NPPA Uncovers Construction Delays, Security Gaps at Four BADEA-Funded Schools
Osman Tolo Sesay The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) has raised concerns over construction delays, inadequate staffing, theft and security weaknesses at four BADEA-funded education projects in Sierra Leone, warning that Magburaka Boys High School may require at least six additional months to complete.
The findings followed a special monitoring exercise conducted from October 9–12, 2026, after the Minister of Finance authorised the NPPA to assess construction progress, workmanship and compliance with technical standards ahead of the December 2026 completion deadline.
The inspection covered Bunumbu Teachers College, Government Secondary School in Kenema, Government Secondary School in Bo and Magburaka Boys High School. The monitoring team, led by NPPA Director of Engineering Engineer Sheku Lieed Sheriff, examined construction quality, workforce deployment, site security and environmental health and safety.
Magburaka Boys High School recorded the most significant delays, with rehabilitation work only 10% complete and newly constructed buildings 60% complete as of October 12. The project involves rehabilitating 39 buildings and constructing nine new ones, alongside a water supply system with three boreholes. The team estimated that at least six additional months would be needed to complete the outstanding work, citing an inadequate workforce, security weaknesses and repeated theft. Site engineers also blamed poor initial assessment by the consultant for additional work, variations and a contract addendum. Although initially scheduled for one year, the project has extended to approximately three years, prompting disappointment from the school principal.
At Bunumbu Teachers College, construction was estimated at approximately 85% complete, while the contractor put progress between 85% and 90%. The project involves rehabilitating 33 buildings and constructing 34 new ones, with only two new buildings reportedly remaining without roofs.
However, none of the rehabilitation buildings had been fully completed according to project specifications. The monitoring team identified inadequate staffing and repeated theft of installed materials as major challenges but said the December deadline could still be met if the contractor accelerated work and deployed more workers. Recommendations included strengthening site security, enforcing the use of personal protective equipment and clearing overgrown vegetation. Additional components, including a college farm, fish pond and three-kilometre access road, could not be fully assessed because sufficient implementation information was unavailable.
At Government Secondary School in Kenema, the inspection on October 11 found that rehabilitated dormitories and classrooms had been completed and were already occupied by students. However, some work remained outstanding, and the consultant responsible for quality control was absent during the visit. The team urged the contractor to accelerate construction and improve coordination with the consultant.
At Government Secondary School in Bo, also inspected on October 11, completed dormitories were already in use, and the monitoring team assessed the quality of work as good and consistent with expectations. The NPPA urged the contractor, who is responsible for both the Bo and Kenema projects, to maintain progress in Bo while speeding up the remaining work in Kenema.
The monitoring exercise revealed varying levels of implementation across the four sites, with facilities already serving students in Bo and Kenema, Bunumbu Teachers College nearing completion, and substantial delays at Magburaka Boys High School.
The NPPA called for increased staffing, stronger security measures, improved coordination and faster implementation to address the identified shortcomings and ensure that the projects meet the required standards.
The authority said it would continue monitoring public procurement contracts to promote compliance with contractual obligations, strengthen accountability and ensure value for money, as contractors and consultants face pressure to deliver the education projects before the December 2026 deadline.