
For more on this or any other issues relating to the activities of the NPPA, please contact us on: [email protected] or visit our website at: www.nppa.gov.sl.
