The Executive Director of Health Alert, Victor Lansana Koroma has said in Freetown that government may lose twelve million United States dollars (US$12M) if they fail to  fulfill it own side of the compact agreement signed with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in February 2022.

Speaking on the issue, Mr. Koroma said the government through the Ministries of Finance and Health signed the compact agreement with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in February 2022 to procure family planning commodities for the people of Sierra Leone. He said UNFPA is willing to provide four times the amount as long as government provides the one percent as agreed.

“There is no evidence to show that the government has paid the 1% to the Compact agreement they signed. This development is worrying as nobody knows what will be the response of UNFPA if the situation continues. This may result to Sierra Leone losing twelve million United States dollars,” Koroma said. He said when government decides to go into partnership with donor partners, it is incumbent on them to fulfill that agreement. Koroma said they have engaged the Ministries of Finance and Health on the issue, adding that the government keeps assuring them that they are committed to the compact agreement but that they are facing resource constraints.

“We are aware of the laudable programmes and policies being implemented by the Ministry of Health. Our role as civil society activists is to hold government accountable. That is why we keep reminding them to fulfill the obligation they have signed to,” Mr. Koroma said.