By P. Vangerline Kpotoe
MONROVIA, Aug. 10 (LINA) – The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) has launched a two-day study tour for a senior delegation from Sierra Leone’s National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), focused on deepening regional collaboration and showcasing Liberia’s experience with its Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System.
The study tour which took place from August 6-7 at the PPCC headquarters in Monrovia, was held under the theme: Learning from Liberia’s Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System Implementation.”
Welcoming the Sierra Leonean officials, PPCC Executive Director Bodger Scott Johnson said the tour reflects the lasting friendship between the two nations and their joint dedication to good governance.
“Your visit to Liberia highlights the enduring bond between our sister republics and shows our shared commitment to strengthening public institutions, advancing good governance, and promoting excellence in public procurement across West Africa,” Johnson stated.
He added that Liberia is proud to host the delegation, which aims to gain practical insights into the country’s procurement modernization process, rollout strategies, and lessons learned in building a system that is transparent, efficient, and accountable.
Johnson emphasized that procurement reform is key to sound public financial management, economic growth, private sector development, and overall national progress, noting that Liberia has achieved major gains through legal, institutional, and operational reforms.
He spotlighted the successful launch of Liberia’s Electronic Government Procurement System, implemented with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank, calling it one of the government’s most important digital transformation projects in the public sector.
According to Johnson, Liberia rolled out the e-GP system in phases. It began with a pilot in six government institutions before scaling up to 50 additional ministries, agencies, commissions, and public bodies.
He explained that the Commission has also prioritized training for procurement professionals, government staff, ICT personnel, and private suppliers to ensure wide adoption of the digital platform.
Johnson acknowledged that moving from manual to electronic procurement required strong change management. This included nationwide awareness drives, stakeholder consultations, media outreach, and ongoing institutional backing.
He recalled that President Joseph N. Boakai Sr., officially launched the National Electronic Government Procurement System in February 2025, calling it a major step demonstrating the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and digital governance.
The PPCC Executive Director urged the Sierra Leonean team to engage in open exchanges during the tour, noting that procurement reform is continuous and benefits greatly from regional learning.
“We’re happy to share both our successes and the challenges we’ve faced, along with the practical lessons that continue to guide our work,” he said. “We also look forward to learning from your experience as we work together to strengthen procurement systems in the region.”
Also speaking at the opening, National Public Procurement (NPPA) Chief Executive Officer and Head of Delegation Fodie Konneh said the visit aims to deepen cooperation between Liberia and Sierra Leone on public procurement and public financial management.
“Our goal here is to enhance collaboration between our institutions and elevate our partnership,” Konneh said. “Public financial management is the lifeblood of any country, and procurement sits at its core. Effective collaboration in this area strengthens the foundation of public sector management.”
Konneh stressed that as neighbors, the two countries have a duty to advance together. “We share a long history — both good and bad — and as good neighbors, we must ensure no one is left behind. When we grow together, we all gain. If not, we risk issues like irregular migration and instability,” he noted.
He added that the tour also offers a chance for both nations to better understand each other’s development paths and reshape historical narratives through stronger partnership.
According to Konneh, Sierra Leone is keen to learn from Liberia’s e-GP implementation — including the hurdles, lessons, and best practices — to inform its own procurement reforms.
“You are ahead on e-procurement. We want to understand your process, the progress you’ve made, and the challenges you’ve overcome so we can benchmark and adopt strategies to strengthen our system,” Konneh said.
He further highlighted the need for African nations to develop African solutions through platforms like the African Public Procurement Network (APPN), stressing that regional cooperation is vital for improving governance and public financial management across the continent.
The two-day agenda includes presentations on Liberia’s procurement modernization, live demos of the e-GP platform, supplier registration processes, and institutional visits to the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), plus courtesy calls on senior government officials.
The study tour reinforces Liberia’s growing reputation as a regional leader in electronic public procurement and demonstrates both countries’ commitment to transparency, efficiency, accountability, and stronger regional cooperation in procurement and public financial management.
The program convenes procurement experts from both nations to exchange knowledge on procurement reform, digital transformation, and public financial management.