On the 10th February, 2026 Network AID Africa Chief Country Coordinator Wurie Mamadu Tamba Barrie was invited by Tru Tok Radio 98.5fm to discuss on the big makit show (the big market show) on the topic: contract and development: how private sector and civil society intersect with Melvin Foray Cluster Lead Private Policy Sector Development -Institute for Good Governance moderated by Mariama Kalma Marah. In his opening, Wurie Mamadu Tamba Barrie outlined the private sector players (national, international and multilateral) and the public sector players (Ministries, Department and Agencies of government) for listeners to understand the dynamic. He highlighted that each player has it own set of rules in playing in the same private sector game.
He mentioned that the complication is when countries negotiate agreement and recommend their own company to implement and same for multilateral companies. It becomes difficult for the public sector players especially the department and agencies of government which are the technical and supervisory actors to ensure accountability and adherence as they too are supervised by the Ministry's that negotiated the agreement with the private sectors and the multilateral entites with an endorsement from Parliament through Parliamentary rectification. The downside is parliament has no room to either add or reduce or tweek any clause in an agreement, it either they accepted all or rejected it all. There is a provision within the constitution that tied parliamentarian to speak for the people largely rather to follow the political party stand point.
The private sector are part of the CSOs space with high secrecy and competitiveness based on profit and mostly misunderstand the non-profit CSOs. As CSO’s our role is to ensure buffa between the private and the public sectors on behalf of the citizens-that no one sector disadvantage the other during implementation. We serve as public education catalyst on the implementation of the agreement on ground for citizens to understand the true nature of the agreement and implementation and boost investors’ confidence.
He mentioned that Network AID Africa uses the Responsibility-based approach which is a supply side approach rather than demand side approach among other things it calls for mutual accountability and service delivery provision without asking.
He maintained that CSO is a unique space that utilizes diverse interventions based on the issues at hand for instance: public education, dialogue, provide services, advocate, adversarial etc.
Melvin Foray, talked about the procceses to be followed in contracting a private sector by government, and the importace of private sector to development. He mentioned the types of public private paternership, he drew examples of the toll gate. the bottom line of PPP is providing adequate services while making profit. He maintained that such agreement are very difficult to see. He called for contract transparency and accountability. how does a five years waiver revenue translate to services in the community? he asked.
we ended up recommending the fellowing:
- Open procurement data at the MDA’s and private sector website
- Ethtical and inclusive private sector
- Legal protection on redacted infomration and agreement
- Converging in a room with the private sector and CSO’s to build confidence
- Donor supporting economic governance programme
- Publishing of contracts and procurements document by CSOs through tracking
- Recommend for a private sector-CSO Forum to discuss service delivery in the midst of profit
