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NPPA Unveils its 3rd Quarter Price Norm

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On Thursday 2nd July, 2020, the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) unveiled its 3rd Quarter Price Norm at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development on Tower Hill in Freetown. The Price Norm is intended to serve as a guide for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to undertake accurate and acceptable public procurement of goods, services and works.

Speaking during the launch, Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Ibrahim Brima Swarray, disclosed that there is no way a nation can develop and enjoy good governance if its resources are not utilized judiciously.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority, Ibrahim Brima Swarray, added that when he was appointed as Head of that institution he noticed that the state of national procurement was in a total mess. “The status quo was rotten to the core,” he bemoaned adding how the country has highly qualified procurement practitioners but such was not reflective in the way and manner procurement procedures were done.

He highlighted that under his jurisdiction he will ensure that the era of corrupt procurement practices, as contained in various past audit reports, will become a thing of the past.

He noted that procurement consumes a large chunk of State resources maintaining that if there are no controls, discipline and management in the way and manner Government funds are spent, then there is the tendency for corruption, backwardness to take place, with the possibility of the eruption of war, because people will fight for themselves.

The NPPA Boss stated that under his jurisdiction he will ensure that the era of corrupt procurement practices, is aborted, adding that when a country has decent and proper guidelines on the way citizens’ monies are spent, then the rule of law will hold.

He stressed that the New Direction Government, under the leadership of President Bio is doing the right thing in a different and well organized manner.

The NPPA CEO further informed newsmen that the Price Norm encompasses prices of various goods or commodities, services used in the country and should serve as a reference whenever procurement is to be made by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He appealed to procurement officers in MDAs to always comport themselves professionally in order for transparency to be seen at play.

Swarray disclosed that he still maintained an earlier commitment  that e-procurement will come into full force promising that before he leaves that institution such will be achieved.

The CEO averred that if countries like Rwanda and Zambia are better off today it is simply because they have good procurement procedures intact. “We have resources which can make us become economically stronger more than Rwanda but that cannot happen if we do not put right procurement procedures in place,” he argued.

Swarray disclosed that the price norm is now part of the country’s laws saying gone are those days when MDAs place different prices for the same commodity they purchase.

He stated that the country’s international partners are very much focused and are concerned with how the Government is utilizing the country’s resources.

The CEO praised the leadership style of President Bio saying such has enabled the Government to gain more donor confidence, further disclosing how the Government is committed to follow the price norm and procurement processes.

Swarray stated that there are challenges, but as an institution they are poised to overcome them because the NPPA has the political support to execute its responsibilities. He encouraged Procurement Officers to always follow the due process and stop delay, because no matter what, NPPA will do due diligence.

On matters dealing with procurement processes, Swarray said that when doing international competitive bidding, their laws take precedence, but when doing national competitive bidding the country’s laws take precedence.

He assured the nation that NPPA is one of the preventive arms of corruption and he will make sure that President Bio succeeds in the fight against corruption and put the nation on its feet again.

Speaking during the program the Chairman of the occasion thanked the leadership of the NPPA for such a marvelous job. He stated that the price norm will help procurement officers to understand the market forces relating to demand and supply,

He profusely commended the NPPA team, stating that the price norm is not a price tag, but the fundamental objective is to make sure that there is fair knowledge on prices in the market. He also stated that the price norm is a tool against corruption and encouraged the NPPA to always engage procurement officers, noting that they too face huge challenges.

Andrew Patrick Kabia Declared Wanted For Being Gay

Andrew Bai Kabia on the run for being gay
Andrew Bai Kabia on the run for being gay

By Francess Wright

It has been confirmed that one Andrew Patrick Kabia has been declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police on 25 June 2020 for his alleged involvement in gay related activities and for vigorously advocating for girls and boys to stop putting their lives in danger.

According to a civil Society activist, Andrew was accused of campaigning negatively against the Bondo secret society and describing it as barbaric and evil. He was also accused of standing with the LGBT against the maltreatment meted out to them by government officials and some members of the community.

“If Andrew returns to Sierra Leone at anytime he will be put in Jail without due process and will end up losing his life like his colleagues,” the Executive Director for Human Rights and Justice, Francis Lahai told journalists.

“Andrew was a Bisexual and like having sex with men more than women.

He started dating men in 2019 but his partner never knew that it is a serious crime to practice gay in the country,” Mr. Lahai stressed.

He said some gay activists were put in jail recently while others were killed and disowned by their parents.

He said government officials and community members do not allow LGBT activities to operate in the area, adding that those who practice it do it secretly to avoid losing their lives.

“Andrew’s father is responsible to organize the Poro secret society while his mother organizes the Bondo secret society,” Francis stressed.

He accused Andrew’s father of doing everything possible to forcefully initiate children including Andrew, but he later escaped from the initiators due to his bisexual role.

Andrew he said was associated with LGBT activities which prompted members of the Poro and Bondo secret societies to declared him wanted.

The report further states that the police invited Andrew and his colleagues including Joseph for questioning regarding the allegations levied against them but he refused to respond to police invitation. Joseph who went first was put in custody and later sent to the Padamba Road Prison where he later died. His death caused serious panic in the community which prompted Andrew to escape to an unknown destination.

Andrew decided to escape after hearing the death of his colleague in prison, which did not go down well with the law enforcement agency.

Meanwhile, Andrew’s residence was attacked sometime on April 2020. The people attacked his house at a time when Andrew had left there in the early hours of that day to fulfill an appointment.

“Andrew received a call from his neighbor informing him about the attack on his house. The people ransacked the building and carted away properties they could lay hands on. The attackers held cutlasses, sticks threatening to kill Andrew if seen,” Lahai emphasized.

He said Andrew was later detained when he reported the matter at the police station and the intervention of Mr. Lahai saw his released from custody.

Coronavirus Poem

Covid-19

By David P Carroll

We live in a scary
World today
It’s different than
Before No more hugs kissing
Our happiness gone away
Like never before
The virus has taken our
Loved ones away
Families suffering
Like never before
The fear of the unknown
Has arrived
The worry of what will happen
Tomorrow to you and me
Coronavirus on our mind’s
Coronavirus everywhere
Our lives in danger
Like never before
We practice social distancing
Every day to keep the virus
At bay as we shop in different ways
Were asked to stay at home
Like never before
When will this
Virus ever go away
But I promise
I’ll love and pray for everyone
Suffering
Every day.

SLRSA ED & Team Embark On the Spot Visits to Ascertain Use of Passenger Manifest 

By Edward Vamboi

On the 29th June 2020,a team led by the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Ibrahim Sannoh and his Deputy Mr. James Baggie Bio conducted an on-the-spot check to major Lorry parks in the East End part of Freetown. The on-the-spot check is not unconnected with the Authority’s quest to monitor the implementation and enforcement of the use of passenger manifest by the Drivers and General Transport Workers Union at various lorry parks across the country.

The Executive Director, Ibrahim Sannoh told a cross section of drivers at the Dan Street lorry Park that the visit was a prompt and call to action in ensuring full compliance to the directives of His Excellency President Bio for the robust enforcement of the use of Passenger Manifest by all intercity transport services.  Routine checks were also conducted on vehicles to ascertain the correctness of Passenger Data on the Manifest of each vehicle. Further checks made at the Texaco lorry park proved that there was considerable level of compliance by drivers and there is robust enforcement done by the Drivers Union National Executives.

Sannoh said the SLRSA will continue to monitor the process to ensure total compliance. “Our Road Safety Corps and Traffic Personnel of the Sierra Leone Police will be deployed at strategic locations on the highways and will apprehend anybody that attempts to sabotage the initiative,” he said. He called on the Drivers Union and The Passenger Welfare Association to support the process.

It could be recalled that President Julius Maada Bio in his recent address to the nation among other things called for the implementation and enforcement  of mandatory use of Passenger Manifest by intercity transport services  and the use of face masks by passengers of public transport as part of strategies in defeating COVID-19

Many onlookers commended the SLRSA   and called for proper and robust monitoring and enforcement of the process.

Sierra Leone Bags $20M  from OPEC Fund  

By Fatmata Jengbe

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has approved $243 million in funding to support developing countries across the globe. It also noted that it is already aiding developing countries in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our development finance supports operations in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across Africa, Asia and Latin America,” said OPEC Fund Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa. “We are working hard to address COVID-19-related development issues, while continuing to support other urgent needs in our partner countries. The Sustainable Development Goals are deeply interconnected and the pandemic means even more pressure on resources for all areas of social, environmental and economic progress.”

UAE news agency WAM reported that public sector loans of $163 million will go towards: Burkina Faso with $23 million to support Dori and Fada N’Gourma Universities Expansion; China with $30 million to support Hubei Vocational Education; and Papua New Guinea with $50 million to help Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Programme (Tranche 2).

$20 million will support Senegal’s Water Valorisation for Value Chains Development Project; Sierra Leone with $20 million to assist Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping; and Uganda with $20 million to help Third Line of Credit to Uganda Development Bank Limited.

Meanwhile, $80 million will go to private sector operations. $30 million will support small and medium enterprises in Paraguay which address business interruptions and other challenges related to COVID-19. The remaining $50 million will go to a financial institution for on-lending to infrastructure projects in eligible African countries.

In addition to this, OFID recently approved $10 million to support Guatemala’s response plan to COVID-19 as well as $20 million to help the Maldives combat the pandemic. Since the beginning of the outbreak, the organisation has dedicated $1 billion to fund COVID-19 impact and recovery efforts in developing countries.

 

Draft IMC Bill… SLAJ President Nasralla Denies Consultations With Journalists

President of the Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla,

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Minister of information and Communications, Mohamed Rado Swaray, would want journalists and media stakeholders to believe that IMC and the Ministry held wide ranging consultations with journalists and media stakeholders before the draft IMC Bill which has sparked a lot of controversy and revulsion amongst journalists, Editors and media owners before the draft was crafted by the Law Officers Department.

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla flatly and openly denied that such discussions were ever held with the IMC on the Bill; rather, he said SLAJ was consulted on Repeal of Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act that criminalizes libel.

What came out of the discussion on Radio Democracy’s Tuesday morning program was that only two SLAJ IMC members sitting on the IMC Board were part of the consultations and apparently never gave any feedback to SLAJ as to what and what was contained in the draft IMC Bill for the Association to scrutinize and give their feedback as solicited from the membership that would have validated the draft document.

In the main, whilst Salone Times Editor, Thomas Dixon, gave glowing acknowledgement to the Head of State’s sincere commitment to provide a wide open legal and empowering operational space for journalists to ply their trade responsibly, accountably but without hindrance, there seems to be a hidden conspiracy by certain people to muzzle the Press as contained in Sections of the draft IMC Bill that Dixon succinctly pointed to as obnoxious, undemocratic, offensive and enslaving of the media’s freedom to operate as a business and to exercise its unfettered freedom of expression within the bounds of the law.

In democracies and authoritarian States alike, leaders intending on consolidating power are finding new ways to repress independent journalism, a report released very recently by Freedom House finds.

Whilst we believe in the sincerity of President Bio to rule the country and its people democratically, what we fear is that those Sections of the draft IMC Bill that highlighted as a threat to democratic freedom of the Press smirks of a new form of media repression trying to take hold in what is supposed to be an open society where the media is free to operate like any other business and to hold itself and society accountable for actions.

For example, in China, the Chinese Communist Party has rapidly expanded its influence over media production and dissemination channels abroad. Beijing influences news coverage around the world by suppressing critical viewpoints and managing important content delivery systems.

Equally so, anti-democratic leaders in fragile democracies have attempted to tame the media by deploying economic, legal, and extralegal tools to silence critical journalists and bolster friendly outlets. A lack of trust in mainstream news sources, an onslaught of disinformation, and a shortage of sustainable business models all grind down the media sector, laying the groundwork for co-optation by ill-intentioned political actors.

What is disturbing generally is that, in some of the most influential democracies in the world, populist leaders have overseen a concerted attempt to throttle the independence of the media.

While threats to global media freedom are concerning in their own right, their effect on the State of democracy is what makes them truly dangerous.

Most worrisome is whether journalists as citizens under the law can hope for the IMC to come to their aid after repeal of the libel law if their basic rights are violated.

Mind you dear readers, even the Press in the USA is under similar threat, although US legal protections for media freedom remain strong. We see President Trump’s continual vilification of the Press as seriously exacerbated an ongoing erosion of public confidence in mainstream outlets. Among other steps, the President has repeatedly threatened to strengthen libel laws, revoke the licenses of certain broadcasters and damage media owners’ other business interests.

On the other hand, we see the positive relationship between strengthening media freedoms and democratic progress in countries including Ethiopia, Malaysia, Ecuador and The Gambia.

ACC Exonerates NaCSA Staff, Fines Ben Fornah Le 30M for Corruption

Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption (ACC) Francis Ben Kaifala

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC),on the 20th June 2020, reminded members of the public that sometime in May 2020, the institution commenced investigation into allegations relating to misappropriation of public funds by officials of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and a staff of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which came about from a video footage screened by the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Television on 12th May, 2020, in which, supposed beneficiaries expressed their frustrations over the payment of funds provided by the Government of Sierra Leone, to vulnerable people in the Bombali community, to cushion the effects of the three day lockdown, at 10 Arabic College Road, Makeni.

According to the ACC, based on the above, the matter was carefully and promptly investigated adding how findings revealed that the list used to pay beneficiaries emanated from the various partners working with NaCSA and was not generated by NaCSA itself.

It was further revealed that payment of beneficiaries commenced on Saturday 2nd May 2020 at the Makeni City Council and Two hundred and Seventy-Six people (276) were paid on that day.

The ACC furthered that on Monday 4th May 2020, payment recommenced and payment teams were divided into two groups to expedite the payments to beneficiaries.

Team One was headed by Brian Smart-Kanu and they paid beneficiaries at the Makeni City Council and Teko Veterinary.

The other team was headed by Sheik Ahmed Bobor-Kamara and Johnette Kanu, the ACC District Monitor, was part of that team. The ACC stated that the team paid beneficiaries at the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD) Office at Frontier Road and 10 Arabic College Road. Payments went well in all three payment points except, for 10 Arabic College Road, where there were alleged incidents of corruption as captured by the AYV video footage.

The institution continued that their investigations revealed that a Mary Kamara, also a beneficiary, residing at the 10 Arabic College Road admitted that she machinated and participated in the scheme of calling neighbours and passers-by to stand in as proxies for four registered beneficiaries who were absent on the day of the payment. These were: Isatu Kamara-Will, Fatmata Tarawalie, Isatu F. Koroma, and Sonita Koroma.

Mary Kamara made a fraudulent agreement with the four persons that when they answer to the names of beneficiaries that were absent, Forty Thousand Leones (Le40,000) would be given to each of them (the proxies) as token reward for their stand-in for the absent registered beneficiaries and the remaining amount would be retained by her in trust for the legitimate beneficiaries. The Paying team was not aware of these illicit arrangements and the investigations has not led to any evidence to show that the NaCSA team solicited and/or received any money from Mary Kamara or any of her fraudulent proxies.

The Commission stated that in light of the above, the Commission has no clear evidence of misappropriation of funds by officials of NaCSA and/or their partners; but there is a clear situation of weak policies, in some instances no procedures as to how to undertake such ventures. It furthered how adequate measures were not put in place to forestall corrupt activities by staff of NaCSA, its partners and the beneficiaries because of the rush to implement the safety net Cash Transfer Payment by the Government and the sudden announcement of the pending lockdown due to COVID-19 spread fears. More importantly also, there was no identity check of beneficiaries before payments were effected which left room for duplicity and lack of transparency in the process.

The ACC therefore recommended for a review of the policies surrounding such payments as the process around it appears to be mostly ad hoc; which leaves room for corruption and corrupt practices in the list generation, payment and fraudulent activities by some disingenuous beneficiaries – as it happened in this case.

The anti-graft institution maintained that it will not prosecute any staff of NaCSA and or its partners as there is no evidence that points to their involvement in the extortion of beneficiaries or that which establishes a criminal responsibility contrary to what was presented in the print, electronic and social media.

On another issue, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on the 29th June 2020 revealed how the High Court of Sierra Leone Holden in Freetown, presided over by the Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda has convicted Ben Fornah of No. 2C Line, Tengbe Town, Freetown, on one-count of corruption offence.

Justice Komba Kamanda convicted Ben Fornah and ruled that he pays a fine of Thirty Million Leones (Le: 30,000.000/00) instantly or serve a three years imprisonment term.

According to the ACC between 1st July and 31st August, 2016, Ben Fornah willfully failed to comply with applicable procedures in the allocation of public property.  Fornah  improperly allocated to a member of the public, an electric SAGEM Meter, with Serial Numbers 98000391940, being public property in the custody of the United Business Systems, but held on behalf of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), without following due procedures contrary to Section 48(2)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008.

The ACC was represented by Lawyer M. M Sow, while Lawyer I. Kanu represented the convict. Michael Sambola of Radio Democracy FM 98.1 was the lead prosecution witness in this matter.

The Commission reassured the general public of its continued resolve to fight corruption at all levels and pursue justice at all times without fear or favour.

COVID-19 BRAC Community Health Reach Project Launched

By Jonathan Hindolo Kurabu

The official launch of BRAC Sierra Leone’s COVID 19 Community Health Reach project was recently held at the J&E Guest House in Bo. It attracted stakeholders drawn from the Bo DICOVERC, ONS, SLP, Bo District Health Management Team and Civil Society Organizations.

Country Representative for BRAC -SL, Andrew Chikopa, averred that BRAC is closely working with the Government of Sierra Leone in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. He noted that the efforts they are making are geared towards implementing activities of the project in order to ensure collaborative efforts towards achieving a Corona Free Sierra Leone.

Andrew Chikopa stated that the Non-Governmental Organization was founded 49 years ago in Bangladesh and started operations in Sierra Leone in 2008 adding that they have over the past years implemented a lot of programmes in many sectors ranging from Health, Emergency Response preparedness, youth empowerment and gender, agricultural projects and Microfinance with them being the largest micro finance organization in Sierra Leone with over 69,000 beneficiaries.

With a vision of a world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination where everyone has the opportunity to realize their potentials, Andrew Chikopa, said their mission is to empower people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, disease and social injustice, adding that they have so far ameliorated the overarching problems of employment faced by providing jobs to 444 staff including17 expatriates with 85% of staff most of whom he said, are women.

Project Manager for the COVID-19 Community Health Reach, Fatmata Sannoh said the entire project is funded by the Center for Development Philanthropy based in United States of America.

The project specific objectives ,she went on, are to support community based response among BRAC beneficiaries and the larger communities, increase knowledge of COVID 19 causes, symptoms and appropriate actions to be undertaken in the event of suspected or increased cases, increase awareness on enhanced hygiene practices at community levels among others.

Hon. Eric Jumu, who is the Bo DICOVERC Social Mobilization Lead, lauded the gigantic strides taken by BRAC SL especially at a critical time like this when the denial rate among Sierra Leoneans appears to be like a cog in the wheel of their operations and encouraged them to consolidate their efforts to ensure that COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past.

The Coordinator of the Bo DICOVERC, David Fortune commended the Management of BRAC for supporting Government in combating what he described as a medical and social menace and disclosed plans for the opening of two Treatment Centres in Bo where positive corona cases could be treated.

The duration of the project will span from May to November 2020.

Pres. Bio  Decorates Newly Appointed CDS & JFC

Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Lieutenant-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay and the Joint-Force Commander, Major-General Patrick K. Lavahun

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Monday 29 June 2020 the new Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Lieutenant-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay and the Joint-Force Commander, Major-General Patrick K. Lavahun, have subscribed to the Oath of Office before His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio at State House.

The new Army Chief, who replaced Lieutenant-General Brima Bureh Sesay, was promoted to Lieutenant-General while the new Joint Force Commander was promoted to Major-General and decorated by the President, who doubled as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.

In his statement, President Bio congratulated the senior officers on their appointments and promotions, noting that their elevation brought with it bigger responsibilities. He said he had meticulously chosen them because he wanted more from them in order to regain the glory of the RSLAF as a force that was respected in the country and beyond. He added that much was expected from them after their commissions and promotions.

“I need not remind you that the task ahead is daunting and can be daunting at times but you have a shoulder in me to always rest on. As a Government, our aim is to develop this nation and in that process, we need your support. The Armed Forces form an important element in the development of any nation and we hope that you will provide the leadership necessary,” he said.

Lieutenant-General Sesay thanked and appreciated the President and people of Sierra Leone for the confidence reposed in them as senior military leaders to assume the responsibility for the operational control and administration of the RSLAF. He expressed the belief that with their experience and competence, they would not betray the confidence. He promised that they would progressively drive the RSLAF into the future in support of the New Direction Agenda.

“I thank you for your good leadership as our Commander-In-Chief of the RSLAF and your good dreams for your great institution – the RSLAF. We continue to relentlessly pledge our loyalty and commitments to you and the people of Sierra Leone now and always,” he assured.

Despite Daunting Challenges…   IMF Supports Freetown City Council Property Tax Reform

Her Worship Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer

By Amin Kef Sesay

The issue of rolling out a Property Tax Reform by the Freetown City Council under the leadership of Her Worship Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer has become a very topical issue with some in favour of it and others against it saying the timing is not right coming at a time when we are grappling to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

However, what is indeed very certain is the fact that Mayor Aki-Sawyer has made it categorically clear that a reform is necessary in order to position Council to generate more revenue which it needs to execute some of its traditional functions, among which is to effectively continue to keep the city clean and also to pay certain members of staff whom are not on the regular Government payroll.

She underscored that allocations from the Ministry of Finance are not disbursed timely and such is negatively impinging on the activities of the Council.

The issue took another dimension when the Minister of Local Government and Decentralization, Tamba Lamina, stated that the Mayor failed to follow due process in her move to institute the reform.

It could be recalled that recently the Freetown City Council utilized resources in order to undertake a geo-mapping of all properties in Freetown to determine their value which should provide the basis of how much a particular property owner should pay annually as property tax. In a recent interview, Mayor Aki-Sawyer explained that the data they generated after the mapping exercise clearly shows that tax on certain properties will go down and others will go up. She further mentioned that though it is an annual tax yet property owners could pay by monthly installments. Also, she mentioned that payment of the new property rates will take effect after the end of September this year.

While all these are taking place, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the 28thJune 2020 has added its voice on the issue in what it dubbed as, “IMF views of Freetown City Council’s Property Tax Reform.” This was what the IMF said: “We fully support this reform that appears to be in line with the best regional practice. While there is always room for improvement, we believe this reform could bring Freetown in line with other towns in the country and region in improving the property tax system.

While these taxes represent almost half of the city’s revenue (more than in other towns), a reform of the property taxation system is needed. We believe that successful implementation of this reform could allow for a doubling or even tripling of Freetown’s own-source revenue in a clear and transparent way. This increase in resources would reduce the FCC’s reliance on at times unpredictable transfers from the central Government and ensure sufficient and timely revenue for the provision of sanitation and hygiene services-critical during the pandemic and beyond.”

The IMF also commended the Freetown City Council for excellently communicating the reform process and the anticipated advantages that would ensue when it comes into effect.

The Bretton Woods financial institution welcomed the FCC’s actions to inform taxpayers on the introduction of the points-based property tax, while recognizing it may not have reached all-mainly low-income-property taxpayers.

The IMF added, “We would strongly support plans to continue this information campaign and suggest reinforcing it (including showing how this revenue can improve Freetown’s public services). This means ensuring improvements in public works are visible and linked to increased property tax revenue (e.g., signage that this school/hospital/street is maintained/cleaned using that money!)”.

With regards postponement of the reform, the IMF said they do not see any strong reason to postpone the reform in the current COVID-19 context.

It says, on the contrary they support implementing the new system that allows to increase property taxes on high-end property
while supporting the most vulnerable and those most affected by the crisis.

The IMF furthered that as the FCC has already announced the reform and new property rates, postponing or suspending the reform could be
counter-productive, eroding tax compliance and the overall trust in the reform agenda.

The institution maintained that in line with their broader fiscal policy advice, administrative measures should be the first line of defense to protect individuals and firms affected by the crisis. It continued by saying that these measures should be targeted, temporary and timely. “As mean-testing is limited, affected individuals and firms should reach out to the FCC administration to indicate their payment difficulties. Local tax administration should do the same. The use
of digital solutions in the new system facilitates making these contacts and entering in payment agreements if they are needed,” the IMF concluded.

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