Questions Mount Over 100% Rating for Agriculture Ministry in Government Scorecard
By kelvin Jay
The Office of Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, has released its latest ministerial performance assessment report, ranking the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as the top-performing government institution with a 100 percent score for achieving its targets in 2025.
According to the report, the ministry recorded exceptional performance despite operating with limited resources, successfully meeting all key targets set under the government’s monitoring and evaluation framework. The assessment places the ministry, led by Agriculture Minister Henry Musa Kpaka, at the top of the government’s performance rankings for the year under review.
However, the announcement has sparked debate among citizens, policy analysts, and political stakeholders, with many questioning whether the perfect score accurately reflects the realities facing farmers and consumers across the country.
While the government’s report credits the ministry with significant progress in boosting food production and strengthening food security initiatives, critics argue that conditions on the ground suggest a more complex picture. They cite rising food prices, continued dependence on imported rice, and persistent structural challenges in agricultural productivity as reasons to doubt whether the ministry’s performance merits a flawless rating.
Responding to the concerns, Agriculture Minister Henry Musa Kpaka defended the ministry’s performance during an appearance on Truth Media. He maintained that Sierra Leone currently has adequate food supplies despite global uncertainties affecting the agricultural sector.
Kpaka explained that the government has implemented measures to ensure steady food availability, particularly amid global tensions such as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which has disrupted international markets and supply chains.
According to the minister, authorities have also strengthened collaboration with local councils and farming communities to increase domestic rice production and encourage greater participation in agriculture.
“Food is available in Sierra Leone. We have engaged local authorities and communities to encourage people to grow and produce more rice,” he said, adding that other locally produced food items are also accessible across the country.
Despite these assurances, opposition figures remain skeptical. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Abdul Kargbo, has questioned the credibility of the ministerial scorecard and called on the Chief Minister’s Office to publish the specific indicators and methodology used in evaluating government ministries.
Kargbo argued that without transparency regarding the benchmarks used in the assessment, the results may be difficult for the public to trust. He also referenced reports from the Audit Service Sierra Leone, suggesting that findings from the Auditor General should be incorporated into any credible evaluation of ministerial performance.
While some observers acknowledge that the Agriculture Ministry has made progress in advancing food security initiatives, critics maintain that awarding a perfect score risks overlooking longstanding structural challenges within the sector.
The controversy surrounding the scorecard has therefore reignited broader discussions about transparency, accountability, and the effectiveness of government performance monitoring in Sierra Leone.
