1st September, 2026
By: Alex A. Bah – Public Relations Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has engaged the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) over concerns surrounding the management of revenue generated from the five percent (5%) rice import duty and its intended contribution to the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF).
The engagement, held on Monday, 31st August 2026, at the Office of the Commissioner, Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown, followed BAN’s publication of a policy report examining the revenue generated from the duty and its intended use, particularly in support of agricultural development and women farmers.
Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., said the Commission was concerned upon receiving the report, noting that the arrangement appeared “not well organised.” He said the ACC would work with BAN to establish what had happened and make appropriate recommendations based on its review.
Drawing on the Commission’s experience with asset recoveries, Commissioner Kaifala explained that when the ACC began making significant recoveries and remitting recovered funds to the Ministry of Finance, he advocated for the establishment of a separate special Recovery Account to facilitate greater audit and accountability.
He said a similar mechanism could be considered for resources earmarked for specific purposes, noting that dedicated arrangements can make such funds easier to track, audit and account for.
Commissioner Kaifala proposed a two-way approach in which BAN, as a civil society organisation, would submit recommendations on possible mechanisms, including the consideration of a separate account, while the ACC would conduct its own checks, prepare a report and share its findings and recommendations with the Minister of Finance.
Speaking during the engagement, BAN Coordinator Abu Bakarr Kamara Kamara commenced by commending Commissioner Kaifala and the ACC for their openness to civil society engagement and commitment to strengthening accountability in the management of public resources. He added that his organisation’s work under the project seeks to examine how women can benefit from taxation, particularly through investment in agriculture.
Kamara explained that when Government reintroduced the five percent import duty in 2024, the Budget Statement indicated that the proceeds would be reinvested into the Agricultural Development Fund. He said BAN subsequently identified an opportunity to advocate for women to benefit from resources channelled through the Fund under the Feed Salone programme.
He said the broader objective of the advocacy is to ensure that at least 30 percent of the relevant resources benefit women farmers.
Mr. Kamara said that in 2025, BAN wrote to relevant institutions to establish the amount generated from the five percent import duty. He said the responses received, including information from the National Revenue Authority (NRA) and the Ministry of Finance, informed the organisation’s policy report.
The engagement ended with a commitment to continued collaboration between the ACC and BAN as the Commission examines the issues raised, establishes the facts and considers measures to strengthen transparency, accountability and traceability in the management of earmarked public resources.
©️ Public Relations Unit, ACC
