The West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) has called on the Government of Sierra Leone and the Minister of Internal Affairs to immediately reinstate the collection of Securiport fees and restore their placement on air tickets, arguing that the suspension threatens contractual obligations and investor confidence.
In a press release dated 24th July 2026, WACSOF said it takes “the strongest exception” to recent comments made by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor, regarding the Securiport contract during an interview on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM’s Good Morning programme.
The civil society organisation criticised the Minister’s position, claiming that his admission that he had not read the contract before supporting the suspension of fee collections raised concerns about transparency and accountability. WACSOF argued that the government must respect existing contractual obligations while Securiport continues to provide services.
WACSOF further stated that a legal addendum signed in 2020 by former Minister Panda Noah extended the contract’s tenure to 2033, with an automatic 15-year renewal clause, describing the agreement as a binding legal instrument executed on behalf of the state.
The organisation maintained that altering the financial terms of a legally binding agreement through unilateral action undermines the rule of law and public confidence, stressing that government contracts must be respected.
WACSOF also questioned what it described as inconsistencies in the Minister’s handling of contract reviews, alleging that while other agreements had faced public scrutiny, the Minister had remained silent, but acted decisively in the case of Securiport.
The group rejected the description of Securiport as merely a local company, arguing that local registration of a subsidiary does not remove the company’s international expertise and operational framework.
Among its demands, WACSOF called for the immediate reinstatement of Securiport fees and urged the government to honour the terms of the 2020 addendum. It warned that any breach of the agreement could affect investor confidence and Sierra Leone’s reputation as a destination for foreign investment.
The organisation also called for a moratorium on all contract reviews until a full, transparent and independent audit is conducted.
WACSOF said respecting foreign investment, particularly from the United States, is critical at a time when Sierra Leone is pursuing major development partnerships, including discussions around the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact. It warned that unilateral breaches of agreements with international firms could send negative signals to potential investors.
The forum concluded by urging Sierra Leoneans to defend the country’s legal framework, national security interests and international reputation, saying it would not remain silent over actions it believes could undermine contractual obligations and development partnerships.
The statement was signed by William Sao Lamin, Chairman of the West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF).
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24th July, 2026
WACSOF HUMBLY ASKS THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR IMMEDIATE REINSTATEMENT OF SECURIPORT’S FEES AND PLACEMENT ON TICKETS
The West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) takes the strongest exception to the Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor’s recent statements on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM’s Good Morning program.
We view the Minister’s public commentary on the Securiport contract as a profound contradiction of duty to the people of Sierra Leone as the premises articulated is worrisome.
It is a breach of public trust for a Minister of the Crown to admit so amateurishly on live radio that he has not read the Securiport contract and does not know its cost, yet proceeded to unilaterally advocate for and implement the suspension of fee collections.
While the company continues to provide services, the government of Sierra Leone must adhere to the contract of US companies.
WACSOF reminds the public and the Minister that under the very same government of Sierra Leone, former Minister Panda Noah appended a legal addendum to this contract in 2020, legally extending its tenure to 2033 with an automatic 15-year renewal clause.
This is not a suggestion; it is a binding legal instrument executed by a senior official of this government on behalf of the state.
It is patently illegal and unconstitutional for a successor Minister to attempt to alter the fiscal terms by suspending fee collections of a legally binding contract based purely on personal opinion, especially when he confesses total ignorance of its contents.
The rules of a contract cannot be changed by public grandstanding. The rule of law demands that this addendum be highly respected and honored.
WACSOF has carefully studied the Minister’s pattern of action. We find it deeply troubling and suspicious that the same Minister who remains conspicuously silent on the Netpage contracts is suddenly displaying immense “energy and strength” in suspending fees for Securiport.
- Why the inconsistency? When other contracts faced public scrutiny, the Minister was noticeably quiet.
Furthermore, the Minister’s insistence that Securiport is a “local company” based solely on its local registration is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
WACSOF notes that the registration of a subsidiary does not strip the company of its international technical expertise and operational framework.
The actions of the Minister do not align with the national interest. Our Demands
- Immediate Reinstatement of the Securiport fees –The unilateral suspension of fee collection must be rescinded immediately. The full terms of the 2020 addendum must be honored. This illegal breach of a binding state contract threatens investor confidence and the sanctity of government obligations.
- Moratorium on All Contract Reviews – All must be halted immediately pending a full, transparent and independent audit.
In lieu of the aforementioned, our nation must respect foreign investment, particularly American investors, at a time when the United States government is actively considering major contracts and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact with the Government of Sierra Leone.
Any unilateral breach of a legally binding agreement with an American firm sends a dangerous signal to the international community and jeopardizes Sierra Leone’s credibility as a safe and reliable destination for foreign direct investment.
We cannot afford to sacrifice our international standing and developmental partnerships on the altar of political expediency.
We call on all well-meaning Sierra Leoneans to reject this attack on our national security and legal order. We will not stand idly by while a Minister sacrifices our borders, our contractual obligations, and our international reputation for political expediency.
William Sao Lamin- Chairman
West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
