By Mohamed Konneh
“We’ve transformed the Produce Monitoring Board (PMB) into a high-tech institution. This is a result of our dedication and commitment to President Julius Maada Bio in taking PMB to another level,” said Executive Chairman Raymond Bob Katta.
“We aim to become a critical catalyst for revenue mobilization in the country.”
Mr. Katta made these remarks on Tuesday, December 23rd 2025, while briefing the media on the achievements and challenges he has encountered during his first year in office.
He expressed gratitude to the immediate past Executive Chairman, Dr. Vibbi, for his contributions to the institution. Additionally, he thanked President Julius Maada Bio for appointing him to the position.
During his address, Mr. Katta discussed PMB’s status before his appointment, noting that his first task was to assess the various departments and staff within the institution. “In just one year, staff morale remains high, and they continue to give their best, leading to the successes we are recording,” he stated.
Regarding the legal framework, Mr. Katta highlighted that they are collaborating with the Ministry of Trade to prepare a new piece of legislation, which has already been approved by the cabinet and will soon be presented to parliament. “We will do more to raise revenue once this legislation becomes law.”
He also addressed challenges faced by the institution, such as the black pod issue. “This is now behind us, as we worked quickly to resolve the situation in collaboration with cacao farmers,” the Executive Chairman said.
On cross-border trade, Mr. Katta noted that PMB witnessed an influx of cacao from neighboring countries into Sierra Leone. Given the high quality of Sierra Leonean cacao, he emphasized the importance of inspecting incoming products before permitting their entry. “We have implemented critical measures to address cross-border cacao trading,” he added.
Mr. Katta reported that last year, PMB generated over thirty million leones, a figure that has now doubled. “This year alone, we have raised a total of seventy-two million leones, and before the year’s end, we hope to reach eighty million. This demonstrates our seriousness and dedication as an institution in generating revenue for the country and our people.”
He noted that this success was achieved despite falling cacao prices this year, attributing it to strengthened internal controls. However, Mr. Katta expressed disappointment over some challenges faced by PMB, particularly regarding porous border crossings, which hinder revenue collection.
He said PMB do not have the required number of staff to man those borders and this hinders revenue collection.
“In areas like Tombo, palm oil trade occurs without our control, preventing us from capturing that revenue. In Kailahun, we have numerous potential revenue collection points but only four operational ones, presenting another challenge,” he explained.
Mr. Katta indicated that PMB’s internal networks have expanded internationally and that they are working collaboratively with sister MDAs. “We are not competing with other MDAs; we are asking to work together in a coordinated manner for the good of the country. We have established MOUs with several sister MDAs to enhance our coordination,” he stated.
On licensing fees, the Executive Chairman pointed out that PMB’s levies are minimal compared to those of sister countries in the sub-region. “The legislation governing our sector is outdated, and the prescribed fees are very low. This is another reason we are working on new legislation,” he noted.
He reiterated that PMB is the people’s institution and emphasized the need for government support. “Despite generating much-needed revenue for the country, our staff have not received a salary increase in the last ten years. For 2025, we have only received 513,000 leones and this represent one quarter of our subvention, which is a significant mismatch for the work we do. We are not asking for luxury; we only want the necessary tools to perform our duties. Currently, we lack motorcycles for border patrols,” he added.
Mr. Katta also mentioned that regional managers do not have bikes, let alone vehicles for transportation. “Despite our committed staff, the Ministry of Finance did not grant us a thirty percent pay rise that was awarded to other MDAs. This treatment is unfair, and PMB should not be regarded as a stepchild. We have conducted our analysis and will continue to engage the Ministry of Finance on this matter,” he said.
He concluded by stating that PMB’s contributions to the country in terms of revenue generation are substantial. “We are an institution capable of serving the country and its people. However, we cannot do this without the necessary tools; we are not magicians,” he emphasized.
