Kingho Railway & Port Company Embarks on Massive Schools Sensitization in 192 Km Railway Facility

By Abdul Malik Bangura

A massive sensitization drive has been embarked on by the Kingho Railway and Port Company Limited which operates the 192 Kilometer railway and Pepel Shipping Port in Sierra Leone. The sensitization drive takes the form of raising awareness in schools across the 192 railway corridor on the need of safety for children in those communities.

The railway operation, which is the only rail facility in Sierra Leone, stretches from the Pepel Shipping Port in the Port Loko District and cuts across four (4) districts in the country, through to the minefields in Tonkolili District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone.

It is part of an integrated chain ranging from mining, processing, railway transportation, transshipment, modeling and planning, ship loading and marketing. Thus making the company the largest single private sector employer is Sierra Leone with thousands of staff attached to various sectors.

As a result of its inherent commitment to ensure that people in its directly impacted communities are safe; the Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Community (HSSEC) team of Kingho Railway and Port Company embarked on school sensitization in the rail corridor communities.

The theme of the sensitization was ‘Protecting Lives and Prevention of Incidents along the Rail Track’ as the company sensitized them on the Do’s and Don’ts on the rail line. The team targeted schools that are very close to the rail line. In the end the team provided school materials and an incentive (tokens) to the teachers.

Meanwhile, the sensitization process in schools on rail safety is complemented by monthly community radio sensitization programmes which are done in all local languages spoken at the various localities. As well, the company erected safety signs and posts along all the railway line – from Pepel to Tonkolili and oversaw the recruitment, deployment and safety training of flagmen and security guards from villages along the railway corridor.

The sensitization is done with the aim of showcasing the company’s commitment towards protecting the safety and health of Sierra Leoneans around its direct impact operational areas.

Note: Kingho Mining Company Limited and Kingho Railway and Port Company Limited are both subsidiaries of Leone Rock Metal Group. Kingho Mining Company Limited operates the Tonkolili Iron Ore Mines.