MDAs Requested Budgetary Allocations Must Be Reflective of Solid Development Interventions

October 14, 2022

By Brima Sannoh

It is usually stated that the lifeblood of any viable organization is finance. By extension for any functioning Government to be at a vantage position to positively transform the socio-economic landscape of any country the funds to implement development plans should either be readily available or could be mobilized/generated as well as judiciously and prudently utilized for prioritized purposes that will yield fruitful dividends.

In our situation, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have most times complained that they have not been able to accomplish outlined tasks simply because of inadequate and untimely release of funds by the Ministry of Finance to successfully implement those set programs as encapsulated in the Government’s development agenda.

This cry has been going on now for quite a considerable period of time but it is understandable that in real life situations there can never be enough within the context of limited resources amidst unlimited as well as numerous demands competing for those funds.

Faced with such a position, it is only incumbent on the MDAs to be very methodical in how they utilize funds which must be properly accounted for at the end of the day. There could be no gainsaying to assert that certain MDAs have used limited or untimely release of resources as a cover up or an excuse to make up for inadequacies, incompetence or lack of commitment in ensuring that things are done appropriately to fulfill benchmarks and give back value for the taxpayers money.

Without embellishing the truth, there have been instances where some of these MDAs have fallen far below expectations when in actual fact they should have done far much better within a particular fiscal year.

What, however, we cannot deny at this stage is the fact that within the public sector there is still this big problem of getting public officials to properly account for funds allocated to them failing to do so either through negligence or deliberately in a bid not to leave trails behind.

Reports from the Auditor General’s Office have revealed this abnormally as one of the issues that must be well addressed if we are to rapidly make more socio-economic inroads.

As a matter of following best practice the Ministry of Finance prior to the commencement of any new fiscal year facilitates budget hearings where officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies are expected to make presentations of activities they would like to undertake or continue in the incoming year costing them accordingly.

Already this event has taken place. It was a process coordinated by the Finance Ministry during which Government officials submitted their budgetary plans justifying why in the first place they are requesting the funds and specifying how those funds will be utilized etc. In as much as public officials in MDAs, who are responsible to roll out those plans were given the requisite training how such budgetary plans should be prepared, most came up with performance-based plans instead of grandiose project proposals which are not in the least feasible to be accomplished or will end up becoming white elephants.

At this stage it is expected that Parliament should be in a better stead to also properly peruse those budgetary plans and ensure that they are realistically feasible to fit within our economic agenda with the avowed potentials of reducing poverty.

Parliamentarians must be ready to question public officials why is it that they were not able to carry out targeted tasks during the past fiscal year and why certain funds utilized were not tangibly reflective on the ground in terms of previous activities mapped out. Convincing explanations must be sought from those concerned.

Recognizing the fact that MDAs form a significant cog in the engine of socio-economic transformation, it is important that the Government puts premium on resource mobilization to avail them (MDAs) the required stipulated and Parliamentary approved budgetary allocations needed for them to perform effectively and efficiently.

In the direction of resource mobilization, indeed the National Revenue Authority (NRA) has been doing tremendously well even in these difficult periods of economic contraction. However, there is still room for much improvement. Other income-generating entities must be closely monitored to ensure that they perform better. Both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) should change to high gear to make sure that leakages of public funds are seriously dealt with to get value for money.

The ACC must robustly continue their systems and review exercises and the NPPA trainings in best practices in terms of adhering to good procurement procedures.

If these are properly cascaded then it is highly likely that not only corruption will be drastically minimized but leakages will also be tackled in the good interest of national development.

I enjoin all who take part in the budget hearings to be as realistic as possible, look at our current economic situation so that earmarked or proposed activity plans and interventions will succeed in making positive turnarounds in our development aspirations.

Ministry of Youth & IDHA Award Stimulus Grant to 140 Youths

October 14, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their efforts towards supporting the economic recovery of Youth and Women Led Businesses Affected by Covid-19 in the country, the Ministry of Youth Affairs with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Institute of Development and Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA), as implementing partner, has on Thursday 6^th October, 2022 awarded stimulus grant package of Two Thousand Five Hundred New Leones (Le2,500) to 140 youth-led businesses within the Western District Urban during a ceremony that was held at the Sierra Bay Hotel on Aberdeen in Freetown.

Executive Director of the Institute of Development And Humanitarian Assistance , Simon, expressed gratitude to the Government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for the initiative adding that the project is meant to support youth and women led businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He maintained that the award of the stimulus grant package to these 140 youth-led businesses is not the first time, stating that last year they supported up to 258 grand beneficiaries who benefited through the UNDP and the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

The Executive Director revealed that the project had a set criteria which includes that beneficiaries should be Sierra Leoneans, residing in the Western Urban and they should own businesses. He pointed out that applications were sent out and after receiving applications they instituted a panel which consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Anti-Corruption Commission, Civil Society Organization etc. who interviewed the applicants.

On her part, the Team Leader of the Sustainable and Local Economic Development Cluster at the UNDP, Tanzila Watta Sankoh, stated that according to the United Nations, in 2019 the global youth population of 15 to 24 years was 1.2 billion, representing 16 percent of the total population.

She said the population was projected to increase to 1.4 billion by 2065 and that, in Sierra Leone the youth age, between 15 to 35 years constitute 39.4 percent of the country’s population.

Tanzila Watta Sankoh stated that in that vein, UNDP through its rapid financing provided funding to support the recovery of youth-led businesses affected by COVID-19, continuing that the said intervention contributes to the implementation of the Government’s response plan and quick action economic recovery programme.

She maintained that UNDP engaged with the Institute of Development And Humanitarian Assistance as a responsible party while working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs to implement the intervention.

She said it’s in that vein that the UNDP was part of the journey of empowering the young people of Sierra Leone, adding that it was clear tha, they have no option but rather to collaborate and urgently support the youth development agenda by harnessing the demographic dividend which is critical for economic growth.

Tanzila Watta Sankoh said COVID-19 affected everyone in all aspects since the virus struck over two years ago and that the world has witnessed severe shocks due to the pandemic

She continued that according to the International Growth Center, in June 2020, 68 percent of business owners in Sierra Leone mainly in urban areas reported a drop in weekly income immediately after the pandemic struck in March 2020, and that the effects have been felt through to date with business operations disrupted, with the youth and women businesses, especially those in the informal sector, hit hardest.

Tanzila Watta Sankoh encouraged and urged the youth to use the grants for the intended objectives as they are there to support youth and move with them in their economic recovery journey.

She commended the Ministry for its leadership in supporting the young people of Sierra Leone.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, expressed appreciation to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the support given to his Ministry over the years, stating that the disbursement of cash to affected youth led businesses in the country will help to improve their businesses, skills and ethics.

He said before the money was disbursed to the youths they went through series of interviews with their partners including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), adding that, as Minister, he was pleased with the selection of the 140 beneficiaries for the grant.

The Minister said the support to the youths is part of Government’s efforts towards supporting the economic recovery of Youth and Women Led Businesses Affected by COVID-19 in the country.

He urged the 140 beneficiaries to make good use of the money given to them for the right purpose as opportunity comes but once, adding that it is only when they make good use of it that they will stand a chance of getting more funds in order to improve their businesses.

He used the opportunity to inform the gathering that at the ongoing budget hearing his Ministry has asked for Eighty Billion Leones in order to support the activities of the Ministry that are geared towards the empowerment of youths across the country.

He said: “I am very proud to announce that through this project the Ministry is providing grant to twenty-five young men, one hundred and fifteen women, and eight young people with disabilities which brings it to a total of 140 beneficiaries.”

One of the beneficiaries, Bilkish Bangura, expressed her warmest gratitude to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Institute of Development And Humanitarian Assistance IDHA for providing the stimulus grant package to them. She assured all that the money will be used for the right purpose.

CILPA Ends Two Days Independent Expert Workshop

October 14, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Center for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA), has on Saturday 8^th October, 2022 ended a two days Independent Expert Workshop on “Bringing the African Perspective to the IC Reform Discussion.” The Two days Independent Expert Workshop was held at Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel on Lumley Beach Road in Freetown.

Speaking to this medium, the Founder of Center for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA) and Florida International University, Prof. Charles C. Jalloh said that the International Criminal Court (IC) has faced mounting criticism over the past few years as it struggles to fulfill its ambitious mandate as enshrined in the Rome Statute.

He added that poor quality investigations and prosecutions, controversial judicial decisions, institutional infighting and a seeming lack of accountability for poor performance appear to have compounded mounting internal and external problems, including low budgets, limited State cooperation and political backlash from powerful States.

“In response and based on a proposal of the ICC principals in a May 2019 letter, the Bureau of the ICC Assembly of State Parties (ASP) adopted a resolution on 6 December 2019 in which the States Parties recognized the multifaceted challenges currently facing the ICC and established an Independent Expert Review (IER) process,” he maintained.

Prof. Charles C. Jalloh pointed out that the seeming failure to account for the African State views on how to improve the ICC system may constitute a significant missing piece in the ongoing reform discussions. CILPA, with the support of the Open Society Foundations’ Africa Regional Office, has taken this opportunity to launch the African and the International Criminal Court Project to interrogate the relevant issues.

He stated that CILPA has commissioned three independent consultants to conduct research into the experience of African States with the aim of identifying key concerns about the distinct phases of the ICC reform process and propose strategic recommendations to feed into the ongoing IC reform discourse, furthering that the research and analysis carried out by the consultants will form the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the success and limitations encountered by the IC in its ongoing reform process.
The Founder said bringing together the consultants and invited legal experts, predominantly based in Africa, the Workshop serves as a working session with detailed examination of specific themes and provisions identified by the consultants.

He underscored that over the course of the workshop, the experts provided feedback and input to the consultants’ papers and provided an opportunity for participants to express views on how the reforms could be carried out to ensure more transparency and inclusivity of African concerns.

Professor Jalloh revealed that the Workshop thus provided an opportunity for all expert participants to reassess and as necessary help provide ideas for revision and finalization of the draft papers and that these contributions will enable the consultants to make the relevant adjustments to their respective papers before their various reform recommendations are published by CILPA.

Following the statement was a presentation on examining the domestic legal framework in the African States that today form part of the Situational Docket of the ICC, the Role of African States in supporting ICC Investigations, and on the Issue of Corporation and Complementary under the Rome Statute etc.

The workshop also included discussions on the African State Proposals for Improvement to the ICC.

GTBank Announces 20 Winners of “Kip Fo D Bambia” Promotion

October 14, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During an electronic raffle draw held on Friday 7^th October, 2022 at GTBank Headquarters on Wilberforce Street in Freetown, Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Limited (GTB-SL ) announced its first set of 20 winners of their “Kip Fo D Bambai” Promotion for August and September 2022. The aforementioned promotion was launched in August 2022 as part of the bank’s strides to put smiles on the faces of their valid customers in the country.

Giving an update on the ‘Kip Fo D Bambai’ promo, Head of SME Banking, Kelwina Martyn explained that the promotion was launched in August 2022 and it was intended to last for a three-month period starting from August to October of this year.

She said the promotion has three (3) different qualifying categories which are the Silver, Gold and Platinum. For the Silver, a fresh deposit of account balance must be Three Thousand Leones (Le3000) which is Three Million Leones (Le3, 000,000) in the Old Leones, the sum of Five Thousand Leones (Le5000) which is Five Million Leones (Le5, 000,000) in the Old Leones for the Gold and Ten Thousand Leones (Le10, 000) which is Ten Million Leones (Le10, 000,000) in the Old Leones for the Platinum.

Kelwina Martyn added that during the period of the promotion, customers who qualified in the various categories stood the chance of winning attractive prizes which they have announced.

Whiling unveiling the winners, the Head of Corporate Affairs at Guaranty Trust Bank, Arthur B. Kallon disclosed that during the promotion customers had the opportunity to win air conditioners, microwaves, blender, electric iron, rice cookers in the silver category; Smartphones, gas cooker or refrigerator in the gold category and musical set, deep freezer and smartphone in the platinum category.

Arthur B. Kallon maintained that the bank is proud to announce its first set of 20 winners of the promotion.

He concluded by stating that the promotion will end this October 2022 of which he called on all customers as well as those who are not banking with the bank to take advantage of the opportunity by joining the bank and meet the threshold for qualification.

One of the winners, Mark Dassama, who won a Microwave in the silver category expressed appreciation to the Management of Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Limited (GTB-SL) for putting smiles on their faces as customers of the bank through the “Kip Fo D Bambai” Promotion.

He said that he is happy to be one of the lucky winners of the promotion and that with such a promotion it will contribute immensely towards the development of the bank.

Mark Dassama called on all to make deposits in their accounts in order to qualify for the promotion which will make them become the next lucky winners.

EU Trains Police Personnel on Disinformation & Human Rights Best Practices

October 14, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

According to the European Union Delegation to Sierra Leone, in its 11^th October, 2022 Press Release, a training mission from the Police and Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, with support of the European Commission’s Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) instrument, has arrived in Sierra Leone and will share with the Sierra Leonean Police, European best practices on responding to disinformation with a full Human Rights and Freedom of Speech approach.

The EU Delegation revealed that the three days training workshop, which commenced on the 12^th and to end on the 14th October, 2022 is taking place at the Sierra Leone Police Emergency Call Center at Kingtom in Freetown.

It was learnt that the aim of the training is geared towards raising awareness of European best practices on recognizing, monitoring, analyzing and responding to disinformation with a full Human Rights perspective, in particular by guaranteeing Freedom of Speech.

The training workshop, it was also understood, will support law enforcement officers in Sierra Leone in developing pro-active strategic communication.

Worthy of note is that the mission was organized in cooperation with the West African Response on Cybersecurity and Fight against Cybercrime (OCWAR-C) project, financed by the European Union and implemented under a Financing Agreement between the EU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

LAPO’s MD, Gabriel Eshiague, Wins African Achievers Award in UK

October 14, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

One of the most trustworthy, credible, sustainable and long operating micro-finance entities operating within the Sierra Leonean landscape, Lift Above Poverty Organization, popularly known by its acronym, LAPO, is once more in the spotlight for excellence.

On the 20^th September, 2022 the elated, charismatic and result-oriented Managing Director of LAPO Microfinance, Gabriel Eshiague, was the proud recipient of a prestigious award during the 12th Edition of the African Achievers Awards ceremony, held in the UK, for his outstanding performance in the microfinance sector.

Placed under the category of: “Excellence in Financial Leadership”, Eshiague was honoured as one of the reputable Managing Directors in Africa who have contributed immensely in transforming the Microfinance sector in Africa.

Under his leadership, LAPO has emerged as one of the best microfinance institutions in Sierra Leone with over 20 years experience in the financial sector.

Holding that position since 2014 the Managing Director

was recognized as a man of honour, integrity and respect possessing leadership skills and abilities that make him stand out among many others in his profession.

Based on the numerous recognition and honour that have been bestowed on him in the past few years one has no doubt that Gabriel Eshiague is someone with the ability to deliver tangible results.

Heading an entity that is adding value to the national economy and improving the lives of thousands of poor men and especially poor women in Sierra Leone, Gabriel heads a team of over 325 vibrant men and women at various LAPO locations across the country.

In addition to leading LAPO SL to win multiple awards over the past years and despite tough economic conditions, Gabriel was recognized by Sierra Ovation as the Best Chief Executive Officer of the year 2019/20.

A soft-spoken, yet tough leader, Gabriel is the quiet type but whenever he speaks others listen which truly demonstrates his character traits and leadership qualities and abilities.

For those who know him well, he is a “go-getter” who doesn’t take “No” for an answer. He is well respected among his inner circle, by stakeholders and clients wherever he goes.

In addition to being a senior business Executive and a leader, Gabriel is also a father, mentor, a learner and a devoted Christian.

His staffs refer to him as a true leader, a caring and responsible personality, while the senior executive members of his team look up to him for inspiration as a corporate diplomat and a coach many people could rely on for results.

ECSL Moves to the Next Phase of Data Consolidation into a Single Unit

October 14, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has stated in a Press Statement dated 11^th October, 2022, that it has completed the voter registration field data capture exercise successfully on the 8^thOctober 2022 maintaining that it is extending appreciation to the public for participating in the process in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The Commission also stated that it is conveying special thanks and appreciation to the entire staff, permanent and ad hoc, who in diverse ways contributed to the national exercise.

The ECSL furthered that it continues to appreciate the Government of Sierra Leone for the timely disbursement of funds; the political parties for their cooperation, National Civil Registration Authority for their collaboration, Political Parties Registration Commission, and the Security Sector for their respective supports to the ECSL.

According to the electoral management institution, following the completion of the field data capture, the public is reminded about the following next steps before the Commission would release the Final Voters Register (FVR) certified for the June 2023 elections.

Based on what the ECSL stated next will be Data consolidation into a single unit, De duplication, which is the stage where duplicate registrants’ data are eliminated, Publication of the Provisional Voters Register (PVR) to the public, Exhibition Exercise of the Provisional Voters Register to allow registrants who took part in the registration exercise to confirm their details and/or correct errors.

The Commission stated that it will use the exhibition exercise to conduct Inquiries and appropriately address all Rejections, Objections and Appeals.

What would come next is to update the Provisional Voters Register and release the Final Voter Register.

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is assuring that it is committed to the timeline for completing the voter registration process and publishing the Final Voters Register (FVR) as well as committed to its legal mandates and guiding principles and therefore appealed to the public to be patient and trust the process.

Caritas-SL takes Gender Empowerment to 500 Girls in Newton

October 14, 2022

By Millicent Sinava Mannah

As Sierra Leone joined the rest of the world on the 11^th October, 2022 to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child, one of the most active and supportive Non-Governmental Organizations operating in the country, Caritas-Sierra Leone, on that day, rolled out an awareness raising event through which it empowered over 500 girls on issues bordering on gender-based violence, early marriage, sexual penetration among others on the theme: “Our Time is Now-Our Rights, Our Future’’.

The event took place at the St. Francis School Compound in Newton within the Western Area Rural District.

Speaking during the program, the Program Manager of the Caritas-Justice and Peace Commission, Madam Eliza EOG Sillah, stated that the program was organized is to celebrate girls and the International Day of the Girl Child focusing on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote their empowerment and fulfillment of their rights.

She furthered that the program was organized in order to engage stakeholders, parents, boys and girls on the importance of keeping the girls safe in Newton Community.

She called on parents to protect girls and keep girls in school. ‘’Our girls should not be forced into early marriages,’’ she said.

She encouraged the girls to befriend their books and study hard in order to pass their exams adding that education is the key to success.

In an interview with a civil society activist, Idris Mansaray, he expressed thanks and appreciation to Caritas for engaging stakeholders and girls on the importance of protecting girls within the Newton Community.

He explained that 10 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11as the International Day of the Girl Child to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls around the world face.

He added that the purpose of the program is to empower the girls through awareness-raising and to amplify their voices to talk about the challenges they face in society.

He cautioned the girls to resist early marriage and to develop the willingness to report early marriage or sexual penetration matters to the police.

“Our girls are golden treasures and they must be protected at all times,’’ he said.

The Line Manager of the Family Support Unit at Newton, Madam Amine M. Kpange expressed the view that some parents cannot take proper care of their children and as a result sometime girls go on the streets to fend for themselves.

She advised parents to protect their girls from sexual predators in society adding that sexual penetration has become the order of the day and that many young girls have suffered in the hands of wicked men, noting that police have charged many sexual penetration matters to court.

The Line Manager admonished the boys not to engage in any sexual activities as the law will take its course.

She reiterated that poverty and illiteracy are some of the causes of early marriage and sexual penetration in many communities noting that there is need for public education about the dangers of early marriage and sexual penetration.

Madam Amine M. Kpange called on community stakeholders to protect and report any early marriage or sexual penetration matter to the police.

The Community Health Officer of Monsignor Daniel Sallion Health Clinic Newton, Madam Manjia Taylor advised girls of the existence of sexually transmitted diseases adding that one can prevent early pregnancy but cannot prevent STI or HIV/AIDS.

“Sex is not for teenagers but for adults,” she admonished.

She called on authorities to encourage their girl child to take treatment for cancer underscoring that cervical cancer is the cancer of the uterus which extends slightly into the top of the Virginia and that it is deadly and difficult to treat.

Madam Manjia Taylor also advised girls to report any health issue to the hospital especially sexually transmitted diseases.

She called on teachers to introduce sex education in the classroom adding that sex education will help girls to know about their body parts, their functions and that parents should be role models for the girls

A student of St Francis Senior Secondary School, Mary Bangura, stated that male teachers should treat girls like their children in order to keep them in school.

She called on her male counterparts to protect the girl child adding that boys should help girls but not to impregnate them going forward to caution parents not to force their children into forced labour but to keep them in school.

Mary cautioned her colleagues not to seduce their male counterparts noting that girls should dress responsibly.

She concluded that girls should to be protected, but it is also their responsibility to report any matter of early marriage or sexual penetration to the Police.

Orange-SL Observes Ethics & Compliance Day

October 14, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

The oldest serving telecommunications service provider in Sierra Leone, Orange-SL, held its 10th Ethics and Compliance Day on Tuesday 11th October 2022, at its Headquarters at IMATT in the West End of Freetown by organizing an interdepartmental debate competition.

It must be noted that the Ethics and Compliance Day is a way through which the company demonstrates its commitment towards compliance with ethical principles that are important to the company’s business and identity.

10 departments were divided into two groups to form two debating teams.

The topic of the interdepartmental debate competition was: “Is it Possible to Do Business in Sierra Leone without Bribery?” and it was to be done in a way whereby the competitors should shed light on the important issues that surround the rise and fall of business in Sierra Leone.

In attendance were the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Solomon Jamiru Esq, the Chief Executive Officer of Innovation Sierra Leone, Francis George, the Deputy Director of Strategy at the Anti-Corruption Commission, Edita Fofanah and the President of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmad Sahid Nasralla.

The ‘Team in support of the motion’ won the debate with a total of 438 points and they took home the sum of NLE 3.500 and ‘the team against the motion’ scored 429 points and took home the sum of NLE 1.500.

The best speaker prize was shared between Morenikeh Taylor of ‘The team in support of the motion’ and Kenneth Kamara of ‘The team against the motion’.

In her welcome statement, Madam Haffie Haffner disclosed that this is the 10th Edition of the Ethics and Compliance Day celebration organized by Orange Mobile Company. She furthered that Orange-SL group set aside the day to celebrate and take stock of the framework of the institution and to promote ethics and willingness to discourage corruption at all levels.

She went on to state that they collaborated with the Human Resource Department to organize the interdepartmental debate competition, to make it a little bit different from previous ethics and compliance celebrations, as well as to enhance ethics and compliance in customer relations.

Madam Haffie Haffner affirmed that Orange-SL puts prominence and importance on the fight against corruption with strict bye laws that govern the institution, adding that they have a stringent team that ensures customer relations is free of corruption.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Solomon Jamiru, in his brief statement, thanked Orange-SL for giving him the opportunity to perform a very important and tedious task.

He emphasized that it’s a topic that everyone should feel connected to as all had a share of the experience.

He concluded that such a discussion is beneficial to all and should be the basis for all institutions going forward, as compliance lies within all of us and it’s up to us to do our best.

The event climaxed with the sharing of certificates to all the participants that took part in the debate as well as the taking of pictures and positive interactions.

NP-SL Epitomizes Hard Work & Workable Entrepreneurial Skills

October 14, 2022

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

By Amin Kef-Ranger

NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is a very dependable petroleum marketing entity that assiduously continues to ascend the slippery ladder within the economic landscape of this country.

The meteoric rise of NP should not come as any big surprise to anyone as it epitomizes the crystallization of determination, hard work and sheer entrepreneurial skills on the part of Sierra Leoneans who formed the company and the capable managerial teams that have been steering the affairs of a 100% indigenously owned outfit.

Its continuous ascendancy is indeed a clear manifestation of dogged commitment by all those who are associated with it to succeed.

If there is one outstanding feature which makes the company stands unique and apart then that could be its innate passion to give maximum care and attention to its numerous customers. The company’s shareholders and Management do not joke with Customer Care as it is highly prioritized in all the company’s transactions.

This could sound very simplistic when looked at from the face value but for NP, its thorough and cautious implementation is very close to their heart and indeed such is paying fruitful dividends.

Of course it really makes sense that availing customers with qualitative petroleum products, dealing with them respectfully , negotiating win-win deals will all contribute in retaining customers as well as wooing new ones.

With all amount of certainty it could be safely concluded that NP has mastered those business techniques, deepening them and they are working well, accomplishments, which many have attested to.

It has been established by development specialists that proper implementation of the Local Content Policy is indeed a very important cog that should be in the wheel of the engine to thrust growth.

One business entity that is strictly adhering to enhance the Local Content Policy in this country is NP-SL Ltd. The Shareholders and Management of the company have made it a matter of policy to get in its employ indigenes and even in cases where expatriates are engaged, local members of staff are given the opportunity to understudy them so that at the end of the day they will imbibe the necessary skills to take over.

This is very advantageous in the sense that it helps in providing jobs and to develop a crop of competent individuals which the country needs in its development interventions.

Cooking is an inevitable aspect of human life, whether for domestic and commercial purposes. Man depends on food for survival, individuals invest in food businesses and the like.

Very mindful of the hazardous effects of depleting the environment, using traditional means of cooking, with specific reference to making use of wood, charcoal, the company deemed it prudent to introduce NP-Gas which is very fast to ignite, quick to perform, safe and highly convenient.

NP Gas, which is in different sizable cylinders could be accessed and bought at the company’s filling stations and from authorized dealers.

The company has high profiled customers with tight schedules who may have limited time to always wait in queues in order to purchase petroleum products.

Besides, some people are not used to have huge cash in their possession but prefer using smart cards. For these reasons the company went the extra mile to introduce NP Smart Card which customers, those who can afford it, could use to purchase petroleum products.

From what was so far gathered all the customers who are using NP Smart Card are well satisfied doing so saying it is very convenient further praising NP for rolling out that initiative.

The viability of NP could be measured by its expansionist achievements both within the country and in the West African sub-region as is evident with the opening of branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

For a hundred percent indigenously owned company to go to such a level of spreading its tentacles is actually commendable and worthy of praise. As far as we know the branches in all those countries are doing extremely well amidst inevitable challenges which must be surmounted.

One thing which cannot be challenged is the fact that NP is greatly contributing to revenue accumulation when we think of its timely payment of taxes which Governments are using to fund various development projects.

Regardless, of all the teething challenges that stand in the way of the petroleum importing and marketing company, one of which is the depreciation of the Leone to the Dollar, as the company purchases petroleum products in dollars, yet still the company is navigating its way through the murky economic maze which is globally felt.

Without mincing the truth, NP’s ascendancy is really breath-taking and highly impressive.