Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) is under scrutiny following an audit that revealed significant irregularities in the distribution of a substantial rice donation intended for the nation’s School Feeding Programme.
In November 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) received a donation of 1,114 metric tons of rice from the People’s Republic of China, valued at over US$1.4 million, aimed at supporting schoolchildren across Sierra Leone. However, the audit identified discrepancies in the handling and distribution of this rice, raising concerns about accountability within the MBSSE.
The audit revealed that standard procedures for managing donated goods were not followed. The rice was neither properly recorded in inventory nor distributed according to established guidelines. Despite existing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with four service providers responsible for implementing the feeding program, the rice was exclusively sold to Knight Investment, bypassing the agreed-upon process.
On April 24, 2024, MAFS transferred 22,128 bags of rice to Knight Investment, a transaction valued at NLe7,191,600. Notably, there is no record indicating that this amount was deducted from future payments owed to the company, as required by contract terms. Additionally, the audit found that 152 bags of rice remain unaccounted for, raising further concerns over potential misappropriation.
The audit also highlighted issues related to the pricing of the rice. The cost set by MAFS for its sale lacked justification and failed to align with market norms. While the National Public Procurement Authority’s guidelines placed the price of a 50kg bag of rice at around NLe610, invoices suggest that a significantly higher price was applied, reflecting international rates instead of local benchmarks.
In response to these findings, auditors have recommended several corrective actions:
– Strict adherence to public financial management laws to prevent future discrepancies.
– Enforcement of proper storekeeping procedures to ensure transparency in handling donated food items.
– Fair distribution practices that involve all service providers rather than favoring a single entity.
– Immediate deduction of the rice’s sale value from future payments to Knight Investment to rectify financial inconsistencies.
– A full investigation into the missing 152 bags of rice and the pricing discrepancies.
While MBSSE has acknowledged these recommendations and claims efforts are underway to address them, the Auditor General’s report found no concrete evidence that all service providers were informed of the sale or that any financial adjustments have been made. Additionally, there has been no confirmation on whether the missing rice has been accounted for or whether an inquiry into the pricing concerns has commenced.
The School Feeding Programme is a vital initiative aimed at reducing hunger and improving educational outcomes for thousands of vulnerable students across Sierra Leone. Any mismanagement of resources intended for this purpose directly affects the well-being and academic success of children who rely on these meals.
As these issues remain unresolved, the spotlight is now on MBSSE and other authorities to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of resources meant to support the nation’s future leaders.
