The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) on Friday, August 14, 2026, launched its Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, a digital platform designed to curb corruption and improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and beyond.
The launch took place at the NPPA headquarters in Freetown.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Planning, Policy and Research, Alie Badara Sheriff, said the e-GP system would help curb corruption while strengthening transparency and accountability among MDAs, suppliers and other stakeholders within the country's public procurement system.
Mr. Sheriff said the system would also strengthen the NPPA's policy, research and monitoring functions in MDAs.
He described the e-GP system as a platform that requires ownership from all stakeholders, stressing that it should not be regarded as the property of the NPPA but as a system belonging to everyone involved in public procurement.
According to him, the e-GP system is one of the country's largest public-sector digital systems because it will be used not only by MDAs but also by the general public.
He said the platform would promote transparency and fairness, create greater opportunities for suppliers, reduce administrative burdens and improve records management.
Mr. Sheriff further explained that the system would help address problems associated with misfiled and missing procurement documents during audit queries, as electronic records would be easier to preserve and retrieve throughout the procurement process.
He disclosed that the project had gone through two World Bank-funded phases since 2016, with contributions from the NPPA, e-GP leadership and other stakeholders.
He noted that there would be a transition period during which procurement officers and MDAs would be given time to learn and familiarise themselves with the system before full implementation.
He also clarified that the publication of procurement advertisements in newspapers would continue, in accordance with the provisions of the NPPA Act.
The Director of ICT/e-GP, Dr. Baba Turay, said a major digital transformation requires strong political will.
Citing Liberia as an example, Dr. Turay said a procurement activity conducted outside the e-GP system was halted by the President, followed by a directive requiring MDAs to use the electronic platform.
He said Sierra Leone was also demonstrating political commitment towards the digital transformation of governance, with several MDAs pursuing similar reforms.
Dr. Turay reinforced the message that the e-GP system was not the property of the NPPA or merely its e-GP department.
He urged everyone involved in public procurement—including MDAs, suppliers, contractors, consultants and NPPA staff—to play an active role in ensuring the success of the system.
He described e-GP as a digital platform designed to automate and manage government procurement processes, from planning through contract management, with the aim of improving transparency, efficiency, accountability, competition and value for money while ensuring compliance with procurement regulations and proper records management.
According to him, the system covers the preparation and publication of Annual Procurement Plans, budget alignment, procurement schedules, approvals and monitoring.
It also incorporates procurement requisitions and related planning activities.
The platform allows for tender management and electronic publication of tender opportunities, online distribution of bidding documents, management and registration of bidders and suppliers, verification of supplier information, monitoring of supplier participation and performance, and electronic submission of bids.
Dr. Turay disclosed that under the new system, tender notices would be published electronically, bidders would be able to download documents online, and bids would be prepared and submitted electronically.
He explained that submitted bids would be securely stored until the scheduled opening time.
The system, he said, protects the confidentiality of bids before opening, allowing suppliers to participate regardless of their physical location, provided they have the necessary internet access.
He added that the e-GP system would significantly expand supplier participation and reduce barriers to procurement opportunities.
The electronic bid-opening process would be automated and conducted in accordance with procurement regulations.
The system would record important information, including bidder names, bid prices, submission times and bid-opening records.
Dr. Turay said the intention was to minimise human interference and ensure that bids could not be accessed before the officially designated opening time.
He noted that the evaluation process was also being moved onto the platform.
This includes verification of bids, mandatory document checks, technical and financial evaluations, evaluation scoring, preparation of reports and approval processes.
He explained that the electronic system essentially translates existing procurement procedures into a digital environment rather than replacing established procurement rules.
Following evaluation, he said, the e-GP system would facilitate approval of evaluation recommendations, including the identification of successful and unsuccessful bidders, as well as the publication of contract award information and implementation details.
The Director of System Infrastructure, Alieu Sesay, said the NPPA would focus on capacity building, stakeholder training and continuous feedback as essential components of e-GP implementation in Sierra Leone.
He stressed that suppliers must be equipped with the necessary skills to participate effectively in electronic procurement, noting that without adequate capacity, suppliers could struggle to compete for government contracts.
Mr. Sesay said the NPPA would provide training for suppliers and organise workshops to guide them on how to register and use the system.
The programme concluded with a question-and-answer session involving participants and officials of the NPPA.
