The National Bureau of Concession (NBC) has concluded a four-day strategic retreat in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County.
The retreat aimed to validate the Concession’s five-year Strategic Plan (2026-2030).
The five years plan is to strengthen the institutional framework, thus guiding the concession sector.
Held from July 20-23, the retreat was convened on the theme: “Strengthening Institutional Governance through the Validation, and Launch of Strategic, and Policy Framework,” with the motto: “Assuring Integrity, and Compliance through Monitoring, and Evaluation.”
The event brought together NBC management, members of the legislature, government line ministries, and agencies, development partners, concession stakeholders, civil society organizations as well as technical experts.
One key objective was the validation, and eventual launch of the Bureau’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, along with several institutional documents that were highlighted.
They included the Human Resource, Procurement, and Financial Manuals, Compliance Framework, Standard Operating Procedures, Staff Handbook, Validated Job Description, Concession Scorecard, and Compliance Review Analysis Tool.
NBC Director General, Hanson S. Kiazolu, Sr., described the ‘Strategic Plan’ as a roadmap to strengthen institutional capacity, improve concession governance, promote responsible investment, and ensure that the natural resources deliver greater benefit to citizens.
Kiazolu named some major priorities of the plan as the digitization of NBC documents, and operations, staff capacity building, and empowerment, decentralization of operations across the concession regions, as well as the construction of the Bureau’s permanent headquarters.
The retreat opened with a welcome remark from Robertsport City Mayor, Thomas Bai Massaquoi.
Representatives, who served as proxies for the legislature, government ministries, and agencies, as well as development partners, commended the Bureau, and its leadership for advancing institutional reforms.
They described the initiative as a significant step toward enhancing transparency, accountability, and effective oversight of the concession sector.
They then pledged their fullest, and continued commitment, and support for the implementation of the Plan.
The event technical sessions focused on reviewing the Plan, and introducing a proposed Local Content Policy to build consensus among stakeholders before its formal adoption.
The plan priorities institutional reform, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, effective concession monitoring, environmental, and social compliance, and strengthened organizational capacity.
The retreat marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Bureau, and reinforces its commitment to modern, transparent and result-based concession management.
The plan further supports policy frameworks, thus aligning the Bureau’s work with government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, as well as the long-term economic development objectives.
The retreat concluded on Thursday, July 23, with the formal validation, and launch of the National Bureau of Concessions’ Five-Year Strategic Plan. Macpherson C. Marbiah writes.
