The Deputy Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Sixth Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has revealed significant breaches of contract and alleged misconduct by SOCFIN Agricultural Company Sierra Leone Limited, which operates in Pujehun District.
During a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on the Auditor General’s 2021 and 2022 reports, Hon. Conteh disclosed that SOCFIN has unlawfully utilized over 200 acres of land more than ten times the concessionary land originally allocated to them by the government.
This revelation was made on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at the New Administrative Building in Parliament. As chair of the PAC, Hon. Conteh emphasized that SOCFIN must compensate the government for the additional land it has illegally encroached upon.
“SOCFIN Agricultural Company has exceeded the boundaries of the concessionary land granted to them, occupying over 200 acres beyond what was agreed upon. They must pay for the extra land they have taken,” stated Hon. Conteh.
The Deputy Speaker further criticized the company for failing to meet its investment commitments while continuing to exploit the country’s resources. “SOCFIN claims they have exhausted their investment funds and are unwilling to inject further capital. Nonetheless, they continue to benefit from government resources. Such behavior cannot go unchallenged,” he added.
Hon. Conteh also pointed out that SOCFIN’s agreement with the government, originally signed in 2012, had expired in 2022. For one year, the company operated without a valid contract before the agreement was irregularly renewed in 2023 under the then Minister of Trade and Industry, Ibrahim Sesay.
