By Esther Wright
At State House on the 17 December 2020 the new Executive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone paid a courtesy call on President Julius Maada Bio with the main purpose of introducing the new members.
Bishop Akimtayo Sam-Jolly, who is the President of the Fellowship, said they were very impressed with development generally in the country since President Bio assumed office in 2018, adding that they were the largest Christian constituency in the country that had and would continue to work with any Government for the good of the country.
The clergy emphasized that the role of the Christian leaders in the fight against COVID-19 was one that had contributed immensely to the many gains the country is making in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus.
“Your Excellency sir, we are aware of our roles as spiritual leaders in nation-building. We are involved in building schools, health facilities. We are also playing a pivotal role in many issues that strengthen development in the country,” he stated.
In his remarks, President Bio congratulated the new Executive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone and thanked them for holding on to the fort in ensuring their people are always a part of the road leading to good governance. He thanked them for their selfless and sacrificial roles in the fight against COVID-19 and for being a part of every step of development in the country.
“Governance is not excluded from religion. Religious leaders too can play a unique role in strengthening our democracy. I, therefore, encourage every one of you to work together, because strong collaboration leads to nation-building,” he concluded.
On the 18th December 2020, at the Sierra Fisheries Company at Kissy Dockyard, President Julius Maada Bio commissioned the first fish processing plant saying it will provide an established in-shore facility to add value to the huge marine resource potential in the country.
“We assert in our New Direction manifesto and in the Medium Term National Development Plan that fisheries as a sub-sector contributes 12 percent of GDP, employs over 500,000 people, and is the staple of economic activity right along the coastline and in the interior of Sierra Leone. In line with our bid to achieve food security, fish remains the primary source of primary protein for most Sierra Leoneans. Besides, we have emphasized, as a Government, that there is great potential to increase earnings from the sector,” he said.
The President said he had been informed that the facility would sort, blast freeze, and package fish for the local market and for export purposes, adding that he was also assured that all environmental, health and safety assessments had been conducted and certified.
“I am also informed that there will be a rigorous monitoring regime in place for the type of fish, and the quality and safety of the packaged whole fish for market. But to my mind, we can also go beyond just scooping fish from the ocean, carrying and sorting, and freezing and packaging just whole fish. There is a possibility of a whole value-addition economy that will add more value to our fish products and create even more jobs. This will also reduce fish waste and catch loss,” he concluded.
Managing Director of the Sierra Fishing Company, Bassim Mohamed, thanked the President for providing leadership and ensuring the plant project resumes, saying that the project started in 2009 but couldn’t be completed because of what he described as bad leadership.
Bassim further stated that the project was funded by the European Union, and that it was estimated at $15 million, saying the resumption and completion of the project would create 1,000 jobs for skilled and unskilled citizens of the country, thereby reducing poverty and unemployment.
“I want to thank President Julius Maada Bio for his continued engagement with the European Union and other international partners for the resumption and completion of this project,” he noted.
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Honourable Emma Kowa-Jalloh, said it was a pleasure to witness the commissioning of the plant, which she hoped would lead to wealth creation and economic diversification.
“The industry and artisanal fishermen unions will now have an opportunity to work together for the mutual benefit of the two associations and for better prices for their products,” she said, adding that finally Sierra Leone would be among countries listed for export to the international markets and consumers would be assured of the safety of the products.
