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The General Manager of the Sierra Leone Port Authority (SLPA), Yakuba Askia Bio, has called for legislative backing to secure a more equitable revenue model for the Authority.
Bio made this appeal during a session with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at Parliament Tower Hill, where he presented a comprehensive overview of SLPA’s financial constraints and operational challenges.
Bio began by tracing the history of the SLPA, highlighting a pivotal shift in 2010 when the Authority underwent partial privatization. This transition saw the SLPA relinquish key operational tasks, such as cargo handling and logistical services, to private concessionaires, substantially reducing its active role in port operations. Since then, Bio explained, SLPA has been operating as a “self-sustaining entity,” entirely dependent on its internally generated revenue without government subsidies.
Despite this self-reliant model, Bio noted that the SLPA is obligated to make regular payments to government agencies like the National Revenue Authority (NRA) and the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASIT). He pointed out, however, a disparity in financial commitment among government bodies, as many fail to meet similar financial obligations. This imbalance, according to Bio, further strains SLPA’s already limited revenue, which is largely derived from concession fees rather than direct marine charges.
Bio emphasized that this constrained revenue model has hampered SLPA’s ability to address essential operational needs, making it increasingly difficult for the Authority to maintain vital services without external funding. He called on Parliament and the Ministry of Finance to reconsider the legal and fiscal frameworks governing SLPA’s revenue structure. Specifically, Bio urged for an allocation of a fair share of concession fees to support the Authority’s operational budget.
In response, parliamentarians engaged in an active dialogue, offering strategies to tackle the financial and operational obstacles facing the SLPA. Concluding the session, Bio reiterated the urgency for legislative intervention to clarify the SLPA’s role, secure steady revenue flows, and strengthen its capacity to meet its responsibilities effectively.
