The government of Sierra Leone is investigating an agreement to import waste from Lebanon. The agreement permits the import of non-hazardous waste into Sierra Leone. It does not permit the import of toxic or dangerous materials. The agreement was negotiated by Ibrahim Ben Kargbo. He is a former minister and senior presidential aide. He was recently elected to parliament. In a statement released Monday, the government said it did not give permission to Kargbo to negotiate the deal. It said President Ernest Bai Koroma had ordered an investigation of the deal. It said it understands the health and environmental risks of toxic wastes and would not expose its citizens to such wastes. Kargbo told VOA that the agreement was part of a deal to build a fertilizer factory.