Amidst IPAM and FEMAB Financial Allegations… Professor David Francis Remain Unfazed

By: Lansana Fofanah

Following the online publication of the African Confidential report on the allege financial scam between the Institute of Public Administration and the Femab Properties Ltd, there has been series of prejudicial reports on various platforms by some journalists in order to distort the facts and to smear the hard-earned reputations of well-meaning Sierra Leoneans.
The Africa Confidential report described the IPAM Student Hostels project with Femab as a scam after the disbursement of US$4.5 Million without any feasible development.
This has however been denied by Femab Properties; describing the Africa Confidential report as a deliberate ploy to distort the fact by ignoring progress and development undertaken at the proposed site.

Fact Vs Fantasies
As a determined President with a clear vision to transform the educational sector, President Julius Maada Bio launched the Free Quality Education in 2018 by dedicating 22% of the country’s GDP to give equal access to every Sierra Leonean school-going kid.
In readiness to address future challenges in the realization of the FQE, Professor Francis presented a genuine case that the success of the FQE programme will lead to a huge and significant demand from students for post-Secondary education, hence the urgent need for the establishment and construction of new universities as well as new Students’ Hostels.
This led him to give support to all the two ministers that were appointed during his tenure for the establishment and Parliamentary legislation of three new Universities namely: Eastern Technical University in Kenema (Eastern region), Kono University for Science & Technology (Eastern region) and Milton Margai Technical University, Freetown.

Realizing the challenges of the government to undertake such an infrastructural project, the coming of Femab Properties as a private construction firm, resonates with government’s desire for a Public Private Partnership drive which seeks to initiate investment and development in the country.

As Chief Minister in the Office of the President, Professor Francis’s role was limited to supporting the realization of this project, given its importance to the success of GoSL FQE programme.
In all those negotiations and engagement between IPAM, the Bank of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Finance, government officials made it categorically clear that the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Sierra Leone cannot provide any form of fiscal guarantee for the IPAM – FEMAB Students’ Hotels project; noting its serious implications on the country’s meager foreign reserve.
It is worth to also note that the said agreement after Cabinet approval, went through Parliament contrary to misinformation by some press houses.
The Africa Confidential report clearly stated that the payment was made to Femab Properties and not to any other details as some may want the public to believe.
Femab in their response didn’t deny the payment either as they justified their commitment to continue the project.

Implementing the Project
With 28 Government ministries and 15 legislated agencies within the Office of the President, the follow-up on the progress and operations of the IPAM-FEMAB Students’ Hostels project was clearly the responsibility of the then Minister of MTHE as subsequent communications and not the Foreign Minister at the time since letters on the project were minuted by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief Minister for action by IPAM, Ministry of Finance and BSL.

Since the provision of a sovereign guarantee seems to be a stumbling block for Femab to secure a loan to implement the project, it is understood that the University of Sierra Leone, IPAM and FEMAB had agreed to implement the project contrary to the Africa Confidential report.

Under his leadership as Chief Minister in the Office of the President, Professor David Francis championed the establishment of the Directorate for Science,
Technology & Innovation (DSTI), established the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the Independent Commission for Peace & National Cohesion (ICPNC).
The establishment of those viable institutions, justifies the professional nature of David Francis tenure and support to the initiative of His Excellency the President Dr Julius Maada Bio.
As we wait for the Anti-Corruption Commission to commence with their investigation, we must not discredit good citizens in a hurry.