PC Saquee Extends Koidu City
Paramount Chief Paul Ngagba Saquee (photo) has made history through his work in resettling residents of Koidu town affected by the Kimberlitic mining in his chiefdom of Tankor, which has today made the city of Koidu bigger and modern.
PC Paul Saquee, through his active participation has turned what was originally seen as a troubled piece of land into a modern well planned part of the Koidu new Sembehun community.
The secret of PC Saquee’s success has already become the talk of the town, and an enigma in the minds of all those who have seen the transformation in that part of Koidu.
Originally, the Kimberlite Resettlement project, before the coming of PC Paul Saquee to power, had seen numerous conflicts and failures. Koidu Holdings, the company responsible for the resettlement project had also been blamed and this had even caused a demonstration by disgruntled affected land owners, resulting in the death of two innocent by-standers and the wounding of several others. The people for whom the resettlement was being established appreciated neither the gesture nor the structures originally built for them. The government of President Ernest Bai Koroma later established a commission of inquiry.
The findings of the commission notwithstanding, it was the initiative of newly crowned Paramount Chief Paul Saquee that changed the building process and brought in new initiatives and a fresh approach, thereby giving a momentum originally lacking in the resettlement project.
First, the chief himself as custodian of Tankor Chiefdom built his residence in the same resettlement community and now lives among the people. Second, the Paramount Chief personally became part of the building process, ensuring that the structures are built according to modern standards. A modern layout with streets well laid out, provision of decent toilets, as well as a gravity water supply system is part of this new Koidu City.
The fact that the Paramount Chief himself is residing among his people, in a part of the city considered as remote has now brought a new awakening to a community once regarded as inhabitable.
This new part of Koidu City unlike other areas is well planned and PC Saquee has already expressed willingness for others interested in building here to come and buy land. The new resettlement community is composed of Swarray Town and Sokogbeh, all in Tankor Chiefdom. It was as a result of the Kimberlite mining operations in what was once Swarray Town and Sokogbeh that the resettlement was set up.
Speaking to this writer, PC Paul Saquee said the entire Swarray Town and Sokogbeh have been resettled in the new community.
Composed of 287 houses, each built with a toilet and a kitchen, the new community will also have a market and a community hall. A health center, churches, banks as well as schools and other institutions of learning will be forthcoming. Speaking about the naming of streets, PC Paul Saquee revealed that this will be done in consultation with the Koidu New Sembehun City Council. “I am also an Ex-Officio member of the Council,” PC Paul Saquee pointed out, proclaiming confidently that the new resettlement site is the best place to live in Koidu city. “That is why I also decided to come over here and reside,” the chief explained.
The chief also revealed how the Sierra Leone Water Company, SALWACO, has commended the purity of the gravity pipe borne water system.
PC Saquee has been working assiduously with CEMMAT, the civil engineering company contracted to carry out the construction of the houses. Earlier, Koidu Holdings under the supervision of Mr. Sadiq Sillah, the then chief administrator had undertaken the buildings, even though he had no knowledge of building and construction. The new approach in contracting professionals has now ensured better structures and city planning conducive for modern human convenience and habitation.
Clearly, this is one success story in Kono District, a unique example of how modern thinking Paramount Chiefs can make positive changes by bridging modernity with traditional rule.
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