CSOs BLAST ROGUE WORKS MINISTER, CRSG
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
Sierra Leoneans came to face the payment for road use during the regime of the All Peoples Congress (APC) party led by Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, who thought it wise to expand the then Wellington/Masiaka two-lane Highway to a state-of-the-art four-lane road on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement. This means that the contractor, the China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) was going to build the four-lane road out of their resources estimated at $161 million, operate it for a stipulated timeframe, and then transfer it to the people of Sierra Leone to be wholly owned by them through their government. Hence the tollgate fee thing!
Fortunately, the entire agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the CRSG was guided by statutory instruments that were passed into law by the highest arm of the government, Parliament. It was, therefore, envisaged that if the agreement is implemented judiciously, it would not just develop and enhance effective infrastructure in the country but would accrue for the government much-needed income for other development purposes.
Nonetheless, ahead of the 2018 general elections, the political train led by Julius Maada Bio as desperate as they were to gain power, nitpicked the road project in its entirety and vowed to reassess the agreement, probably, for its termination.
Bio also made a campaign promise that if popularly voted and assumed state power, he would ensure the construction of a special road that could be used by motorists who cannot afford the payment of tollgate charges.
However, since President Bio clinched the seat of power, he has reneged on all his promises relating to the toll road and has instead become too subservient to moves of levying increasing tollgate charges to inevitably inflict more woes upon an already struggling people to earn their daily survival.
Meanwhile, the Bio-led government has announced that effective the 1st of March 2024, the usual charge of NLe1 will now be NLe3, while the usual NLe4 goes up to NLe10 and NLe18 to NLe40. The usual NLe100 goes NLe250 while the usual charge of NLe183 will now be NLe700.
As it stands this increment of toll charges has sparked vehement criticisms and condemnations from across all sections of the nation’s populace.
A lawmaker, Hon Abdul Kargbo, has even come to the open and without mincing words, warned against the implementation of the new toll charges without parliamentary scrutiny and eventual approval, citing the agreement came to be by statutory instruments
The Civil Society Consortium on Public Accountability is also one group that has joined the fray in condemning the increment, and has called on the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) led Government to immediately put on hold or reverse what they call “Killer Tollgate Tariff Increment”.
The Consortium has further called for the immediate dismissal of the Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Dennis Sandy, saying he has not only exhibited incompetence but also went as far as deceiving President Bio and the Sierra Leonean populace as a whole.
In a press release dated 15th February 2024, the CSO Consortium expressed grave concerns over the proposed more than 100% increment on toll tariffs, noting that an escalation in toll charges would undoubtedly add to the existing burdens of citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet.
“In our assessment, the new tariff charges have sparked widespread concerns among citizens who are already grappling with economic hardship. This move has reignited scrutiny over the Toll Gate agreement, which was initially established during the tenure of the previous APC government under Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma”, the consortium stated and added that the timing of this proposed increase raises questions about the government’s priorities and its commitment to the welfare of its citizens.
“In the face of economic hardships, it is crucial for the government to prioritize policies that will alleviate and reduce suffering in the country rather than exacerbating the burdens by ordinary Sierra Leoneans” the CSO Consortium on Public Accountability noted.
Among others, the consortium recommends the immediate dismissal of the Works Minister as he is not competent to present his case to the president and the people of Sierra Leone, to halt the implementation of the proposed Tariff increment until further notice, demands to see an optional road immediately as the contract stipulates and the CRSG to immediately complete the four-lane road and stop cheating the country.
See the press release below
Address: 34 Jones Street, Freetown
Contact: +232(78)808123, +232(77)819161
Email: consortiumoncorporategovt@gmail.com
IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE Date: 15th February, 2024
. National Consortium On Public Accountability Calls Government For An
Immediate Review Of This New Killer Toll Gate Tariff Increment
The Sierra Leonean government, through the Minister of Works and Public Assets Dr. Dennis Sandi, has again exhibited features of weakness to serve. Putting forward and proposing a new tariff to be increased for an incomplete Toll Gate is controversially meaningless and inconsistent.
In our assessment, the new tariff charges, has sparked widespread concerns among citizens who are already grappling with economic hardship. This move has reignited scrutiny over the Toll Gate agreement, which was initially established during the tenure of the previous APC government under Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
The Toll Gate Contract Agreement was a naive and failed legacy of the APC administration hoping if implemented accordingly will develop and enhance effective infrastructure in the country. In 2017, the APC government, in collaboration with the China Railway Seventh Group entered into a Build, Operate and Transfer agreement in order to expand the 62km two-lane highway into a four-lane carriageway, with a project value of $161 million.
On the other hand, the current government, during its time in opposition, took a critical stance on the Toll Gate construction, making campaign promises to reassess the agreement and possibly terminate the contract. Reminiscing also, this government made it very explicit that, you will ensure an optional road be constructed in order to avert a compulsory road usage. This government pledged to terminate it sooner you had the opportunity to be in governance. Yet few individuals have ignored the position of genuinely reviewing this agreement. Few bad eggs have instead concentrated to be part of the poor agreement living the citizens to continue wallowing in agony, frustration, pains and hopelessness. Thus, an infinitesimal number of bad eggs have turned their ugly eyes to a collective syndicate of ‘Brown Envelopes’. This Toll Gate Contract Agreement is very shanty and devastating as it is for the Chinese rather than for the people of Sierra Leone. It is evidently lucid that, it is not found to be in the nation’s best interest.
However, since assuming power, there has been a notable lack of action that was well articulated during the 2017-2018 campaigns regarding such new tariff attempt. We considered few individuals who chose to collect ‘Brown Envelope’ thereby leaving the greater masses in an abject poverty and suffering.
The new tariff increment of Toll prices, scheduled to come into effect on March 1st, has sparked significantly terrifying fears and concerns in all sectors more especially the provinces and Western Rural as there will be an increase in the transportation and other commodities.
In the consideration of the current economic challenges facing the nation, an escalation in toll charges would undoubtedly add to the existing burdens of citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet.
Furthermore, the government intends to implement the proposed toll charges without presenting the matter for a better evaluation by Civil Society Organizations and the Media. This itself is an attempt to avert the tenets of democracy in the country.
The timing of this proposed increase raises questions about the government’s priorities and its commitment to the welfare of its citizens. In the face of economic hardships, it is crucial for the government to prioritize policies that will alleviate and reduce suffering in the country rather than exacerbating the burdens by ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
As discussions on the Toll charges continue, citizens are urging the government to honor its promise of reviewing the Toll Gate Agreement and to ensure that any decision taken is genuinely in the best interest of the country and its people. Failing to do so would only deepen the suffering of the already burdened populace.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We ask that, the Minister of Works be immediately sacked as he is not competent to present his case to the president and the people of Sierra Leone.
Put a hold onto this Tariff increment until further notice.
Include all CSOs in the initial process of the review of this contract agreement.
We are demanding to see an optional road immediately.
We ask that the China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) completes the four-Lane now as they have cheated the people of Sierra Leone since the road is not a four- lane drive.
We are worried over the extortions of fuel cost in the provinces because of the action of selective forces in the government. If they paid higher cost to transport their fuel to the provinces it will definitively have a negative impact on the people.
ACTION
WE INTEND TO PROTEST IN THE OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TO THE CRSG OFFICE
AHMED M. YILLAH
SIGNED
TEAM LEAD