By Politico Staff Writer
Sierra Leone joined 15 other African nations last week at a high-level Open Government Partnership conference in Rabat, Morocco, showcasing the country's progress in transparent public procurement and positioning itself as a continental model for anti-corruption reform.
The three-day gathering, held from May 5 to 7 under the theme: "Towards an Open Africa," was organised by Morocco's Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform in collaboration with the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
Sierra Leone was represented by Joseph Munda Bindu, Chairman of the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NACCED) and OGP Focal Point, and Rev. Alusine Diamond Suma, the country's OGP Civil Society representative.
It drew together governments, civil society actors, and international partners to advance open governance across the continent.
The Sierra Leone delegation took centre stage during a thematic session titled: “The Framework and Practice of Open Contracting in Sierra Leone,” moderated by Bindu.
The presentation drew attention to the scale and vulnerability of public procurement, and Bindu noted that over 30 percent of Sierra Leone's national budget is channeled through procurement processes.
Globally, the delegation noted, procurement accounts for between 12 and 20 percent of GDP and up to 30 percent of government expenditure, making it a prime target for corruption.
Bindu told delegates that Sierra Leone's 2024–2028 National Action Plan embeds open contracting specifically to reduce corruption and improve public service delivery.
On his part, Rev. Diamond-Suma emphasised that meaningful reform goes beyond document publication. “Open contracting is not just about publishing documents; it's about making data usable, accessible, and actionable for citizens," he said, describing the country's shift from mere compliance toward genuine transparency and impact.
The conference was officially opened by Morocco's Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, who described open government as “a strategic milestone" for the continent and called for stronger political commitment to its principles across Africa.
OGP Executive Director Aidan Eyakuze pointed to the continent's growing influence in the global open government movement, citing increasing institutional maturity and trust among African member states.
For Sierra Leone, delegates said the conference offered strategic value beyond international exposure. Participation reinforces President Julius Maada Bio's agenda of transparency, accountability, and digital transformation priorities enshrined in the government's "Big Five Game Changers" development framework.
They commended the administration's efforts toward prudent use of public resources and the reform processes introduced to make procurement more transparent, fair, and credible.
The conference's broader agenda addressed open budgeting, digital technology, and the inclusion of marginalised communities in governance, with the overarching goal of building a more transparent, participatory, and accountable Africa.
