“Sierra Leone transformed into a works yard”- Ambassador Foh

His Excellency Victor Bockarie Foh has informed the Vice Chief Executive Officer of China State Construction Engineering Cooperation (CSCEC), Wang Lei, that since he was elected into office, President Ernest Bai Koroma has succeeded in transforming Sierra Leone into a works yard as could be seen in the country’s progress in infrastructural development.

Speaking on Saturday, 10th August, Ambassador Foh said, China has also played a great role in the progress Sierra Leone is making today in her infrastructural development.

According to Ambassador Foh, given this great progress the country is making, it keeps looking forward to receiving genuine and good Chinese investors. China, he said, is not only concern about doing what is required in a faster and timely manner, but “they do it better”

China State Construction Engineering Cooperation (CSCEC) recently signed two Memorandum Of Understanding with the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, one dealing with building the Freetown North-East Express way which will run from Aberden to Ferry Junction and the other dealing with rural roads and having four projects. Ambassador Foh therefore, encouraged Vice CEO of the company to “go and do the job you want to do in Sierra Leone” but encouraged them to work closely with the Sierra Leone Roads Authority. “When am counting operational Chinese companies in Sierra Leone, I would like to count your company as one of those doing great works in Sierra Leone”, Ambassador Foh said.

Responding, the Vice Chief Executive Officer Wang Lei informed Ambassador Foh that Chinese companies are always concerned about protecting their image and reputation and as such, “they work in line with what is expected” His company, he assured, will work assiduously to start off in the right direction in Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director-General of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Abdul Aziz Kamara who is presently in China has stated, that they have had further discussions based on the two MOUs they have signed with CSCEC. “The first one is to build the Freetown North-East Express way which runs from Aberden to Ferry Junction. The other MOU is for rural roads and has four projects, the Matotoka-Bo road (86 kilometers), Mile 91 to Robol Junction (52km) and Kabala-Krubola to Koidu (250km)”

Government, the SLRA Deputy Chief said, is however expected to pay an upfront of 15% , with guarantee from the Ministry of Finance or a reputable bank. Explaining further, he said, EXIM Bank has expressed interest in the first MOU which is the building of the Freetown North-East Expressway, valued at 400 to 500million dollars. But given the quantum of money involved in the first MOU and given government’s financial constraints, “we feel the 15% upfront payment could be a major challenge, so we have asked them to look at the second MOU and select one of those roads to kick start cooperation and they have agreed on this”

Infrastructure has been one of major success stories of the President Koroma, especially during his first term in office. The government has taken development to every district in Sierra Leone. There has been the construction of transport terminals and shopping Plazas in Kenema, Bo and Makeni and Kenema amongst others. This latest development will be seen as a boast to the country’s development process.

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