The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), led by senior management and the E-Government Procurement (E-GP) team, on January 7, 2026, conducted an inspection visit to the E-GP data center hosted at the Ministry of Finance.

The visit comes as the E-GP project nears full completion, with the Supplier Registration Module already launched and attracting growing public interest.

The Ministry of Finance currently hosts the national E-GP platform in its modern, fully equipped data center a development NPPA described as a major relief given the high security, infrastructure, and operational standards required for a national digital procurement system.

NPPA Chief Executive Officer, Fodie J. Konneh, who was visiting the facility for the second time, recalled that much of the equipment was not yet installed during his earlier visit. He noted that recent updates from the project team indicated that the essential infrastructure had since been fully deployed and optimized.

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Konneh said he wanted to better understand remaining challenges, particularly recurring technical glitches, as the Supplier Registration Module is already live. He expressed optimism that no major setbacks would disrupt the impending rollout.

During the visit, the CEO introduced the NPPA delegation to the Director of ICT and Head of the Data Center, Mr. Abdulai Bah, who led a briefing session. Bah explained that the facility is equipped with optimized cooling systems, server racks, and network infrastructure capable of supporting the system, and stressed the importance of close collaboration in advancing broader Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms.

Representing the Joint Venture (JV) implementing the project, Mr. Sylvester Palmer said work had been carried out strictly according to contract specifications. He acknowledged earlier configuration challenges and delays due to unavailable components that had to be procured from the United States, but confirmed that the system is now fully operational. He also highlighted compatibility issues involving an Ubiquiti switch supplied to NPPA.

The CEO sought assurances on backup and disaster recovery arrangements. E-GP Local Consultant, Mr. Alie Bangura, explained that disaster recovery planning forms part of Phase Two of the project, noting options including alignment with the Ministry of Finance’s disaster recovery framework or a cloud-based solution. Ministry officials confirmed that while a comprehensive system is not yet in place, plans are underway.

Konneh emphasized that the E-GP platform is part of the Government’s Public Financial Management architecture and must therefore be fully integrated into national disaster recovery structures, stressing that the system belongs to the Government and not solely NPPA. The Director of ICT welcomed the recommendation and pledged to raise the matter at the Ministry’s upcoming retreat.

The CEO further called on the project team to actively engage the Ministry of Finance to assume responsibility for backup and disaster recovery. He warned that if such provisions are not included in project documentation, development partners such as the World Bank may not support them, reminding stakeholders that protecting national infrastructure remains the Government’s responsibility.

He also underscored the need for the NPPA E-GP team to remain fully engaged in implementation, working closely with the vendor and hosting agency to ensure smooth transition once the vendor disengages.

Drawing on his past experience with the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), Konneh said this background had helped foresee potential risks and deliver solutions throughout the E-GP rollout.

The visit concluded with a guided tour of the data center facilities, including servers, network architecture, cooling systems, and other critical infrastructure- providing reassurance on the readiness of the hosting environment.