The Secretary General of the Scrap Metal Association (SMA) Moses Uzzi Ekinado has said that his organisation has vowed to uphold the guidelines set by the government on the purchase and export of scrap metals.
He added that since 1st April when the ban was lifted “they have embarked on a four days tour of the North and Eastern part of the country to sensitize people about the guidelines”.
Mr Ekinado noted that since the government has said that any person buying any prohibited items as a scrap metal shall on conviction pay a fine of not more than 30million Leones or be imprisoned for not more than 15 years or both, his organisation will adhere strictly to these guidelines.
The SMA Secretary General promised that they will not touch any copper cables, aluminum cables, railway slippers and paddle clips, transformers, water pipes, railings of bridges, radiation materials, medical equipments, meters and all National Power Authority (NPA), pylon and communications equipment.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry was the head of all scrap metal business in Sierra Leone and therefore responsible to monitor and control the activities of those engaged in the scrap metal business in the country.
Moses Ekinado warned all those dealing in scrap metal to respect these guidelines in dealing in scrap metal, adding that, any person buying scrap metal without a valid license will face the law.
The Scrap Metal Association members thanked the government and the Minister of Trade and Industry Alimamy Koroma for lifting the ban.