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Leone Afric Company Pays Le2B to Landowners of Ngowahun Chiefdom

In fulfillment of its statutory obligation Lithium Leone Afric Metals Mining Company has paid Two Billion Leones as surface rent to landowners of Ngowahun Chiefdom, Kabala, Bombali District, part of which should be utilized for undertaking certain development projects.

It must be noted that it is the first time in the history of the country that the Lithium mineral is being mined within the Bombali district

Lithium is widely used in batteries as a heater in a few mediums and as well as a component in various metal alloys. It is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, depression, and other mental health conditions due to its mood-stabilizing properties.

The new lithium mining company, according to Fassally Tarawallie, the Company’s Representative, is  expected to create more job opportunities,  capacity building training, educational and health support to residents and facilitate infrastructural development in that part of the country

He also emphasized that devoid of the surface rent payment the company will adhere to all community agreements for the benefit of both parties.

Residents of the chiefdom were exceptionally happy for the development as many of them are unemployed negatively impinging on their daily living  hence the commencement of mining operations by the Leone Metal Afric company was a dream come true for them.

Paramount Chief Kandeh Gbanka 111 expressed willingness and determination to work with the investors on the basis that the community residents will benefit from the operations of the company.

Some Government officials, including the Minster of North East Abu Abu Abdulia Koroma and representatives from the National Minerals Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources Mines Committee in Parliament and Security Apparatus implored the community residents to take ownership of their development and protect the company for more sustainable development.

 

NP-SL Proactive Stance Makes Petroleum Stocks Last Over Periods of Time

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd)

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

NP-SL Ltd is tirelessly working round the clock, engaging oil producing companies in business discussions, to always ensure that supply is continually flowing in or maintained. This pro-activeness, on the part of the company, has made it quite possible for stocks to last over periods of time in order to avert the occurrence of shortages.

Interestingly, NP-SL is not a Government entity or appendage; no politician has a share in it as its shareholders are mere ordinary Sierra Leoneans, starting with 35 of them who some time ago bought shares from the Government out of their end of service benefits to establish what today has become a towering entity (NP-SL) to reckon with in the business landscape.

As had been fallaciously propagated by certain ill-motivated persons, who do not mean well for this country, that there are certain politicians that have vested interests in the company, our investigations have proven otherwise.

NP-SL is a 100% indigenous company to the letter and it has weathered various storms that could have dwarfed it or left it to extinct save therapeutic intermittent Managerial injections that keep it upright and on the right course.

Demonstrating its true Sierra Leonean identity the company has maintained a policy of strictly adhering to the Local Content Policy ensuring that it has a maximum indigenous staff in its employ. What this actually means is empowering our brothers and sisters to access employment opportunities and reduce poverty.

As a matter of fact some of its members continue to benefit from various trainings that have afforded them the conduit to imbibe useful skills to efficiently carry out certain tasks. If we are counting the number of companies that have upheld the Local Content Policy, without any iota of doubt, NP-SL could be seen at the top.

This intrinsic nationalistic posture of the company runs through and it is a sine qua non to overall national development. If such a compliance rate should have been followed by other local companies, willingly, without any pressure from the relevant authorities then indisputably this country should have been miles away in its development trajectory.

Business Management experts have made it abundantly clear that the way and manner in which customers are cared for in terms of talking to them, making them feel at ease go a long way in attracting them. Such should be done sincerely in order to make them more important. NP-SL for a very long period now has mastered that art and executing it so well which definitely is paying dividends.

1st for Customer Care was earned by the company because it has been widely acclaimed by many for solidly executing such.

In its drive to optimize customer satisfaction the company went the extra mile to install calibrated pumping machines which are not only modern but trustworthy, as opposed to old pumping machines which certain unscrupulous individuals used to cheat unassuming customers.

This is helping to repose confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent entity. The friendliness of their pump attendants is very impressive and they are always there to timely respond to various concerns.

Still within the purview of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supplied fuel and lubricants as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place.

When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honoring their obligations.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the required financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA).  NP is one big tax payer to Government and it has been doing so timely.

NP-SL remains undaunted, unperturbed amidst all the challenges it is going through and conscientiously it is steadily contributing to the socio-economic development of the country as well as  positively changing communities and lives.

 

Rotary Club Donates to King George Home

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their efforts towards enhancing the quality of care residents of the King George VI Memorial Home are treated with, Rotary Club of Freetown has on Saturday 25th February, 2023, donated food and non-food items  including bags of Parboiled rice, Cooking Oil, Palm Oil, Onions, Tomato paste, Maggi Cubes, Peak Milk, Sardines, Baked Beans, Bottles of Mayonnaise. The handing over ceremony took place at the Catherine Maurice Jones Hall, King George VI Memorial Home at Grafton.

The King George VI Memorial Home is the only special support home for the aged in the country, and has been in existence since the 1960’s. Formerly located at Kissy Dock Yard during the Second World War, the Government of Sierra Leone relocated the Home to its present Grafton location.

According to the Vice President of Rotary Club of Freetown, Kweku Fraser, the donation is done annually, adding that the gesture which includes the provision of food and material support to the Home is part of their service role to specific communities.

He revealed that the donated items which cost approximately NLE 20,000.00 included Parboiled rice, Cooking Oil, Palm Oil, Onions, Tomato paste, Maggi Cubes, Peak Milk, Sardines, Baked Beans, Bottles of Mayonnaise, Luncheon Meat, Bottles of Honey, Bathing soap, Toothpaste and Toothbrushes.

Kweku Fraser furthered that Rotary Clubs around the world engage in various charitable and service-related activities and Rotary International, one of the largest service organizations in the world, was started to “provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.”

He said while the donation to the Home is an important element in the activity, members pay special attention to the aspect of care for the residents of which he stated that members of the club look forward to this “hands-on” encounter each year with residents, as it provides a concrete expression of their care for humanity well beyond the weekly contributions for the Home raised each week.

The President used the opportunity to inform the gathering that Rotary started through the vision of Paul Harris and a few friends in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1905 and recently celebrated the 118th anniversary of its founding and that members are drawn from a diverse background of professionals who then exchange ideas and support projects around the world, while forging meaningful lifelong friendships, furthering that members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities around the world and their support to the Home is just one of many examples of Rotary’s work in Sierra Leone.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Home, the Administrator of King George VI Memorial Home, Joyce M. Sesay, expressed appreciation to the Rotary Club of Freetown for the donation which she described as very important towards enhancing the welfare of the residents.

She said the King George VI Memorial Home is the only value residential Home in the Western Area adding that the Home accords all the respect to its residents and that the Home is currently housing 38 residents.

Joyce M. Sesay noted that the Home is challenged with having necessities which includes lack of a medical facility, lack of a vehicle etc.

The official handing over ceremony of the items was done by a Senior Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Freetown, Hellen Nylander which was followed by a sumptuous lunch of which Members of the club cooked and served food to the residents.

 

 

Christian Aid Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Reveal Final Impressions

By Millicent Senava Mannah

In an engagement with the media, on the 24th February, 2023 at the organization’s office on 90 Sir Samuel Lewis Road, at Aberdeen in Freetown   newsmen were informed that the Chairman of the Christian Aid Board and the Chief Executive Officer, who were on a working visit, are about to depart to England.

Stating the purpose of the engagement, the Country Director of Christian Aid SL, Mattia Koi Dimoh, intimated that the media engagement was held to give final highlights of the impressions of the Chairman of Christian Aid Board and the Chief Executive Officer during their visit as well as the key message they want to leave with the people of Sierra Leone as well as for them .

He maintained that it was a pleasure for them to have them here in the country throughout the week.

The Chairman Christian Aid Board, Bishop Lord Sentamu, commended the Press for reporting very accurately stating that all what was published in the different media outlets were what he said maintaining that the media has a great role to play in the nation.

He asserted that at the heart of Christian Aid is that all human beings should thrive. ‘’The greatest person is the one caring for others and serving others, looking out for their needs and concerns, and Christian Aid does not actually work alone,’’ he stated.

‘’Everywhere we have visited we have had a lot of partners, so Christian Aid in many ways is almost like a catalyst, is almost like yeast in the dough of bread that need to rise, but what rises is not the yeast but the bread itself,’’ Bishop Lord Sentamu stated euphemistically.

He continued that when they went to the province he saw the women dancing joyfully, and according to him these women should be given the space further expressing delight that during this year’s elections where there will be two men, one woman would be among.

‘’There is a Ugandan proverb that says anyone that wants to travel far travels in company of others, because if you lose the energy and the effort someone will pick you back up to make sure you get there, and therefore in Christian Aid we work in the company of others,’’ he stated.

He also admonished media practitioners not to tell people who to vote for but to encourage them to vote stating that the more people vote will help them get a representative Government.

Bishop Lord Sentamu commended the people of this country for their hospitality revealing how everywhere they went and visited they were shown great love and hospitality by the people.

The Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Watt, also commended the people of Sierra Leone for their love and hospitality, explaining how they receive great hospitality and generosity by everyone they have met.

‘’All this shows the strength of Sierra Leonean Civil Society which is so crucial to the long term prospect of this country in tackling poverty, creating conditions in which everybody is able to thrive through their potentials,’’ Watt stated.

According to him, they have been here for thirty five years and how he wishes they will be here for more years to come, stating how it will come a day when the Christian Aid work will be done in the country.

He maintained they will leave after their work is done here, but said it is important to ensure of leaving a lasting legacy.

‘’I am also being struck by the salient work we have been doing with our partners, women’s rights, gender equality, including women’s representation at local elections and politics, we work on women’s empowerment, we work with mobile banking services and so much more,’’ Watt revealed.

He disclosed that the work they have done in promoting community peace building is to ensure that the country continues to deepen and consolidate peaceful forms of engagements and how the work they do in terms of partnering and being accountable  is to ensure that funding is used in ways that benefit society at large.

A Q and A session climaxed the media engagement.

IGP Hails Rice Supplier … For excellent execution of Contract

The Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, William Fayia Sellu, has debunked certain media reports purporting that there has been a delay in the supply of rice to the Sierra Leone Police Force describing such as unfounded and completely baseless maintaining that such propaganda aims at tarnishing the reputation of the Force.

He pointed out that during his tenure the issue of backlog in the supply of rice is being addressed to avoid slumping back into the past when such was rampant and the order of the day.

According to the Inspector General, the situation has improved partly because the rice supplier, VIP Trading Company, headed by a dynamic young man, Ahmed Hashim, is timely and cooperatively honouring its obligation.

He commended VIP Trading Company for what he described as excellent execution of the existing contract between the Force and the Company.

The IG intimated that prior to his appointment the issue of backlog in the supply of rice to the force was always rife adding how it sometimes runs into several months due to negligence on the part of the SLP leadership.

He stated that with him at the helm of affairs and with the dedication and commitment of the contractor, the issue of backlog supply is now a thing of the past disclosing how they have been able to offset over ninety percent of the backlogs that accrued over the years.

He further disclosed that supply for February month is already underway noting that the  contractor is always on top of situation in making sure that he delivers not only on time but also quality rice supply that continues to boost the morale of the Sierra Leone Police Force.

 

Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Beneficiaries Share Experiences at Indian High Commission

On Thursday, 23rd February 2023, some of the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) beneficiaries gathered at Indian High Commission in Freetown and shared their experiences about courses pursued by them in India in 2022-23. Five ITEC beneficiaries, while sharing their experiences, overwhelmingly elaborated on how the ITEC Programme has changed their skills, perceptions, careers and lives in a positive way.

Ms. Rebecca Fofanah, working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who has returned from India after pursuing ‘Certificate Program in Advanced Communication Skills’, mentioned that the course has improved her Communication Skills to the next level. Mr Lynton O.R.D. Jones Esq, who is Parliamentary Counsel and Legislative Drafter at the Office of Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has pursued ‘Specialized International Training Programme in Legislative Drafting’ organized by Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), New Delhi, expressed that the programme was a fascinating capacity building course which provides participants with institutionalized opportunities for systematic training in the various disciplines of Law-making processes and procedures.

Another ITEC beneficiary, Ms. Abibatu Sheriff, working with World Vision Sierra Leone, shared her experience about one month training course on ‘Post Cocoon Technology’ at Central Silk Technological Research Institute, Central Silk Board, Bengaluru (India). She overwhelmingly expressed that during her training she could learn practical aspects of Post Cocoon Technology, which she wants to use in setting up a small silk venture in Sierra Leone. Mr. Ibrahim Wilson Kanneh from National Electoral Commission (NEC) and Mr. Ibrahim Bobson Moiwo, Senior Public Health Superintendent at Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone shared their views and positive impacts on their skill development after pursing ITEC courses on ‘Specialized Training Programme in Cyber Security & Malware Analytics Reverse Engineering’ and ‘Women and Youth Entrepreneurship in Water Supply and Sanitation Development’ respectively. All the ITEC beneficiaries were joyous to share their experiences about their warm welcome and comfortable stay in India, their visits to various Institutes, historical monuments and introduction to India’s rich culture, food delicacies etc.

On the occasion, Mr. Neeraj Kumar Saini, Cd’A in Indian High Commission in Freetown informed the media that the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) is a Government of India’s flagship programme instituted on September 15, 1964, and has been a vehicle to share India’s vast and unique experience of growth and development through capacity building and training in a wide and diverse spectrum of skills. ITEC programme has created visible and growing awareness about the competence of India as provider of technical knowledge and expertise as well as training opportunities, and much more.  India offers 50 ITEC slots every year to Sierra Leonean for short, medium and long-term capacity building programmes. Selected ITEC beneficiaries are provided to and fro air-tickets and boarding and lodging by Government of India to pursue these courses in India.

In addition to 50 ITEC slots, India also provides 15 full ICCR scholarships to Sierra Leone for under-graduate and post-graduate courses in India.

Sierra Leone is also one of the beneficiaries of scholarships under India’s e-VidyaBharati or tele-education programme for online under-graduate and post-graduate courses being offered by various reputed Universities in India. So far, more than 300 students from Sierra Leone have enrolled/pursuing/completed various courses. For such students, a Learning Centre at Fourah Bay College, consisting of a Computer Lab & Multimedia Room has been established by the Government of India.

Rokel Bank’s Agency Banking Goes to Leicester & Gloucester

As an evidence of the result-oriented managerial competency of its Managing Director, Ekundayo Walton Gilpin, the Rokel Commercial Bank continues with its ambitious expansion drive as it opens its third Agency Banking outlet for Leicester and Gloucester communities in Freetown.

The new outlet came through a collaboration with Peak Energy Gas Station which houses the outlet at the Leicester/Gloucester intersection.

Agency Banking is a platform through which a bank provides basic financial services rather than an in-house cashier. It is a type of branchless banking that allows the traditional banks to extend their network branches and services in a cost-efficient manner. Apparently, the new outlet has further cemented the bank’s position as the undisputed champion of financial inclusion in Sierra Leone.

Head of Rokel Bank’s Simkorpor Department, Kezia Salankunle said the outlet would be operating beyond traditional banking hours, reiterating that residents of the two communities would now have the opportunity to carry banking transactions on their doorsteps and avoid the hassle of accessing the often crowded banking halls in town.  Director of Marketing, Mariama Jajua encouraged community people to inculcate a culture of banking as a sure way to manage their finances averring; “We believe that more people should come on board to access the banking system and that is why we have not relented in our pursuit to expand and promote financial inclusion in Sierra Leone.”

Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Walton Gilpin reaffirmed his bank’s commitment to expand and get more people onboard the banking system with flexible, innovative strategies such as the Agency Banking project. He was happy that the new outlet would also be serving a larger portion of the nearby Fourah Bay College community to serve students and lecturers.

“This branch will be doing account opening, deposits, withdrawals, EDSA top up, phone tops and several other basic services to ensure you do not have to go all the way to town to access banking services…”

Other speakers including the Head of Administration, Bai Turay made similar statements.

 

7 Accused Persons of August 10 Riot Acquitted & Discharged

Principal Magistrate, His Worship Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown on the 21st February, 2023 acquitted and discharged seven (7) accused persons for all the Offences brought against them by the State.

They were before the Court for Riotous Conduct and Disorderly Behavior contrary to the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965 as repealed and replaced by Act No. 5 of 1973.

Initially, the Prosecution discontinued the action against the 17th Accused, Kadiatu Suma, and she was accordingly discharged.

In another development, the Defence for the 18th Accused, Alimamy Kamara told the Court that the Accused was unfit for trial by reason of his sound mind. The said Accused Alimamy Kamara was referred to the Kissy Psychiatric home for medical examination pursuant to Sections 71 and 73 respectively of the Criminal Procedure Act 1965 and would be reported upon to the Court by the Medical Officers examining him, pursuant to Section 74 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965.

Regarding the seven Accused, the Principal Magistrate told the Court that the evidence in its totality against the 2nd, 5th, 15th, 30th, 4th, 21st, and 9th Accused are inconclusive.

“The Prosecution was unable to meet the required threshold to find them culpable,” said Magistrate Mark Ngegba.

He went on to say that, “I have considered the evidence as presented to the court by the Prosecution, together with the general circumstances of the case and in light of the forgoing, I hereby reach the following decision.”

“The 2nd Accused Mbalu 1 Kamara, 5th Accused Mbalu Kamara 2, 15th Alusine Sesay, 3th Sallaymatu Kaloko, 4th Accused Mariama Seray Bangura, 21st Accused Umaru Saidu Kamara and 9th Accused Seray Conteh are found not guilty on each count and are each accordingly acquitted and discharged.”

“Accused persons are found not guilty,” he concluded.

World Bank Executive Director Impressed with President Bio Development and Reforms

The World Bank Executive Director for 22 African Countries, including Sierra Leone, Dr Floribert Ngaruko, in a courtesy visit to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Retired, Brigadier, Dr Julius Maada Bio, on Tuesday 21st February 2023, congratulated the President for his development and reform agenda in various sections like Education, Mines, Lands, Gender ETC.

He applauded the efforts of the Bio led Government for the significant increase in the country’s portfolio to about 1.2 billion dollars and having the best disbursement rate in the sub-region of 22% among the 22 countries in West and Central Africa.

Dr Floribert Ngaruko encouraged the Government to continue implementing progressive reforms and improve its disbursement rate to attract additional concessional resources.

In his response, HE President Julius Maada Bio congratulated the Executive Director on his appointment as ED for Sierra Leone and 21 other countries. He also stated that he is happy to know that the reforms undertaken by his Government are acknowledged by development partners.

He informed his guest of the challenging economic situation around the world and Sierra Leone and what his Government is doing to mitigate the impact on ordinary citizens.

Earlier, the ED met with Ministers directly implementing World Bank projects from Basic and Higher Education, Agriculture, Mines, Tourism, Energy, Trade, Transport and Aviation, and Youth and Social Welfare Ministers to listen to their experiences and discuss achievements and challenges in the portfolio.

Updating the Ministers about the portfolio, he stated that the country has 381 million undisbursed funds already approved by the Board of the bank, of which 80 million are due to be disbursed this year.

Dr Floribert Ngaruko appealed to the Government to improve its CPIA ratings, stating that the IDA21 allocation will depend on the progress of the implementation of the current portfolio.

He commended the Financial Secretary Sahr Lahai Jusu for his role in replenishing IDA20 and emphasized the need to accelerate the already approved disbursement as soon as possible rather than asking for additional funds.

Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, said the Government is working on a consolidating and strategic country intervention with the World Bank. He noted that Human Capital Development is the flagship programme of Government, which encompasses every aspect, including Agriculture, Education, Tourism etc.

He further stated that the Government is deepening the intervention in agriculture without depriving any areas of development, adding that with agriculture, the Government can integrate and consolidate the existing projects.

Minister Bangura assured the ED of improvement on the portfolio and reiterated the Government’s commitment to delivering in areas of Human Capital Development. He thanked the World Bank for their support and all other additional resources.

The different Ministers presented brief updates on their respective projects.

The Financial Secretary, Sahr Lahai Jusu, who doubles as the Chairman of the Programme gave the general outlook of the economy, outlined and identified Agriculture as an area of intervention for other development.

1st National Working Group Meeting Held to form ECOWAS Rice Observatory

To enable the food self-sufficiency drive in the country, the GIZ-Move project and the Sierra Leone Regional Rice Value Chain Project (SLRRVCP) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have initiated the meeting of the 1st national working group for the formation of the National Chapter of ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) during commencement of a two-day event at Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown on Tuesday 21st February, 2023.

The ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) is a multi-stakeholder platform, of private and public organizations mandated to catalyze the development of  a West Africa rice sector. It was conceptualized and established in 2021 by the ECOWAS Commission and partners for value chain actors to systematically work together in the ECOWAS Member States.

Giving his Keynote address at the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sahr Hemore, reiterated that the rice sector development is part of the national agricultural transformation programme of the Ministry and the ECOWAS Rice Observatory national chapter would add value to the development of the rice sector and enhance the food self-sufficiency initiative in the country and the sub-region.

“Many experts who are talking on the subject of establishing a national chapter of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) will present the reasons for such coordination. As a Government, we have decided to put funds into this event because we believe in it. I hope, my presence here this morning will inspire all of you present in this room and beyond, to take this workshop very seriously and give it your best,” Minister Hemore noted.

The ECOWAS Rice Observatory national chapter, he said, would help create synergies for the different rice value-chain actors that have been working independently, to collaborate effectively to map out strategies on how to improve on the food self-sufficiency drive in the country.

The Country Director  of GIZ Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, Christian Widmann,  espoused that the launching offers the opportunity to the country to share experiences, develop a common vision, and forge ahead to build a national chapter of ERO for Sierra Leone for the participation of all stakeholders in the rice sector to align a common stakeholder interest.

“If all stakeholders in the country work together to stem import and drive a robust domestic production and processing of rice, it will be of great benefit for Sierra Leone and its people,” he added.

Widmann pointed out that, MOVE is supporting the establishment of a national chapter of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) that will offer voice and space to drive competitiveness and ensure sustainability in the rice sector in the West Africa sub region.

Explaining about the essence of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory through zoom, the Secretary General of ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) at the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Boladale Adebowale ,reiterated that there is an improvement in the sector and increased productivity, however, there is shortfall with domestic production capacity meeting only 62% on the region’s need though there are several efforts by regional bodies and national Governments to develop the sector.

She explained that the main objective of national chapters of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) is to help key actors in the West African rice sector to coordinate policy, value chain development, financing and map out strategies for enhanced growth together. It has a bottom-up structure, where the action taken at a regional level is based on the strategic priorities identified by the national-level stakeholders.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,Andrew Sorie, who doubles as the Chairman of the opening ceremony said that  rice is an international food not just as an economic and political commodity and by establishing the national chapter of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory in the country would increase on the coordination within the rice sector and saying such sits with the Ministry of Agriculture since it would be serving as an advisory body to guide  the development of the rice sector in the country.

Welcoming the rice value-chain actors, the Project Coordinator of the Regional Rice Value Chain in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Abdulai Bun Wai, noted that, the meeting was  significant in enhancing the sustainable development of the country’s rice sector maintaining how the ECOWAS Rice Observatory national chapter would help to support the development of the agricultural national rice development strategy.

He said the country’s consumption pattern must be considered: “We eat three bags per person per year, and the population is growing and unfortunately we only produce 40% of the national requirement of the 1.5 metric tons the country needs for the year .The expensive importation of rice in a small country like ours; given the challenging economy, spending over 200 million annually on the importation of rice is huge and those funds can be used on other social services like road, education and health and so on.”

The various value-chain actors made salient contributions on the way forward in the formation of the national working group in establishing the ECOWAS Rice Observatory in the country.

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