Minister admits Le880 M is in indeterminate state
The current Minister of Works, Alimamy Pepito Koroma (in photo), over the weekend told Sierra Express Media that a sum adding up to Le 880 million donated to Sierra Leone government by Milestone Trading Company must be accounted for by either management of the Freetown City Council or Ministry of Trades.
In March 2011, Milestone Company, at a ceremony held at State House, handed over a cheque of Le 880,000,000 (eight hundred and eighty million leones) to President Koroma, as installment payment of a pledge of US$ 1. 5 million agreed upon for the construction of an ‘ultra modern market’ in the city of Freetown.
The amount, according to our findings, was in the guardianship of then Minister of Trades, Alimamy Pepito Koroma.
He was, as at March 2008, tasked with the responsibility of identifying the market site; and without any delay fosters the commencement and supervision of the project.
It is a fact that management of Milestone Company, in time to time; and as work progresses, should have made ensuing payments to government in the accomplishment of the promised US$ 1.5 million offer.
In an interview with Alimamy P. Koroma (current Minister of Works) he said, as at his departure from the Ministry of Trades, he included in his handing over note the Le 880,000,000 in question.
“The Le 880,000,000 had formed part of the items I handed over to my successor the, Alfred Carew,” Alimamy P. Koroma said.
“I am sure the money is still in coffers of the Ministry of Trades or with the Freetown City Council.”
He did not tell what principally has lead to government’s failures in not constructing the ‘ultra modern market’ in Freetown, which financial support would have essentially come from a private business entity, Milestone Trading Company.
Disclosures have it glare that money provided for the construction of the market in Freetown has been misappropriated by some government officials.
A source has also told this press that the Minister of Works, Alimamy P. Koroma, is aware of the fact that the Le 880,000,000 donated to government by Milestone Company has been swindled, but decided to keep sealed lips and not say any thing.
That the amount was longed shared from among cabalists of the Ministry of Trades and some members of the Freetown City Council respectively.
Unconfirmed disclosures indicate that President Koroma has asked officials of the Ministry of Trades explain the whereabouts of the Le 880,000,000 or will set up an investigation panel to look into how the amount was appropriated.
Efforts to get comment from management of Milestone Company proved completely unsuccessful.
It has been told that the Chief Executive Officer of Milestone, Nissim Ledy, seems unhappy with information that money offered government for the commencement of the construction of an ultra modern market has been deceitfully used by unknown public.
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