As part of on going sensitization on the 62 kilometre Toll Road stretching from Wellington to Masiaka, the Project Implementation Unit (PMU) headed by Mohamed Sahid Koroma (SK), this past Friday 19 May 2017, engaged members of civil society organizations and other institutions including SLRA, SLRSA, Drivers Union, Traditional healers, among others.
Victor Lansana Koroma, Executive Director of Health Alert – Sierra Leone, stated that he wished the toll system would not be a means of exploiting people and advised that the correct measures be put in place before the system commences in July.
He was speaking on 19 May 2017 at the Ministry of Youth Affairs in the presence of other civil society representatives, officials of the Ministry, youth recruited to sensitize people living along the toll road, among others.
He said development comes with a cost but such a cost should not be seen exploiting the masses, explaining that if the charges are high the passengers would face the brunt.
Morlai Conteh, President National Youth Coalition stated that the appropriate channels should be employed because the toll system is a novelty, which the people should appreciate.
Robert Kargbo, Health Network stated among others that he was impressed with the development along with the bold step by the Project Implementation Unit to bring them on board as members of the civil society.
He said this was an opportunity for them to interface and undertake a wider sensitization drive for the people to learn about the Toll Road.
Executive Director, Anti Violence Movement, cautioned that the findings during the sensitization exercise should be made public, and went further appealing on the Project Implementation Unit to negotiate the price which according to him is exorbitant.
Mohamed Sahid Koroma, Head of Project Implementation Unit, stated that the Youth Ministry was contracted to give the youth responsibility and paid tribute to the invitees who out of their busy schedules were able to grace the meeting.
He said the four month sensitization drive is a menu of several activities which high point is the collection of data from residents along the toll road, number of vehicle owners plying the road among others. He said the questionnaire to be administered will target 7000 people as the project focuses more on the benefits because they outweigh the disadvantages and from his meetings over the past days he is optimistic that the process would be successful.
Speaking to some road users on the stipulated prices to be paid for using the Toll Road, Mohamed Daramy, a mini bus driver plying the rout from Waterloo to Bombay Street, disclosed that the suggested price of Le10,000 is too much.
They maintained that government should try as best as possible to negotiate for a better price so that it will be a win-win situation for all, adding that the passengers are currently debating on the expected prices if the Toll Road is too much.
Monday May 22, 2017.
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