By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter
The Anti-Corruption Commission has launched engagement with the Budget Advocacy Network to investigate concerns surrounding revenue collected from the 5% rice import duty and its allocation to the Agricultural Development Fund.
The meeting was held at Integrity House in Tower Hill. ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. said the Commission was taking seriously issues raised in BAN’s report and would work with civil society to establish the facts.
“We are concerned about the issues raised and we are committed to working with BAN to establish what happened and make appropriate recommendations,” Commissioner Kaifala stated.
He proposed a two-pronged approach: BAN will provide recommendations from a civil society perspective, while the ACC conducts independent checks, prepares a report, and forwards findings and recommendations to the Minister of Finance.
BAN Coordinator Abu Bakarr Kamara welcomed the ACC’s openness to engagement. He said the network’s advocacy focuses on ensuring women benefit from taxation and agricultural investments.
Specifically, BAN is calling for at least 30% of relevant ADF resources to be directed to women farmers.
The engagement is part of the ACC’s wider push to strengthen transparency, accountability and traceability in the management of public resources.
The 5% rice import duty was introduced to support agricultural development through the ADF, but questions have continued to mount over how much has been collected and how it is being utilized.
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