By Abu Bakarr Kargbo
As a kind of goodwill gesture, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Sierra Leone has collaborated with the China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) company to embark on major maintenance work in the Spur Loop Community. The work, which started on Thursday 4th December 2019, entails major repairs on the road surface, roadside work, potholes, ditches, etc.
Wang Xinmin, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone said before now the road was in a very bad shape thereby causing difficulties and inconvenience for the local people and road users. Sierra Leone, he said is fast developing which requires good roads to meet the current trend. Counselor Wang said the event is tied anchored by CRSG to live up to its corporate social responsibility. He lauded the effort of the Freetown City Council and Sierra Leone Roads Authority for supporting the process. “I hope that more people will come on board to develop the community,” he remarked. “The neighborhood is a good place for all; to develop,” he said. The project costs over US$100, 000 and it will benefit thousands of local residents and visitors.
China’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Hu Zhangliang described the event as giving back to the community and added that they are happily living in the city and so, therefore, they would want to take part in developing and beautify Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital.
Ing. Victor Juju Foh underscored the important role played by the Chinese in Sierra Leone’s development and described the CRSG as a major partner in Sierra Leone’s road sector.
Festus Kallay, Chief Administrator of the Freetown City Council described the road maintenance project as part of their ‘transforming Freetown project’. He thanked the Chinese Embassy for the development venture and implored them to continue supporting Sierra Leone’s development.
The China Railway Seventh Group is keen at supporting national development since it starts operation in the country and has been embarking on its corporate social responsibilities in a number of communities across Sierra Leone. CRSG is a subsidiary of the construction conglomerate, China Railway Group Limited (China Railway Engineering Corporation).
In Sierra Leone, the company started work in December 2011 on the Regent to Grafton and Kossoh Town road, using US$30 million in development assistance funds from the Chinese government. Other major projects include the construction of the 35 km Makeni-Matotoka highway, the 65 km Bo-Kenema Highway, 62 km Port Loko-Lungi axis, and major urban thoroughfares, including the Wilkinson Road and Spur Road.
