November 15, 2016 By Emmanuel Okyne (Intern)
While delivering a public lecture at a symposium organized by the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers on the topic “ Corruption in Engineering Procurement,’ Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Ady Macauley ,observed that there was massive corruption in the private sector of Sierra Leone.
He made the above observation last Friday at the Beccles – Davies Memorial Hall, Gloucester Street.
The anti- graft boss said the lecture was timely for public discuss, adding that each day people discuss corruption, which he said has become a public issue.
He said private businessmen do allegedly give kickbacks to public officials for speedy preferential treatment over other competitors, who were more qualified.
The Commissioner said in the award of engineering contract, corruption commences from the conception stage and that contracts were awarded not on merits.
“Poor planning lead to emergency procurement and sole sourcing. Section 29 of the Procurement Act 2016 requires proper planning to maximise value for public money,” he said.
He said bidders usually undertake split-bidding to evade required thresholds, and that in most cases, contract could be awarded to the same contractor on restricted procurement rules.
He said some bidders were in the habit of accessing insider information and advice on the project estimated cost; hence adjust their bids to conform to set parameters.
‘’Business people do not see bribe as bribe, but as a capital investment, and as the cost placed on the final consumers, “he said.
Commissioner Macauley noted that delay in the execution of contracts makes it more expensive, adding that contractors do employ it as an inflationary tactics to get more forex.
He said engineering contracts were awarded to firms that offered the highest bribes, not taking into consideration quality service delivery.
Ade Macauley said competitors with high standards of few criminal skills lose the bidding to unscrupulous ones.
He continued that such unprofessional tendencies jeopardise the health and safety of the end users, pointing out that it also affects the credibility of the engineering profession.
Principally, he said, corruption offences in engineering procurement fall within the purview of the ACC Act of 2008, adding that Sierra Leone has a very weak anti- corruption laws when it comes to the private sector.
The anti- corruption boss encouraged the public to make use of the pay no bribe in a bid to minimise corruption.
President of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers, Ing. professor Redwood Sawyer, said the public lecture was geared towards raising awareness among members in the profession, adding that the topic was very timely for members.