Since his appointment as Chairman of NCP (National Commission for Privatization) on 27th March, 2020, Dr. Prince Alex Harding has introduced a raft of changes in the Commission. The Commission has now become a viable state entity by no longer depending on government bail-out to conduct its normal business.
According to documents seen by the Global Times, the Commission through its privatization activities was able to generate a total of Le144,649,874,907.82 (One hundred and forty-four Billion, six hundred and forty nine million, eight hundred and seventy four million, nine hundred and seven Leones and eighty-two cents) in the Financial Year 2020.
This amount was in respect of concession fees, licenses fees and other forms of taxes paid to the Government of Sierra Leone.
The Commission has been able to create more than five hundred jobs since 2020 through privatization programmes like Sierra Leone State Lottery and the expansion of the Berth at the Sierra Leone Port Authority.
After his appointment as Chairman of NCP, Dr. Prince Harding embarked on a structural review and recruitment of much needed professionals thereby enhancing the Commission’s performance. The Commission has dramatically improved the condition of service of staff members with the resultant positive effect on staff morale and efficiency.
The National Commission for Privatization was set up in 2002 through an Act of Parliament to act as prudential shareholder in ensuring that SOEs are run effectively and efficiently, to remove the interference in the management of public enterprises from the Ministries thereby ensuring transparency, corporate governance and avoidance of conflict of interest in the affairs of public enterprises.
