The Ministerial Performance Contract launched by President Bio in 2024 has been levelled with significant scrutiny and heavy criticisms for its lack of implementation in the face of widespread corruption and financial mismanagement in the country as Audit Service Sierra Leone 2023 report indicated.

Critics argue that the initiative, which was meant to hold ministers and government officials accountable by setting clear performance targets, has largely been undermined by a lack of political will to enforce those targets.

One of the major issues raised by critics is the persistent problem of corruption, which continues to be a significant challenge in Sierra Leone’s governance system and despite the government’s claims of fighting corruption; reports from Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) have revealed troubling findings. In its 2023 audit report, the ASSL highlighted missing funds and financial irregularities within government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). These findings point to a systemic problem of ineffectiveness, corruption and financial mismanagement and embezzlement state funds, which the Ministerial Performance contract intends to combat.

It would be recalled that President Bio through his Chief Minister Dr. Moinina Sengeh launched the Ministerial Performance Contract in 2024 to ensuring democratic accountability and greater transparency, effective service delivery, and results- oriented governance performance; as well as combating the longstanding Issues of inefficiency, corruption and poor governance in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS).

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The initiative by the President was heartily welcomed and widely praised as a smart move and bold step toward accountability and transparency in the public sector by a wide spectrum of Sierra Leoneans from diverse backgrounds-various political analysts, government officials, civil society organizations, media, and ordinary citizens. The push for ministerial accountability was seen as an important move to ensure that ministers are held accountable for their actions and their ministries’ performance, It brought Citizens and civil society organizations together offering support and lavishing praises at Bio’s leadership for taking steps to address governance issues head-on.

The idea of holding ministers accountable was not seen as a way to strengthen democratic institutions and improve service delivery. Bio SLPP supporters and Political allies also viewed the initiative as an essential tool for institutionalizing accountability in the country. Many thought it would restore public faith in the government and ensure that public funds were used more efficiently.

However, since the launch of the Ministerial Performance Contract and its bogus set targets, the initiative has disappeared in oblivion very little or nothing has been said about it. We have seen only minimal cabinet reshuffle and the public has not been Informed whether they did not meet the threshold of the Ministerial Performance contract. While the move was hailed as a bold initiative, some experts and critics pointed out the inherent challenges in making it truly effective.

These concerns raised the question: would the push for ministerial accountability  br  following by  real action, or would it fizzle out, as many reform efforts have in the past? The major concern among critics was whether the political will exists to ensure that the accountability mechanisms are truly enforced. Ministerial accountability requires not just high-level political commitment, but also a robust. institutional framework for monitoring and evaluation. Weak enforcement mechanisms could render the initiative ineffective.

The big question people are asking is whether ministers themselves would genuinely cooperate with this accountability push, or if they would attempt to evade or undermine the process. Ministers have a lot of political leverage, and their buy-in would be crucial for the success of any performance contracts or accountability frameworks. Public skepticism is rooted in the historical context of reform promises that come and go, failed reforms and unfulfilled promises in Sierra Leone governance structure.

By and large, President Bio must push for the implementation of the Ministerial Performance contract, if he wants to enhance accountability and transparency in governance, improve public service, delivery, better use of public funds, strengthen public trust and restore public confidence and improve positive international reception.

Experts, political commentators and the common man alike feel that without strong enforcement mechanisms, the Ministerial Performance contract could become just another paper exercise with little tangible and without genuine commitment from the top leadership to tackle corruption and hold authorities accountable, the contract, if implemented wili fall short of its objectives, which is still in the pipeline. The success of the President’s ambition to curb corruption and enhance accountability will depend on how effectively the government can address the underlying issues and ensure that ministers and officials are genuinely held accountable for their performance. Until these broader systemic issues are tackled, the criticisms surrounding the non- implementation of the Ministerial Performance Contract persist.