FREETOWN, March 11, (SALONE TIMES) – Sources at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have confirmed that Paul Sobba Massaqoui, executive director of Sierra Leone Maritime Administration was invited for questioning and was later released on bail.
That the ACC is investigating corruption related issues that has to do with procurement mishaps with regards the refurbishment of SLMA Headquarters at Government Wharf in Freetown.
Documents on the desk of SALONE TIMES has revealed several procurement irregularities which is connected to the ongoing investigation by the ACC.
According to the documents on SALONE TIMES’ Desk, an evaluation of the whole process was done by the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) and it reveals several procurement breaches
That the cost for the refurbishment is Le3,150,000,000 but the awarded contract value is 2,947,320,000 for which 90% of the money had already been paid to the contractor.
That SLMA indulged in restrictive bidding instead open competitive bidding without the approval of the procurement regulator for which they violated Section 14 sub-section (3) of the procurement laws.
“SLMA failed to comply with this requirement as it could not produce any document to show that it had submitted this process and it attendant justification for the use of restricted bidding to the authority for endorsement,” NPPA stated in it evaluation document
Adding that, “equally as important is the fact that no records could be found of SLMA’s Procurement Committee, having approved the use of restrictive bidding and having given its approval to each major milestone of the process.”
It is believed that the current executive director at Maritime Administration is the blue eye boy of the President and the First Lady for which he was the head of the their foundation and that nothing would come out of such investigation by the ACC.
Details on this in subsequent publications.
