By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
The Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, has questioned the benefits Sierra Leone derives from tax concessions granted to businesses, particularly Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, amid concerns that the government may be losing revenue without securing meaningful economic returns.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, 29 October 2026, during discussions on a proposed agreement, Hon. Silikie challenged the justification for continuing to grant tax concessions and other incentives to private businesses when their contributions to the national economy were, in his view, not sufficiently evident.
He specifically alleged that Sierra Leone Brewery Limited had been sold to an Indian national who was now benefiting from government concessions. He questioned why the company should continue enjoying such incentives if Sierra Leone was not receiving corresponding economic benefits.
The lawmaker’s intervention raised concerns about the relationship between business ownership, government incentives and public revenue, particularly where companies receive tax exemptions in exchange for promises of investment, employment creation, increased local production and affordable goods.
Hon. Silikie also challenged the Ministers of Finance and Trade to explain the rationale behind concessions granted to businesses and how government monitors compliance with the conditions attached to such arrangements.
He argued that concession agreements presented to Parliament should undergo proper financial scrutiny to establish whether they genuinely serve the interests of Sierra Leoneans rather than primarily benefiting private businesses.
He further questioned the effectiveness of government policies intended to encourage domestic production, stressing the need to assess whether companies receiving incentives are delivering the expected results.
His concerns also brought into focus whether government reviews concession agreements when companies change ownership and whether the original conditions remain enforceable under new ownership arrangements.
However, the details of the alleged sale of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, the identity of the reported new owner and the specific concessions involved were not established during his remarks. The company’s response was also not available at the time of publication.
The debate has renewed questions about transparency and accountability in the management of government concessions, particularly at a time when consumers continue to face economic challenges and rising prices.
Sierra Leoneans deserve to know whether tax concessions are translating into increased investment, employment opportunities, local manufacturing and affordable products.
Parliament’s scrutiny therefore presents an opportunity for the Ministries of Finance and Trade to account for the incentives granted to businesses and demonstrate whether the country is receiving adequate returns on the revenue it sacrifices.
The fundamental question remains whether Sierra Leone is granting away public revenue without securing sufficient benefits for its citizens.