By Amara Kargbo

The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) has convened an inception meeting with the Produce Monitoring Board (PMB) on January 14, 2025, at Wesley Street, Freetown, to kick off a Management Functional Review aimed at identifying institutional weaknesses and recommending strategies for improved service delivery.

Raymond Katta, Executive Chairperson of PMB expressed that this review is “long overdue” and emphasized the board’s anticipation for such an exercise. He assured the PSRU team of their readiness to engage in this process, highlighting its necessity for repositioning the PMB and enhancing understanding of staffing dynamics, processes, and procedures. He stressed the importance of clear communication and thorough documentation throughout the review.

Didan Sankon, Director of Operations at PMB, reiterated the critical need for management and functional reviews and expressed a desire to collaborate with external experts for an unbiased evaluation. This collaboration aims to generate actionable recommendations for institutional improvement while ensuring adequate technical support is available to prevent setbacks.

Idrissa Koroma, Head of Institutional Reforms at PSRU, presented the thematic areas of the PMB review, which include Human Resource Management, Organizational Structure, Mandate and Functions, Sectoral Coordination and Collaboration, Assets and Equipment Management, Communications and ICT, and the Supervisory Framework of PMB and its partner agencies.

In his opening remarks, Sulaiman Phoray-Muasa, Director Public Sector Reform Uunit informed the PMB team of recent changes in public sector management prompted by new cabinet directives. The cabinet has mandated all ministries and agencies to conduct Management and Functional Reviews, with the Ministry of Finance now restricted from authorizing additional staffing without these evaluations.

Director Sulaiman commended the Executive Chairperson of PMB for his leadership in undertaking this crucial review to enhance public service architecture. He expressed confidence in the capabilities of Executive Chairperson and Director Didan Sankon, highlighting the potential for the Produce Market Board to thrive under their guidance.