By: MOHAMED M. SESAY
The House of Parliament has on the 8th of February 2022, unanimously ratified the joint venture agreement between the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company, the Government of Sierra Leone represented by the National Commission for Privatization and Accord Logistic for the establishment of gaming and betting industry in Sierra Leone.
As a supervisory Ministry of the Local content Agency, the Minister of Trade and Industry Edward Hinga Sandi, assured the Parliamentary Committee on trade that his Ministry will follow up fully in the Implementation of the agreement. He added that the Sierra Leone Local content which is an institution established by an act of parliament, has been leading in the implementation of the Local Content policies.
“It is on this note Mr. speaker honorable members that I move that this honorable house ratify the agreement that was laid on Thursday the 16th December 2021, the joint venture agreement between the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company, the Government of Sierra Leone represented by the National Commission for Privatization and Accord Logistic for the establishment gaming and betting industry in Sierra Leone”, he said.
The Acting Leader of the opposition Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said they on the opposition side, have no doubt in the agreement. He encouraged the Minister of Trade to monitor the activities of the joint venture.
Hon. Kargbo added that if the government monitors the implementation of this joint venture agreement it will benefit the nation. He encouraged that once the new system has been set up and as long as the Minister of Trade is in charge of monitoring the agreement, they as members of parliament should be informed on the progress of the joint venture agreement.
The Acting Leader of the Opposition also assured that with the new agreement, the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company will be a bet scheme wherein young people and older people will be allowed to bet. He nursed the belief that it is not the first time such has happened in West Africa as many sub-regional countries have betting games. Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo appealed that whoever takes over the company, must adhere to the rules and regulations of the new agreement.
The Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma said article 9.4 of the agreement which has to do with labor, will employ and train local staff to be positioned at all levels of employments in the joint venture for the execution of the agreement.
He added that in the circumstance wherein an expert is brought from outside Sierra Leone to carry out certain functions, local employees must be trained to assume the responsibility within two years.
Hon. Nyuma concluded that the agreement also provides that Accord Logistic shall be responsible to provide trainings for its personnel in accordance with appropriate staff management and skills assessment policies or guidelines with applicable laws.