By Mohamed Kamara
Corruption continues to plague the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security despite persistent warnings from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The latest revelations reinforce findings in the 2023 Audit Report, which identified the ministry as one of the most corrupt government institutions. ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala recently confirmed these concerns during a press briefing, underscoring the lack of accountability among senior officials.
Investigations by this medium have uncovered that corruption within the ministry is shielded by both former and current Permanent Secretaries, as well as the Chief Agricultural Officer. A glaring example is the case of Edward Smart Gbappi, a retired official who, in January 2025, withdrew NLe 2 million (Le 4 billion in old notes) from the Seed Multiplication Project PRVC Account (No. 4070146105, marked F59). The funds were sent by Mr. Bun Wai, Head of the Rice Value Chain Project in Bo. Shockingly, despite this blatant act, neither the Permanent Secretary nor the Chief Agricultural Officer took any action.
Further investigations reveal that Gbappi, who was officially retired by the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), has continued to operate as the National Coordinator of the Seed Multiplication Project (SMP) in Bo. This move has left the former SMP office at the Ministry of Works in New England abandoned. In February 2025, Gbappi—despite his retirement—ordered the removal of a machine from Makeni, sparking protests from SMP workers. When police intervened, officials in Freetown, including Agriculture Minister Henry Musa Kpaka, confirmed they were aware of the situation.
Corruption at the ministry has also led to the withdrawal of financial support from major international donors. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and Japan’s JICA have all pulled out of funding agricultural projects for over five years, citing financial mismanagement.
Prior to his retirement, Gbappi was the subject of an ACC investigation into the alleged misappropriation of hundreds of millions of Leones, missing logistics, and abuse of office. Reports indicate he illegally employed staff without following proper procedures, dismissed workers arbitrarily, and seized motorbikes for personal use. He is also accused of owing millions of Leones to Chief Farmers in the Northeast while subjecting workers to humiliating conditions.
Frustrated staff have reported these issues to Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, urging immediate intervention. HRMO officials, when contacted, stated that Gbappi should no longer be in office and that his request for a service extension is awaiting a decision from President Julius Maada Bio. The continued presence of a retired official in active service, they say, is a direct affront to the integrity of the Civil Service.
As corruption persists unchecked at the Ministry of Agriculture, stakeholders and citizens alike are left wondering: Will accountability ever be enforced, or will impunity continue to reign?
