The recent social media post from Hon. Sheka Sama of Constituency 104, Pujehun District, which comprises of Sowa and Sahn-Malen Chiefdom complaining of intimidation and threats from the security apparatus in Pujehun District, is a bit thoughtless from the legislator.
According to the lawmaker, he was informed that a group of armed soldiers in a Socfin vehicle went to his family home in Bomuvulahun Malen and threatened family members. “They went there three times and promised to return to beat them; some of my family members ran away from the armed men.” The above statement from the Member of Parliament is sending a negative feedback to the outside world especially investors.
The Government should come out strong and try to educate Mr. Sama that his social media messages will continue to put Sierra Leone in a bad light to potential investors.
In his social media post, the legislator insinuated that his life is in threat and all official security reports are manipulated and tailored against him and his supporters. “We don’t have to wait until an attempt is made on my life to appreciate the urgency and seriousness the situation demands, the soldiers are harassing our people and are potential threats to my life, my family and other supporters.
The continuous lip service by the Government in seeing Mr. Sama portraying the country’s image is uncalled for. Sierra Leone is one of the most peaceful countries in the world, but the cheap politics and currying favour by the legislator is something the Government should take prompt decision to halt.
Sahn-Malen Chiefdom is one of the peaceful chiefdoms in Pujehun District. It is no secret that certain residents in the chiefdom are in the habit of stealing and harvesting the fruits of Socfin Agricultural Company, but with the robust security patrol by Sharp Security and the military it is now possible to continue to recover loads of fruits in the backyards of close associates of Hon. Sheka Sama.
The resilient patrols from the military and Sharp Security have lessened the plethora of fruits theft within the chiefdom, and some of the villagers are fuming against this with the help of the Member of Parliament.
The trumpeted issues by Hon. Sheka Sama had nothing to do with Bumvaluhun village. The Socfin vehicle drove through his village on return from Manaro which the District Officer visited.
The reading public should know that one of the major challenges the company is faced with is fruits theft, which continue to hinder the company financially.
If only Hon. Sheka Sama is a true patriot and also working in line with the New Direction Government he should be giving a lending hand to the agricultural company by helping sensitize his subjects on the danger of fruits theft.
Hon. Sheka Sama should know that the establishment of Socfin Agricultural Company in Sierra Leone has given much hope to the Government of Sierra Leone that the country’s economy can be diversified from depending on the mining sector to that of agriculture through foreign direct investment.
Before now, little has been said about the potential of the agricultural sector in revenue mobilization for the country as export rate was low. But the involvement of foreign direct investors like Socfin Agricultural Company (SAC) has helped the government to realize huge revenue from the sector through export duties.
The impact of Socfin on the economy was recently captured by the Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa’s 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Financial policies for the Financial Year 2019 in the Well of Sierra Leone Parliament on paragraph 19 which states, “…the performance of the external sector improved during the first half of 2018. Total value of exports for the period January to June 2018 is estimated at $518.8 million. The sharp increase in exports is accounted for primarily by the export of palm oil by SOCFIN Agricultural Company…”
The Corporate Social Responsibilities of the Socfin Agricultural Company is second to none; the Member of Parliament should proffer solution to the company on behalf of his constituents.
The Member of Parliament should know that Socfin was never a fly-by-night company that was established through the back-door, but a legitimate one that went through the nitty-gritty of the laws of Sierra Leone. Any attack on Socfin is a direct attack on the Government and by extension; this could have the tendency to undermine the clarion call for investors.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE COMPANY’S CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTIES
Going beyond corporate social responsibility, Socfin continues to invest significant amount of United States Dollars in the following sectors.
Agriculture: In order to support the people of Sahn Malen in agriculture, Socfin has been directly involved in the yearly cultivation of 600 acres of boli-land with floating rice varieties for people within the company’s operation, yearly distribution of 800 bushels of seed rice for inland valley swamp cultivation, distribution of 351 bushels of groundnut seeds to 16 groups of women in Malen Chiefdom.
The construction of four fish ponds, one in Kpangba, one in Gboyama, one in Jumbu and one in Senehun, the supply of 135 bundles of fishing nets with their accessories to four fishing communities; Gangama, Hongai, Massao and Kortumahun in Malen Chiefdom are all part of Socfin’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
Health Sector: Providing medical facility in some parts of the country remains a challenge for the Government. People used to walk far distances from the district to major towns for medical services. Seeing this as a challenge, Socfin Agricultural Company has invested lots of money in the rehabilitation and supply of furniture to Niahun Clinic. The reconstruction and electrification of Sengema Health Quarters, Electrification of Sengema, Taninahun and Bendu Clinics has been done single-handedly by Socfin.
Supply of hospital beds to Niahun, Sengema, Taninahun and Bendu clinics and supply of furniture to Sengema Clinic has also been done by Socfin.
The availability of ambulance services for Malen community with all expenses paid for by the company. The construction of one facility at Sahn Bemoc Centre and the provision of 24 hours electricity and water supply to Sahn Bemoc.
Education: The 30-35 literacy rate of Sierra Leone is far below other countries in the sub-region. This is because majority of children in Sierra Leone cannot get access to schools within their localities. Changing such a narration requires not only the intervention of Government, but also the private sector. Even before the Proclamation of the Free Quality Education by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio last year, Socfin has invested enough money in education in the chiefdom, such as the construction of the new Bendu and Mallay primary schools. Kortumahun Primary School, Sinjo Primary School, the rehabilitation of Malen Junior Secondary School and Kassay Primary School, Besides the construction of these schools, the company also provided them with learning materials to facilitate teaching. Also, sanitation facilities were provided by rehabilitating water supply and the development of modern toilet facilities for these schools.
Payment of stipends to 9 teachers who were not on Government payroll and 2 security personnel in Malen Junior Secondary School, one teacher in RC School in Sahn and one teacher in Bendu Primary School.
Payment of scholarship to 220 students; amounting to Le83, 000,000 (eighty- three million Leones) for BECE students with aggregate 25 and below from Malen Junior Secondary School,
Support of transport and feeding to BECE Students taking examination in Pujehun has been done by Socfin.
Support of transport and feeding to NPSE pupils and their teachers in Socfin’s operational areas that were taking examination in Sahn is part of the company’s CSR.
Other support to education include, the rehabilitation of Malen Junior Staff Quarters, financial support to all schools during the June 16th Day of the African Child celebration.
Micro Finance: In order to support the growth of small scale/ medium enterprises in the chiefdom, Socfin has been providing micro finance to 102 petty traders in 27 communities in Malen Chiefdom with over 200 million Leones as seed money.
Water and Sanitation: Socfin has provided water-wells with hand pumps and latrines in all its operational areas which have helped reduce the outbreak of cholera in the chiefdom.
Infrastructure:
The area of infrastructural development has also been paramount in Socfin`s operation as is seen in the construction of community halls in every village in its areas of operation. The construction of football fields in village communities, the rehabilitation of praying fields in village communities, the construction and equipping of Malen Community Radio Station, worth more than Fifty Thousand United States Dollars, construction of roads, bridges and culverts in all communities in Socfin’s operational areas. The construction of the Central Mosque in Sahn and the rehabilitation of mosques in villages have been carried out by the company.
The chiefdom that used to be a moribund place with less economic activities has now been the hub for job seekers, not only from the district, but also from other parts of the country.
