Members of Parliament on Tuesday debated and ratified two agreements relating to the expansion and construction of flourmills at Kanikay and Wellington geared towards discouraging importation and promoting export and trade across the country.
The following agreements were approved by Parliament:
- An Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone (GOSL) Represented by the Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI) The Minister of Finance (MOF) and Sierra Leone Flour Mill (SL) Limited and
- Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Societe Nouvelle Commerce (SONOCO S.A)
Presenting the agreements for ratification the Minister of Trade and Industry Edward Hinga Sandy, maintained the agreement seeks to support the private sector and also develop trade by developing two giant flour mills that seek to promote the agenda of exportation.
According to him, with the ratification of these agreements, more employment will be created, improve on the country’s economy, create the opportunity for the creation of additional flourmill at the east end of Freetown which according to him will bring the issue of bread and flour shortage to rest.
“These agreement will give opportunity to indigenous service providers by promoting growers through the creation of a ready market for their local produce,” he said, assuring that government is aware about the promotion of local content which is why they are also catering for the Sierra Leone Flourmill at Cline Town.
According to the Chairperson of the Trade Committee in Parliament, Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay, both agreements are not controversial, disclosing that people only realise the importance of flour when there is bread shortage, maintaining almost everyone depends on bread after rice as staple food across the country.
She maintained that with the establishment of the new flourmill and expansion of the existing one will increase employment, reduce the cost of flour. Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay,called on cassava and potatoe farmers to increase their output as the agreement will create market for their produce.
The Trade Committee Chairperson called on the attention of Parliament to the fact that Parliament was not mentioned in both agreement when it comes to stakeholders and that the Ministry will be working on the area of supervision of both project. The Member of Parliament representing Constituency 115, Hon Alpha Amadu Bah, raised concerns about promoting local content stating that Sierra Leone Flourmill is locally own while Societe Nouvelle Commerce (SONOCO S.A) is a subsidiary of a multi project in Guinea.
He maintained that Parliament and the Trade Ministry should ensure that SONOCO should not sell their bread product by retail, as that will put the local industries producing small-scale bread out of business, which according to him kills the spirit of local content policy.
Hon Musa Fofanah referred the trade Minister to Cluster 8 of the National Medium Term Plan that creates provisions for monitoring, adding that special attention should be paid to the ownership of SONOCO S.A, disclosing that the refurbishment of Sierra Leone Flourmill is a step in the right direction.
Both the Leaders of Government business and the Opposition Leader, Hon Mathew Sahr Nyuma and Hon Chernor MAJU bah, welcomed the idea of government by supporting these agreements, hoping both companies would translate these agreements into action for the development of the country.
By Alhaji Manika Kamara