Socfin Pays Over Le300 M to Lower Malen in Sierra Leone
Socfin Agricultural Company, Sierra Leone, has on Friday 15th March 2019 paid the sum total of Le 352,388,000 being payment for land lease to land owners of Zone ‘A’ in Lower Malen. (Photo: (Pragmatic General Manager of Socfin Agricultural Company)
The payment for lease of Zone ‘A’ area forms part of the lease agreement dated 15th October 2012 between the lessee and the government of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the period 5th March 2019 to 4th March 2020.
The area of Zone ‘A’ measures 16,248.54 acres by 2.50 USD /acre which is equal to 40,621amounting to 352, 388,000 Leones at the commercial bank exchange rate.
The payment was witnessed by representatives of government including the Pujehun District Officer, the District Agricultural Officer, CSOs, ONS, the police and the military respectively.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony held at Socfin Administration Office in Sahn Malen, the General Manager, Mr. Phillip Tonks expressed thanks and appreciation to land owners, government of HE President Bio, Pujehun District Stakeholders and chiefs of Malen Chiefdom for cordial working relationship and further reassures all of the company’s continues commitment particularly to the CSR.
The General Manager spoke of ongoing plans of Socfin making future payments through the banks, for transparency , accountability, to facilitate the process and above all end the hitherto blama games.
Earlier the General Manager made mention of further plans to provide one bag of rice to deserving land owners upon completion of documentation and made mention of the payment transportation allowance to workers which the General Manager reiterated remains part of the ongoing re-branding in line with the operations of Socfin.
Concluding the General Manager expressed the hope that government will increase the percentage of the land lease allocated to land owners, something he referred to as a step in the direction meant to allow land owning families to enjoy the fruits of their benefits. Receiving the money on behalf of Hon. P.C BVS Kebbie, the Chiefdom Speaker SR Moiguah, praised Socfin for honoring their own side of the agreement and for living up to its CSR.
The Chiefdom Speaker in detail itemized the good work since done by Socfin including the awards of scholarships scheme to successfully BECE candidates which started three years ago, payments of stipends to teachers whose names are not on payroll, building of modern school structures alongside provisions of furniture, the refurbishing of health centers across the chiefdom, cultivation of Boli /IVS for food availability ,constructions of roads and repairs of highways linking Sahn, provisions of water wells ,toilet and provision of job facilities to unemployed youths mostly from Malen and its surrounding chiefdoms amongst many others.
Chief Moiguah thanks God for the advent of Socfin which he stated has moved Malen to a place of no return citing development aspirations more than ever in the history of the chiefdom and therefore encouraged the people of Malen to embrace the unfolding developments as against been incited to detract Socfin which is in Malen to stay.
In conclusion the chiefdom Speaker thanks the government of HE President Bio for his continues move to make Malen chiefdom once more peaceful and called on all to remain law abiding and peaceful.
For their parts the District stakeholders commended Socfin and encouraged management not to relent but to continue to compliment the good work of government.
Land owners have since thank and reassured Socfin for their continues commitment to the land arrangements while reminding stakeholders to continue to play their roles.
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