Guide · updated 25 October 2026
Sierra Leone and Securiport: contract and audit record
Sierra Leone's Ministry of Internal Affairs signed a 15-year build-operate-transfer agreement on 1 March 2012 1. The original terms allocated USD 54 per passenger to Securiport and USD 10 to government. A 14 March 2013 amendment set Securiport's charge at USD 40 from the system's 8 October 2012 start 1. The 2015 audit found that airline collection had not been enforced and recorded management's response. A government audit committee inspected the equipment in June 2026 2.
- Signed
- 1 March 2012 1.
- Term
- 15 years, subject to renewal 1.
- Original amount
- USD 54 to Securiport and USD 10 to government per passenger 1.
- 2013 amendment
- USD 40 Securiport charge from 8 October 2012 1.
- 2026 inspection
- Government audit committee reported the inspected equipment in good working order 2.
A historical contract amount is not automatically a collected passenger fee
The 2015 audit said the ministry failed to enforce payment through airlines 1. It recorded a government liability claim rather than proof that every traveller paid the stated amount at the ticket counter. A summary that turns the amended USD 40 amount into a confirmed USD 80 return-ticket collection needs a separate dated collection record.
What the audit found
The report recorded a claimed liability of USD 18,375,424, with USD 1.8 million paid and USD 16,575,404 outstanding 1. It found that one invoice overstated the passenger-based calculation by USD 1,005,704 and that the contract's tax exemptions had not gone through parliamentary ratification 1.
Management response and audit status
The Permanent Secretary said recommendations were being implemented with other agencies and that a special audit would guide negotiations and advice to Cabinet 1. The Auditor-General said no evidence had been provided that the outstanding matters were resolved, so the issue remained unresolved in that report 1.
What the 2026 inspection established
The Sierra Leone Immigration Department said its Audit Committee inspected enrolment cameras, scanners, monitors and electronic gate booths at Freetown International Airport on 20 June 2026 and found the inspected equipment in good working order 2. That inspection concerns equipment condition. It does not rewrite the historical financial findings in the 2015 report.
Questions and answers
Was the original contract amount USD 40 per passenger?
No. The original agreement allocated USD 64 in total. The March 2013 amendment set Securiport's component at USD 40 1.
Does the audit prove every passenger paid USD 40 each way?
No. The audit says the ministry failed to enforce airline collection and records a government liability claim 1.
What did the June 2026 inspection find?
The government audit committee said the inspected equipment was in good working order 2.