Sierra Leone News

Business Registration In Sierra Leone – Part II

March 20th, 2010 |

OK today, I’ve calmed down following my fury at the Business Registration Bureau in town. Now as I write this entry, I’ve been to this place a total of 10 times since my initial post about regisitering a business in Sierra Leone (click here to read Part I) and till today I’ve not completed eveything!

Remember, I don’t know anyone in this office and I’m not paying an bribes to push through my application. I just want to see how long it will take me and ordinary Joe who is in a similar situation.

Officially, it should take 1-3 business day to register a company, so far it taking me 10 working days, and 2x I’ve been asked blatantly for money by Mr. B (not putting full name here) who’s been dealing with my application. I know for a fact that it shouldn’t take this long because I have friends who recently (within the last 6 months) registered and they didn’t have the problem I’m having because they admitted they paid their way.

Now, why should I pay someone extra money to do his job, something that he should be doing anyway and receives a salary for doing so?

For me this is corruption and not only should the BIG fishes be caught these small annoying “mina” should be caught as well.

Computerisation and simple transparency such as displaying relevant information to customers, will stop the activities of 80% of these minna, obviously some will always be far too slippery to be caught.

This is a fact because my hubby set up a company when we came here roughly about 2 years ago and it cost him over Le 2million, in todays terms it’s about Le3million plus. Why? because there was no information in the public domain as to how much creating a company in Sierra Leone cost.

Thankfully, now, such information is displayed in the Registration office and I have pamphlets with the prices on. Result? for an average company, it should cost about Le300,000 – Le1.2million and far less for sole traders etc. From what I hear, their revenue has exploded since the disclosure of this simple information. Goes to show that transparency reduces corruption A GREAT deal!

Now I’ll relate what has happened to me so far.

Tue, 26th Jan 2010 – First time at Business Registration Office to enquire about registering a business. I pay Le10,000 for namesearch. Told to come the tomorrow.

Wed, 27th Jan 2010 – Go to see if the company name I chose is available. I discovered something truly shocking: Name search is TRULY done manually! The way I discovered it was that I was directed to go upstairs and thats where I saw Mr. B. looking through some BIG FAT books that seemed about 60 years old – literally they looked like they’ve been through an oven and barely survived. He acutally said “me eyes de hurt sef”.( I had to laugh. )
Why oh why can this list not be placed in a simple Excel spreadsheet??? Anyways, I’m told to bring my memorandum tomorrow. I asked if I can get a template – None available – I’m on my own.

As you can see didn’t go for about a month for personal reasons. But here’s a continuation of the Business Registration Saga.

Tue, 9th March, 2010 – Was told my memorandum was not in the right format and therefore will not be accepted. Now I asked many times why the accepted format is not available on a website somewhere or even hard copy so that applicants can access it easily. (ASIDE: This lack of provision of a sample memorandum means someone will help you on the side for a fee.) I eventually got someone who doesn’t work there to do it for me.

Thurs, 11th March, 2010 - Submitted my memorandum which is now in the right format. I’m told it needs to be approved by people above. So go and come tomorrow.

Fri, 12th March, 2010 – I get there for around 12noon, I’m told it’s not been approved yet and the boss wasn’t well so go and come on Monday! Now this is where I started getting upset. For all you know I could be coming from Makeni or from some where in the interior so to go and come is extremely annoying thing but I realise that when people don’t value their time, unfortunately they don’t expect you to value yours either.

Still fuming, I ask for a customer service number. “We don’t have any, can I have yours then, so I don’t
waste my time coming here unless my papers are ready..” Now he get’s very angry but gives me his number anyway.

Tues, 16th March, 2010 – Didn’t go on Moday, went in today and was told it has now been approved, so why hasn’t my certificate been printed? Working on it, come in tomorrow, it will be done.

Wed 17th March, 2010 – Every thing in order, go and come tomorrow for certificates. Filled in a Business Registration form (cost, Le10,000 for form). That’s for NRA. Now for the first time, Mr B. showed me his true colors when wrote down a list of my expenses and underneath it wrote his name (meaning what am I going to give him). unfortunately, along with the junk in my bag, I’ve thrown this away. One of my friends, think it would have been good for the ACC. Apart from the legitimate expenses which came up to Le292,000 (paid 300,000 and given no change), I didn’t pay nor say anything. My time will come…

Thurs, 18th March, 2010 – Certificate not typed yet, Go and come back at 2.30pm but I’ve got other things to do, so I decide to go tomorrow.

Fri, 19th March, 2010 – Got Incorporation certificate, but no business registration certificate as the man who handles it had gone to the hospital and then to pray (this is around 11.20am). We go upstairs (this time my hubby is with me). The overall boss is not there. Ahhhhhhh….Salone….

Watch out for part III and hopefully happy conclusion…

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