By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
A new governance report reveals that the Government of Sierra Leone has received a mere $1 million from the Masiaka Toll Gate over the past nine years, despite the operator allegedly collecting around $172 million in tolls. The findings, released by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) in its January 2026 publication, “Politics and Revenue Failures in Sierra Leone,” spotlight severe revenue shortcomings.
According to IGR Executive Director Andrew Lavalie and Professor Fredline McCormack-Hale, the Masiaka Toll Road generates an average of $21 million annually, yet the state has retained almost none of this income. The toll road operates under a 27-year Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) agreement, with analysis suggesting that the private concessionaire could recover its full investment within approximately 10.8 years. This leaves an estimated 16 years during which annual revenues, amounting to millions of dollars, continue to benefit the private operator primarily.
The report characterizes the situation as a “material transfer of surplus revenue” from the public to private hands, highlighting a concerning lack of oversight. It notes that toll data is not publicly available, and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) has not conducted independent vehicle counts to verify the operator’s claims since the road’s construction.
The report also points to the national e-passport system as another significant source of revenue loss. Although the Sierra Leone e-passport is among the most expensive in West Africa—costing citizens between $100 and $180—no evidence of royalty payments to the Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund has been found. Furthermore, the contract has reportedly been renewed multiple times without rebidding or new assessments of value for money.
The IGR stresses that these revenue failures are not confined to a single administration, noting that they persist regardless of whether the APC or SLPP is in power. The institute argues that entrenched institutional cultures allow business elites to appropriate vital revenue streams at the expense of national development.
To remedy this situation, the IGR calls for immediate actions, including:
- Full Transparency: Publication of all toll collection data.
- Independent Audits: Immediate intervention from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA).
- Contract Renegotiation: Achieving a cross-party agreement to revisit existing contracts to ensure the state receives a fair share of revenue.
The report warns that without decisive reforms, Sierra Leone risks losing millions annually from sectors that should be vital for sustainable national development.
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