Government to Launch Electronic Procurement and Digital Audits Across Local Councils

The Government of Sierra Leone is launching new digital platforms across all twenty-one local councils to tackle corruption, stop revenue loss, and improve public spending. Announced by President Julius Maada Bio during his State Opening address to Parliament, the initiative introduces electronic procurement and smart financial tracking tools nationwide. President Bio stressed that local authorities must manage public funds transparently, as they directly deliver vital community services like water, roads, healthcare, and education.
Central to the reforms is a new digital procurement system that moves bidding, supplier registration, and contract awards online. By removing manual paperwork and human interference, the system aims to create fair competition, prevent price manipulation, and give small local businesses better access to government contracts. With public buying making up over seventeen percent of the country’s economy, officials believe these digital checks will stop money from being wasted or stolen.