By Joseph Momoh, Daily Scope Newspaper
The Native Consortium and Research Centre has released a damning post-mortem report on Sierra Leone’s 50 Waka Fine buses, questioning the condition of the vehicles at delivery, the management of Le150.1 million generated in 31 months, and the failure to replace grounded buses.
The report, which covers procurement and operations from February 2024 to September 2026, alleges that the buses supplied by Ashok Leyland were neither brand new nor customised, contrary to claims by the Ministry of Transport and other agencies involved in the procurement.
According to the Consortium, there is substantial evidence of defects, high mileage and other indicators that cast doubt on whether the buses were procured as new vehicles.
It has called on the Ministry of Transport, the Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority (SLPTA) and the World Bank, through the International Development Association (IDA), to hold Ashok Leyland accountable for the alleged defects, including invoking relevant contractual provisions and the one-year warranty where applicable.
The report demands a full account of approximately Le150.1 million (US$6.39 million) generated by the operation over the 31-month period.
Of that amount, Le79.9 million reportedly went to Metro Transport Company (MTC) operations, while Le30 million was allocated to the Fleet Renewal Fund, representing 20 percent of reported revenue. Ticket providers received Le23.7 million, while SLPTA received Le16.5 million.
Despite the allocation to the Fleet Renewal Fund, the Consortium said no replacement buses have been procured. It also questioned why the service has not been expanded to underserved areas along the East Corridor, including Waterloo, and the West Corridor, particularly No. 2 and Borbor.
The report further disclosed that 11 buses are currently grounded after being cannibalised for spare parts, raising serious questions about maintenance and the long-term sustainability of the fleet.
The Consortium criticised the reported monthly fuel subsidy requirement of Le825,000, arguing that continued government support without proper financial and operational accountability would place an additional burden on public finances.
It warned that further subsidy payments to MTC, SLPTA, the Ministry of Transport and ticket providers without a satisfactory account of their operations could raise serious concerns about the management of public resources.
Drawing comparisons with the 2015 Shinka Logus 100-bus initiative, the report warned against what it described as a repeated pattern of procuring older vehicles presented to the public as new.
As part of its recommendations, the Consortium called for an immediate suspension of operational subsidies to the transport agencies and other beneficiaries until they provide a comprehensive account of revenue generated, expenditure incurred and the current condition of the fleet.
It also wants the relevant authorities to explain how the Fleet Renewal Fund has been managed and why no replacement buses have been introduced despite funds reportedly collected for that purpose.
The Consortium said the public-interest reform report has been submitted to the Transparency Committee and made available to the public for consideration and a hearing.
It added that it is prepared to escalate the matter to the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, if the relevant committee fails to ensure accountability and protect the public interest.
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