Post a comment 
The Managing Director of the Sierra Leone State Lottery, Jerry George, is facing serious allegations of financial misconduct, with the management of Accord Logistics accusing him of collecting and failing to account for large sums of rent belonging to the institution.
The company is now urging the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter.
Accord Logistics, which signed a three-year management agreement with the Government of Sierra Leone to oversee the operations and assets of the State Lottery, stated that it inherited an institution that was heavily indebted and near collapse.
According to the company, the Lottery had been unable to pay staff salaries, bills, corporate taxes, and other statutory obligations prior to its takeover.
In a financial reconciliation dated 2 February 2025, Accord Logistics alleged that Mr. George, along with the Deputy Manager, collected rent from tenants occupying lottery properties without proper authorization and outside the agreed management structure.
The company maintains that, under its agreement with government, it holds sole authority to collect and manage all Lottery revenues and assets.
According to the reconciliation statement provided by Accord Logistics, rent collected in 2021 from the National Commission for Privatization (NCP) amounted to NLe 241,600, broken down as NLe 91,600 and NLe 150,000.
The company further claims that the outstanding balance of rent due from the NCP from 2019 to 2025 stands at NLe 1,150,000, although it notes that there is no information confirming whether additional payments have been made.
The reconciliation also indicates that in 2021, rent totaling NLe 262,246 was collected from the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA). Accord Logistics states that an outstanding balance of NLe 44,744 remains for 2021, in addition to an outstanding US$86,000 covering rent from 2022 through 2025. The company further reports that a new floor rented to NPPA in January 2022 carries a rental value of US$46,000.
In addition, the reconciliation alleges that US$13,500 in rent was collected in 2021 from Audit Service Sierra Leone. It also states that rent amounting to NLe 1,830,000 was collected under an agreement signed in January 2024 with the National Taskforce on Human Trafficking.
Accord Logistics further claims that rent paid by Zenith Bank has not yet been accounted for. The reconciliation document also alleges that a cash amount of NLe 694,000 in a Zenith Bank account was misused by the Managing Director.
The management of Accord Logistics expressed deep concern over what it described as “illegal” rent collections by the Managing Director and Deputy Manager. The company stated that it may demand repayment of more than NLe 699,000 allegedly collected outside the agreed framework. It added that an earlier attempt to investigate the matter was initiated but has since stalled without conclusion.
According to the company, Mr. George has refused to be supervised, reportedly maintaining that he is not under the control of any authority and is not answerable to anyone.
Concerned citizens and stakeholders are now calling for the Anti-Corruption Commission to intervene, arguing that only an independent investigation can determine the full extent of the alleged irregularities and establish accountability.
As of press time, Mr. Jerry George has not publicly responded to the allegations. The Anti-Corruption Commission has also not issued an official statement on whether it intends to open a formal investigation into the claims.
