Sierra Leone Flour Mill may collapse, accountant tells minister

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara on Thursday May 16^th 2013 paid a one day working visit to the flour mill factory, commonly known as Seaboard West Africa Company located at Cline Town, east end of Freetown.  (Photo: Trade and Industry Minister, Hon. Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara on site at Seaboard West Africa )

The minister was received by Mr. Demba George, the company’s accountant.

Briefing the minister on the status of the company, Mr. George said the company is going through difficult times, especially in terms of sales.  The reason, according to him, is that there is a lot of imported flour coming into the country and as a result, business is bad for them.

Speaking further, Mr. George recalled that before now the company was producing 2,000 metric tonnes per month, but that number has now been reduced to 1,000 tons per month, which has forced them to scale down their employment rate from 125 to 23 workers.

He disclosed that there are approximately 20 different companies importing flour into the country; noting that it is only Red Lion Bakery and a few other business people that are patronizing Seaboard West Africa Company.

According to Demba George, their flour mill product is the best when compared to other products.  Highlighting their many constraints, he said electricity is a major problem and as a result, they are using a 60 to 100 kw plant generator.

Responding, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Usman Boie Kamara said that he sympathized with companies that wholly and solely rely on generators to run their business but promised that government and his ministry will do something to ensure the factory does not collapse.

The minister called on the General Manager, Mr. Bassy to find time to meet him and discuss the matter further.

By Dennis Jones

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