References: The National Commission for Privatization Act (2002) sets up the National Commission for Privatization to privatize state enterprises and oversee their operations before such privatization.

Peer Review Comments: By law, yes, there is an agency or equivalent mechanism overseeing state-owned companies. A background to this is that "public enterprises in Sierra Leone have been characterized by significant operating deficits, low productivity and output, heavy dependency on domestic and external credit, mismanagement and corruption, wastage and sub-optimal utilization of resources and poor supervision by line Ministries. The Public Enterprise Reform Act [of] 1993 was repealed in 2002 with the enactment of [t]he National Commission for Privatization Act [of] 2002." Following the end of the civil war in 2002, a commission was set up "to serve as the policy and decision making body with regard to the divestiture and reform of public enterprises; to transfer the management of all public enterprises to the Commission, and remove the interference in the management of public enterprises from line Ministries thereby ensuring transparency, corporate governance and avoidance of conflict of interest in the affairs of public enterprises" (Sierra Leone Country Commercial Guide, fiscal year 2004, [ LINK ]).

References: Section 5 of the National Commission for Privatization Act stipulates that most of the members of the Commission are elected by Civil Society organizations. This should insulate the commission against political interference.

Peer Review Comments: By law, yes, the agency or equivalent mechanism overseeing state-owned companies is protected from political interference. Because "public enterprises in Sierra Leone have been characterized by significant operating deficits, low productivity and output, heavy dependency on domestic and external credit, mismanagement and corruption, wastage and sub-optimal utilization of resources and poor supervision by line Ministries," action is being taken with the support of international development agencies to make improvements on the mechanisms for overseeing state-owned companies. The Public Enterprise Reform Act of 1993 was repealed in 2002 with the enactment of the National Commission for Privatization Act of 2002. Following the end of the civil war in 2002, a commission was set up "to serve as the policy and decision making body with regard to the divestiture and reform of public enterprises; to transfer the management of all public enterprises to the Commission, and remove the interference in the management of public enterprises from line Ministries thereby ensuring transparency, corporate governance and avoidance of conflict of interest in the affairs of public enterprises" (Sierra Leone Country Commercial Guide, fiscal year 2004, [ LINK ]).

References: Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Business, October 12, 2007.

Peer Review Comments: Following the end of the civil war in 2002, a commission was set up "to serve as the policy and decision making body with regard to the divestiture and reform of public enterprises; to transfer the management of all public enterprises to the Commission, and remove the interference in the management of public enterprises from line Ministries thereby ensuring transparency, corporate governance and avoidance of conflict of interest in the affairs of public enterprises" (Sierra Leone Country Commercial Guide, fiscal year 2004, [ LINK ]). It is therefore reasonable to believe that the agency or equivalent mechanism of this commission with the mandate to oversee state-owned companies has a professional, full-time staff.

References: Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Business, October 12, 2007.

References: Interview with Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Freetown, October 12, 2007.

References: Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Business, October 12, 2007.

References: Interview with Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, PRO, Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Freetown, October 12, 2007. State-owned enterprises are required to submit annual statements of accounts to the Auditor General, who shall institute an audit and lay the audit report before parliament. Reports laid before parliament are public documents which citizens can access.

References: Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Business, October 12, 2007.

References: Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Business, October 12, 2007.

References: Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Business, October 12, 2007.

References: Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay, Public Relations Officer, Sierra Leone Chamber of Business, October 12, 2007.