The minister of Trade and Industry, Alimamy Petito Koroma, yesterday at his ministry’s conference room, Youyi building in Freetown, announced the lifting of the ban on the purchase and export of scrap metals.
At a press conference the minister said, “the government of Sierra Leone on 27th November 2007 put a ban on the purchase and export of scrap metals on the reasons that functional water and electrical installations were converted to scrap metals and copper cables transmitters, radiation equipment were stolen and sold as scrap metals”.
Mr Koroma noted that, “government is aware that the action led to the loss or suspension of some jobs and the shrinking of certain business transactions… the situation on the ban and its attendant effects have been closely monitored by government during the past five months while efforts were being made to regulate the trade in scrap metals”.
He maintained that government with the participation of various stakeholders had developed guidelines for the metals business in Sierra Leone.
These guidelines have been shared and discussed with all stakeholders. “Therefore, having put in place all the above, government in its effort create jobs, induce and promote business in Sierra Leone, today 31st March [yesterday], puts the new guidelines into force and hence hereby lifts the ban on the purchase and export of scrap metals with effect from tomorrow [today]”.
Meanwhile the scrap metal association, which has been vociferous about lifting the ban, has pledged that its members will adhere to the guidelines.
ADVERTISEMENT