The Public Account Committee (PAC) of Parliament has raised serious concerns regarding the operations of Netpage, the company responsible for passport production in Sierra Leone, revealing that it has been operating unlawfully since 2023.

During a recent session, the PAC discovered that Netpage’s contract with the Immigration Department had expired, yet the company continued to produce passports without the necessary parliamentary approval.

PAC Chairman Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh highlighted that the Auditor General’s report identified discrepancies in the agreement between Netpage and the Immigration Department.

The report noted that while the government was entitled to an 8% royalty from the contract, Netpage and other beneficiaries had failed to make any payments, undermining the government’s revenue.

Hon. Conteh emphasized the constitutional requirement for all financial agreements affecting government revenue to be submitted to Parliament for approval.

He expressed concern that the Immigration Department may have granted tax breaks or waivers to Netpage without proper legislative oversight, stating, “Nobody is expected to give tax breaks or waivers without bringing it to Parliament.”

The PAC is now urging the Immigration Department to engage in negotiations with Netpage to ensure the government receives its due royalties.

Hon. Conteh called for both parties to return to the committee in two weeks to discuss a path forward, stressing that the country must derive benefits from passport production.

The original agreement, signed in February 2013 by the late Joseph Bandabla Dauda, was intended for a duration of ten years and has been void since December 2023.

The PAC is advocating for the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to draft a new agreement that incorporates provisions for royalties and other fees to ensure the government can collect revenue from passport issuance moving forward.

As the PAC continues to investigate this matter, it remains committed to holding Netpage accountable and ensuring that the government’s interests are protected in all future agreements regarding passport production.