Co-operatives Department set the pace for economic prosperity

The Department of Co-operatives in the Ministry of Trade and Industry is in the process of reviving viable and well structured co-operatives that can contribute to economic growth in the country. The Department on Wednesday 21^st August 2013 held a workshop for Co-operative Movements at the Bank of Sierra Leone Complex to discuss findings of co-operative study and drafting of a new Co-operative Act. The objective of the workshop is to revive the co-operative movement in Sierra Leone by arriving at detailed recommendations for a Co-operative Policy and a detailed framework for the drafting of a new Co-operative Act.

It can be recalled that Co-operative movement was vibrant in the 1950s, but during the advent of the OAU in the 80s things began to dwindle. Today, shamefully it is almost dead. The 1977 framework was not strong enough to save the situation by then. This is why Government thought it wise in 2010 to hire a consultant to do a study that paves the way for the development of a policy to regulate the co-operative sector in the country. Validating the new policy will help map out the strong role the cooperative sector will play in developing the economy.

The Co-operative Development Policy and Co-operative Act drafted are expected to be approved in the House of Parliament.

Alie Badara Mansaray is Sierra Leone’s Deputy Trade and Industry Minister. He informed the gathering that the new Act will replace the current defunct Act of 1977. Government, he said has always shown keen interest in supporting the co-operative movement. “It is very important to support the local private sector and one way of doing so is to boost the co-operative movement,” says the Deputy Minister, and added that the country can boost of registering over 2, 000 co-operative unions all over the country.

The Deputy Minister pointed out that one of the ways to solve youth unemployment is to nurture the co-operative movement. “It will help in poverty reduction,” Mr. Mansaray said, and further note that reviving the sector will help change the country’s economy.

“I hope the workshop will hammer home the final in the coffin in resurrecting the co-operative movement, so that at the end of the day we’ll be proud of having a comprehensive and useful policy that will stand the test of time,” he told participants.

A Consultant, Kweku Fraser made a presentation on the findings from the co-operative study.

He reiterated the fact that co-operatives must be facilitated to come together and elect a national Co-operative Council that should be the advocacy and lobbying body for all cooperatives in the country.

He recommended that there is a need to develop a comprehensive co-operative strengthening program; conduct nationwide sensitization; and Co-operative studies must be included in the curriculum in secondary schools and diploma in tertiary institution.

Mr. Fraser further notes that the Co-Operatives Department may be set up as a semi-autonomous government agency that may be allowed to raise it own funds and coordinate its activities well.

“The cooperative movement must be able to get it financing facilities that will be utilized by cooperative societies,” he said, and further recommended that it is good to have a bank that is specifically for cooperatives, and cited an example to the existing Community Banks that could be advantageous if converted into Co-operative Movement banks.

On the proposed Co-operative Policy, Mr. Fraser pointed out that it seeks to provide a conducive, stable enabling and operating environment for all stakeholders in the co-operative sector in Sierra Leone. The overall goal, he said is to promote the enabling environment for cooperative towards wealth creation and development of sustainable economic growth.

Co-operatives, he went on should be part of other policies like the Agenda for Prosperity, and stated that the role of government must be promotional and facilitative to involve stakeholders in the development of the sector.

“There must be a well coordinated marketing system where cooperating work well, together with a proper infrastructure that ensures smooth operation,” says the Consultant.

Roland Wright made a presentation on ‘findings from the cooperative study: the proposed cooperative legal framework’.

He informed the gathering that Co-operatives should be autonomous entities that should be operated by members and non-members. “We must take into account the radical change of the co-operative department to a more functional role, and we must also decide on a policy review of extending co-operatives to other sectors instead of Agriculture only which was the focus all this while,” he said.

He added that there must be a shift in the function and structure of the Co-operatives Department, as it should be seen coordinating training and empowering co-operative bodies in the country. “They must been seen facilitating the business of co-operatives and seek the necessary logistics that promotes their activities. If co-operatives are well organized they can serve as a medium for better microcredit provision to members,” he said, and concluded that Co-operatives must be given the opportunity to promote job opportunities in Sierra Leone.

Minister of State Finance, Momodu Kargbo said having a Co-operative Act in place is a process that is laudable and commended those taking part in it. He recalled that Co-operatives were brought it to the country to boost the economic well-being of the rural people.

He suggested that in other to revamp the sector there is need to look at the issue of politicization of more organizations; Look at the dynamics that has taken place in co-operatives, targeting small business people and set up categories of co-operative societies so as to address the proposition of the common man.

Sustenance of the co-operative society, he said should be a focus. “The Co-operative Department must be able to rise to the task by ensuring that those benefiting from the work of the co-operatives must put aside something that keeps work ongoing,” says the Minister of State.

“Don’t push co-operatives to people, let them want it. The most co-operative society are the ones the visionary leader stays onboard the system till it becomes a society owned,” he said.

Other speakers include Mr. Amara Sheriff of who represented the Minister of Agriculture. The event was chaired by Hon. Thomas Mark Turay of Constituency 30 in the Bombali District.

Abu Bakarr Kargbo

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