Rice Import Duty Revenue Under ACC Scrutiny Following BAN Concerns

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is set to examine the management of revenue generated from Sierra Leone’s five percent rice import duty following concerns raised by the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) over the handling of the funds and their intended contribution to the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF).

The commitment was made during an engagement between the ACC and BAN on August 31, 2026, at Integrity House in Tower Hill, Freetown, where concerns raised in BAN’s report were discussed.

ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala said the Commission was concerned about the issues raised and would conduct its own checks to establish what happened and make appropriate recommendations. He proposed a two-way approach in which BAN will provide civil society recommendations, while the ACC conducts an independent assessment and prepares a report based on its findings.

The ACC will subsequently share its findings and recommendations with the Minister of Finance for consideration and any necessary action.

BAN Coordinator Abu Bakarr Kamara welcomed the ACC’s engagement with civil society, describing it as an important step toward strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. He also stressed BAN’s advocacy for women to benefit from taxation and agricultural investments, including its call for at least 30 percent of relevant ADF resources to benefit women farmers.

The engagement forms part of the ACC’s broader efforts to promote transparency, accountability and traceability in public fund management, with its planned checks expected to clarify how the five percent rice import duty revenue is being managed and its intended contribution to the ADF.

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