By Mahamood Fofana
Parliament has ratified a US$5 million Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement aimed at modernising Sierra Leone’s Government Printing Department, marking a significant step towards upgrading the country’s official printing infrastructure.
The agreement, signed on 24 March 2026 between the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) and Diming Yimo Printing Group, received parliamentary approval on 14 July 2026.
Speaking at the Government’s weekly press briefing, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, described the project as a major reform that will transform the Government Printing Department, one of the country’s oldest public institutions with a history spanning more than two centuries.
He said the project will be implemented under a 10-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement, with the private investor providing the full US$5 million required to install modern digital printing equipment and rehabilitate the facility.
According to the Minister, the Government will not contribute any direct financial resources to the project, while ownership of the upgraded infrastructure will revert to the State at the end of the concession period.
During parliamentary deliberations, Members of Parliament broadly welcomed the agreement, describing it as a strategic investment that will improve the quality and efficiency of government printing services while creating opportunities for skills transfer and capacity building for local staff.
However, lawmakers also raised concerns over the need for effective parliamentary oversight, protection of classified government documents, and strict compliance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure official government printing is carried out through the Government Printing Department.
Hon. Bah assured Parliament that the Government remains committed to the successful implementation of the agreement, adding that the project will be closely monitored to guarantee transparency, accountability and value for money.
He said the modernisation initiative is expected to strengthen the country’s printing capacity, reduce reliance on external printing services and position the Government Printing Department to deliver secure, high-quality and efficient printing services for public institutions.
