By Politico Staff Writer
The Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) has held a day’s sensitization programme in Bo with suppliers and contractors to inform them about the functions of the institution.
Chairman of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, James Solomon Koroma told the gathering about the institution’s responsibility to look into complaints brought forward by aggrieved persons unhappy about how contracts were awarded.
He added that the meeting was to also engage with all those concerned with bidding, and used the occasion to encourage them to read the Act well to understand what it entails.
Koroma said that IPRP sits to look into matters just like the High court and that it has never passed judgement on matters for it to be overturned by the High Court of Sierra Leone. He urged contractors to talk about their challenges and what they expect from the institution.
He noted that people can stay wherever they are and send their complaints to IPRP through their email address instead of traveling to Freetown. He assured all to feel free to ask what they don’t understand about the work of IPRP.
A senior official representing National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Asmin Keifela Daboh said his institution is in good working relationship with IPRP and is open to join the institution in any investigation that they want to embark on. He stated that NPPA and IPRP have different mandates; stating that NPPA looks into the awards of bids before they are given while IPRP looks into complaints brought by aggrieved contractors.
He called on procurement officers to do what is expected of them.
Ishmeal Kamara from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) office South said he was impressed with the collaboration of IPRP, NPPA and the ACC.
He said the ACC investigates criminality in the awarding of contracts and urged institutions to have procedures in doing everything that is expected of them. He intimated that the ACC is against bribery and will expose anyone who is corrupt, and warned those present to play by the rules.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (26/04/24)
