For new airport countdown Logus called for cooperation
Transport & Aviation Minister, Leonard Balogun Koroma on Thursday 29th August 2013 was accorded a warm welcome by colleague cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, China railway information, Sierra Leone Police, the military, transport stakeholders, Paramount Chief Kopah Bomboli of Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District and the electorates at Masiaka on a ministerial sensitization tour and countdown to the implementation Phase I construction of the new Freetown International airport at Mamamah.
Deputy Finance Minister, Mabinty Daramy said that the government had committed and sought a loan from the Chinese ex-bank for the construction of a new airport in Sierra Leone and that President Ernest Bai Koroma could not place money into people’s pockets but through the implementation of infrastructural development, electricity, health, and education, among others that could transform the lives of people and the development of the country on diverse ways of employment and investment.
Land Minister, Musa Tarawallie stated that the ceremony is symbolic through the direction of President Koroma as the project is open towards investment as it is a reality for a dream to come true and the Lands Ministry allocated land in consultation with land owners and appreciated the request to enhance the transformation of the country and the implementation of the President’s ‘Agenda for Prosperity’.
Logus Koroma was led on a conducted tour by the Airport General Manager, John Sesay and team briefed on the rudiment of the Ministry and assured the Minister of their the management support at all and stating that the team is full of motivated staff, effective in executing their duties to enhance construction of the new international airport at Mamamah.
Airport General Manager, John Sesay acclaimed President Ernest Bai Koroma for his wisdom in appointing Logus Koroma in that ministry and airport staff is in readiness for the success of the Ministry.
Transport & Aviation Minister, Leonard Balogun Koroma aka Logus disclosed to the audience, especially residents of Koya Chiefdom, in respect of the countdown to the construction phase of the new international airport at Mamamah as there are more work before the present government term expires.
He called for the effective collaboration and partnership from various ministries and the citizenry of the country and partners to work assiduously towards the implementation of the ‘Agenda for Prosperity’ through cordial relationship with the Ministry.
Logus Koroma further stated that the day made a turning point in the realization of the President’s dream for transformation of Sierra Leone into a middle income country through the 1st stage of the process and the establishment of a state of the art international airport, adding, “which eventually will be named by an airport naming committees during the commissioning. It is often said by our Chinese friends that a journey of a 1000 miles started with the first step and this step for President Koroma will change the dynamic of our developmental paradigm, leading us to prosperity. The construction of this airport will enhance the three pillars of the Transport and Aviation Ministry in all modes air, land, and sea with the corresponding pillars of safety security and service”.
He further noted, “Sierra Leone cannot develop exponentially to catch up with other emerging Africa countries. If we do not have a major modern airport like Mamamah on the mainland.
Suffice it to say that we have blessed by the Alimghty God to survive with just the Lungi International airport without any major incident. A country deserves more than one airport as a designated airport in the cost of an emergency. Over the 40 years feasibly studies done at Mamamah, it is only President Koroma who has realized that it’s time to actualize all of these studies into a dream come true with the construction of the new Freetown International Airport. This airport will be the tub of West Africa because of its modern facilities and because it will be located at a point shorter to connect to South America with only 4 hrs to Brazil by direct flight. The unique quality of the airport also will be its central position to connect all corners of Sierra Leone as technical experts have attested to the novelties that a new airport can bring expansion of an airport city with modernized economic export zones that will eventually improve tourism, eco-tourism and the provision of more jobs for our youths not only at Mamamah but in Sierra Leone”.
He assured Sierra Leoneans and developmental partners that Lungi International airport will even be more viable after Mamamah as it would be a regional hub, an economic zone, a new city and logistic deport.
Transport Minister called on Ministers and stakeholders to collaborate with the ministry to move the countdown process forward, stating, “Sierra Leone cannot realize the true aspiration of the “Agenda for prosperity if we fail to put all our strength in this process development road map project to our freedom from poverty.
By Joseph Saidu N’bompa Turay
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2013, https:. All rights reserved.
