The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) has announced the mandatory implementation of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System across 16 designated Ministries, Departments, Agencies and other public procuring entities in Sierra Leone, effective 1 November 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, efficiency and value for money in the management of public resources.
The directive, contained in Public Notice Circular No. 03 of 2026, requires all affected institutions to initiate, process, manage and document their applicable procurement activities exclusively through the Government’s electronic procurement platform.
The move represents another significant step in Sierra Leone’s transition from traditional procurement procedures to a modern digital system designed to improve oversight, promote fair competition, reduce administrative inefficiencies and strengthen public confidence in Government procurement processes.
According to the NPPA, the directive applies to 16 institutions selected for the initial implementation of the electronic procurement system.
The affected institutions are the Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education; Ministry of Technical and Higher Education; Ministry of Works and Public Assets; Ministry of Health; Accountant-General’s Department; National Revenue Authority; National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT); Integrated Health Project Administration; Bank of Sierra Leone; Audit Service Sierra Leone; Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA); Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA); Freetown City Council (FCC); Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC); and the National Public Procurement Authority itself.
The Authority explained that the mandatory adoption of the e-GP System is being implemented pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act, 2016 and the Electronic Government Procurement Policy Framework launched in November 2024.
These legal and policy provisions provide the foundation for introducing digital technologies into public procurement activities and ensuring that Government institutions operate within a more transparent, accountable and properly monitored procurement environment.
The NPPA maintained that electronic procurement would strengthen institutional accountability by improving the documentation and monitoring of procurement transactions while creating opportunities for greater competition among suppliers and contractors.
The system is also expected to improve operational efficiency, support effective regulatory oversight and help public institutions achieve better value for money when purchasing goods, works and services.
Under the directive, Heads of the affected institutions, accounting officers and procurement units are required to ensure that all applicable procurement activities are conducted through the electronic platform from the effective implementation date.
The Authority further clarified that the directive applies to procurement activities undertaken from 1 November 2026, while the circular also references compliance requirements relating to 30 September 2026.
Significantly, the NPPA has established a formal procedure for institutions that may encounter circumstances preventing them from using the electronic platform.
Under the section titled “Waiver for Non-Use of the e-GP System,” the Authority stated that any procuring entity unable to undertake a procurement activity through the platform must submit a written request explaining the circumstances and providing adequate justification and supporting information.
Such requests must be submitted to the NPPA for consideration and approval before the procurement activity is conducted outside the electronic system, except where an applicable legal or regulatory provision expressly permits otherwise.
The Authority emphasized that technical difficulties, operational constraints, limited access or other implementation challenges would not automatically justify abandoning the electronic procurement platform.
Instead, affected institutions must formally notify the NPPA and obtain the necessary waiver before proceeding with alternative procurement arrangements.
Each application will be assessed on its merits, with the Authority retaining responsibility for determining whether the circumstances warrant an exemption and providing appropriate guidance to facilitate compliance.
The NPPA consequently urged all designated institutions to adequately prepare their procurement personnel, establish the necessary internal arrangements and take reasonable steps to ensure the effective implementation of the directive.
It further indicated that technical assistance and institutional guidance would remain available to support public institutions during the transition to electronic procurement.
However, the Authority warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in procurement activities being considered non-compliant with Sierra Leone’s applicable public procurement laws and regulations.
Such violations may attract administrative or other measures lawfully available to the Authority under the existing legal and regulatory framework.
The warning underscores the importance of strict adherence to the new requirements, particularly among accounting officers and procurement officials responsible for managing public funds and ensuring compliance with procurement procedures.
The NPPA also called on institutional heads and other relevant stakeholders to give the directive the necessary attention and ensure that their respective organisations are fully prepared to operate within the electronic procurement framework.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to working with Government institutions and other stakeholders to advance procurement reforms that promote transparency, accountability, efficiency and responsible public expenditure.
For further information, technical assistance or clarification, affected institutions have been advised to contact the NPPA’s headquarters at OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown or its regional offices in Bo, Kenema and Makeni.
The circular was signed by Fodie J. Konneh (MCIPS), Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority, reinforcing the Authority’s determination to ensure compliance with the Government’s digital procurement reform agenda.
The mandatory introduction of the e-GP System across the 16 pilot institutions is expected to establish an important foundation for wider digital transformation within Sierra Leone’s public sector, with the potential to improve procurement transparency, strengthen expenditure controls and promote greater public accountability in the management of national resources.
