As RTA Loses Le21.2 M on number plates Police Report Implicates Number Plates Companies

A police report dated 18th October, 2012 titled ‘Re: Progress Report On Alleged Conspiracy To Defraud Involving The Illegal Printing And Issuing of Vehicle/Motorcycle Registration Number Plates To Unregistered Motorists at CID headquarters. CR. No. 1470/2012’ has implicated companies contracted by the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority (SLRTA) of complicity causing the Authority to lose Le21, 0200,000. (Photo: SLRTA Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Finda Bendu)

This medium gathered that the contract of Sarah Trading Enterprises (STE) has being terminated effective December, 2014 for illegal production and sale of number plates to the public.

According to credible sources, the STE Proprietor, Mustapha Fofanah, is using his political and financial clout to retain the contract and in the process depriving Government of revenue to enhance the development of the country as the 1, 051 unaccounted number plates cost Le200, 000 per number plate for vehicles that use two and Le200, 000 for motorbikes that use only one totaling Le21, 0200,000.

According to the report, analysis as per registration plates in stock, documents such as job orders jointly investigated by the team and suspected persons and importation invoices for the period 20th September, 2011 to 14th September, 2012 reveals in part that the total number plates issued as per job orders is 26,024; total number of plates issued and unaccounted for by Sarah Trading Enterprises (STE) 1,051 and it was clearly established that these unaccounted number plates were those sold to the public that caused revenue loss to Government.

The other company whose contract was terminated is Ashter Marine Agency (AMA).

This medium further learnt from the police report of 18th September, 2012 that the production of number plates should not be privatized as the report implicated STE to the illegal production and sale of vehicle number plates to the public that led to the termination of its contract effective December, 2014 and that plans are underway to terminate the contracts of all companies engaged in the production of vehicle number plates as Sierra Leone is the only country where the contract has been awarded to private companies.

Yesterday, this reporter visited STE office at SLRTA headquarters on Kissy Road but could not reach the Proprietor, Mustapha Fofanah, to get his own side of the story.

By Abdul R. Bedor Kamara

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