The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has formally requested the disclosure of the full text and financial breakdown of a five-year health cooperation agreement between Sierra Leone and the United States, raising concerns over transparency and potential long-term public financial obligations.
In a letter dated 11 June 2026, the organisation said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on health cooperation was signed on 22 December 2025 between Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby, and the United States Chargé d’Affaires, Ms Rabia M. Qureshi. The agreement is linked to the United States’ “America First Global Health Strategy” and is set to run from 2026 to 2030.
ILRAJ stated that the arrangement is expected to involve substantial government co-financing over the period, including commitments it estimates to be in the range of tens of millions of dollars in public expenditure. According to the organisation, Sierra Leone is projected to gradually assume greater responsibility for key health sector costs, including medical commodities, workforce financing, and laboratory operations by the end of the agreement period.
The institute further argued that the agreement would significantly influence the structure and financing of the country’s health system over the next five years, making full public disclosure essential for accountability.
However, ILRAJ noted that the complete MoU has not been made publicly available. It said neither the full document nor its annexes, implementation framework, or detailed financial schedules have been published on official government platforms or public repositories. The organisation added that available information has largely been limited to brief public statements from the Ministry of Health and the United States Embassy.
ILRAJ described the situation as a matter of concern, stressing that citizens have a right to understand the precise terms under which the government has entered into financial commitments affecting public services and national resources.
Citing the Right to Access Information Act of 2013, the organisation has formally requested the Ministry of Health to release the full signed agreement, all supporting annexes, annual co-financing obligations from 2026 to 2030, relevant budgetary allocations, records of any disbursements made since signing, and any related policy or fiscal reforms tied to the agreement.
The group said public interest in the disclosure is significant, given the agreement’s implications for healthcare delivery, public welfare, and national budgeting. It further warned that it would escalate the matter to the Information Commissioner and pursue judicial review if its request is denied or not fully addressed within the legal timeframe.
