By Amin Kef Sesay
Globally, it is an acceptable best practice for corporate entities to support development programmes within localities in which they are located and operating in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a way of giving back to society.
One of the well established corporate business entities that have been in operation in this country for decades, the Choithram Group of Companies, now a household name, is on record of never been found wanting in rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility. In fact, the company has over the years been the recipient of a barrage of commendation for supporting the execution of meaningful projects and programmes that are today positively impacting the lives of residents in its operational areas. If those supports could be enumerated, time and space may not favour doing so at this material stage.
On the 15th November, 2021 during a brief but important programme that was held at the Choithram Supermarket Conference Room on Rawdon Street in Freetown, the business entity honoured its 2021/2022 Corporate Social Responsibility towards the Wellington Community where Choithram has two manufacturing or business entities, NATCO and Choithram Chemicals.
Present were Harish Agnani, the Member of Parliament of Constituency 115 (Wellington) Hon. Alpha Amadu Bah, Daniel Conteh, a Consultant and members of the Fourth Estate.
Harish Agnani welcomed all and extended heartfelt condolences for the untimely death of the 5th November Wellington fire disaster victims and wished those responding to medical treatments speedy recovery.
He said some of the victims were taken to the Choithram Memorial Hospital for treatment and the hospital is doing so free of cost.
“Choithram was one of the first responders after the accident by donating medical items and consumables to Connaught Hospital where many victims sustaining burns were admitted,” he added.
He disclosed that every year Choithram supports community development programmes within the Wellington Community where it is operating two entities.“We give out a total of forty million Leones in the form of our Corporate Social Responsibility and as always the monies are handed over to the community authorities comprising the Member of Parliament, Councillors, Youth Leader etc on behalf of the residents,” he furthered.
Harish continued intimating newsmen that there is a slight change this year in the sense that the Honourable Member of Parliament of the Constituency, where their business interests are located, Hon. Alpha Amadu Bah, approached them with the idea of giving additional support to help in the completion of ongoing projects that he is currently championing within that part of the country.
He went on to state that as a result of that new request from the Member of Parliament, Management of Choithram decided to increase the total amount of money towards honouring its Corporate Social Responsibility from forty million Leones (Le40, 000.000) to Forty Five Million Leones (Le 45,000,000).
On his part, a Consultant, Daniel Sesay, who liaises between Choithram and the public to assess the environmental impact of some of the company’s activities, said one of the projects that the Member of Parliament is implementing is indeed one that is very significant to the welfare of residents in that part of the country especially the market women. He confirmed that its successful implementation will prevent future flooding from taking place making easy access to the market smooth.
Hon. Amadu Bah expressed appreciation for Choithram’s timely honouring of its Corporate Social Responsibility further disclosing that he is currently implementing three main projects within his constituency one of which has to do with the paving of the Melon Street market axis.
“Given the high cost of building materials and other costs involved I deemed it fit to make a humble appeal to Choithram and indeed they positively responded although I still have to do some maneuvering in order to ensure that the projects are well completed,” he stated.
Hon. Bah revealed that out of what Choithram had been giving in the past, in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility, such were utilized successfully for the Koya electrification sub-project, the construction of a gravity water point of which he was glad to announce that the point has generated up to about eighteen million Leones since it was handed over to the community.
He said with the monies received for this year, they will use some for the completion of the ongoing projects expressing hope that the fencing of the market project will soon be completed as it is up to 85% near completion stage.
The official handing over of the cheques totaling Forty-Five Million Leones marked the highpoint of the occasion.
