PAC Probes Ministry of Agriculture Over Resource Mismanagement
By Abdul Rahman Bah
On Monday, January 20, 2025, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) convened at the Administration Building, Parliament Tower Hill in Freetown, to address findings from the 2023 Auditor General’s report on the Ministry of Agriculture. The session brought to light alarming issues of resource mismanagement, as highlighted by Honorable Tawah Conteh.
Hon. Conteh expressed grave concerns over the neglect and misuse of agricultural tools and equipment by the ministry, citing their abandonment in crumbling storage facilities rather than being deployed for productive use. He criticized the ministry’s inefficiency, which he argued directly undermines the objectives of the Feed Salone Initiative—a flagship project aimed at achieving food security and promoting agricultural sustainability in Sierra Leone.
Revelations of Neglect
Permanent Secretary Mr. Cole admitted during the hearing that some machinery and equipment had languished in storage for over a decade. Shockingly, even newly acquired machinery, some still in their original packaging, had been left unused for years, rendering them inoperable.
Hon. Conteh described this as “sabotage” by those responsible for implementing Feed Salone, pointing out the absence of accountability and effective inventory management. He lamented that storekeepers lacked detailed records of stored items, leading to widespread wastage and eroding public trust in the government’s agricultural commitments.
Visual Evidence of Decay
The committee reviewed visual evidence of the appalling conditions in the ministry’s storage facilities. Images displayed cracked walls, collapsed sections of storage buildings, and rust-covered machinery. Reports of encroachment on government property and stolen items further painted a dire picture of neglect. Witnesses alleged that some staff facilitated thefts, taking advantage of lax security to pilfer items.
Inside the deteriorating storage spaces, spare parts were left to rot, and valuable pesticides were stored in flood-prone areas, resulting in significant damage. These pesticides, purchased at great expense, were rendered unusable and discarded, representing a major financial loss. Hon. Conteh criticized the ministry’s failure to ensure proper storage and resource management, labeling it a dereliction of duty.
Idle Machinery and Waste
Evidence also revealed that newly purchased agricultural machinery, including tractors and rice mills, had remained locked in shipping containers for years. Fertilizers, another critical resource, were improperly stored and damaged. Hon. Conteh questioned the logic of continued procurement when previously acquired equipment remained unused. He warned that extended inactivity would render these assets obsolete before they could serve their intended purpose.
Call for Accountability
The PAC hearing exposed systemic inefficiencies within the Ministry of Agriculture, from weak leadership to inadequate oversight. Hon. Conteh emphasized that the failures extended beyond politicians to civil servants, particularly those tasked with managing the ministry’s resources. He criticized vote controllers and officials for their inability to safeguard government assets and ensure their effective utilization.
A Wake-Up Call for Reform
The session underscored the urgent need for reforms to prevent further resource wastage and ensure the success of initiatives like Feed Salone. It also raised broader concerns about the government’s capacity to manage critical sectors and its commitment to national development goals.
The PAC’s findings serve as a stark reminder of the challenges Sierra Leone faces in building a sustainable and productive agricultural sector. As the nation strives to achieve food security, ensuring accountability and efficiency in resource management will be paramount.
