By: Ilyasa Baa
The Sierra Leone Scrapped Metals Dealers Association has informed the public that their members are not the ones stealing government cables thereby disrupting the electricity supply.
The association has deplored its 82 man taskforce across the country to serve as watchmen to catch those stealing electricity cables and bring them to book.
The Public Relations Officer, Sahr Kpakai informed this medium that their membership is over twenty thousand and that they are encouraging those dealing in scrapped metals to register with the association since the registration process are ongoing.
He said the association has what it takes to regulate the scrapped metal deal in the country. He said they have a cordial relationship with the Sierra Leone Police adding that a few gangs of people who pretend to be officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry try to interrupt their business. He recalled that a school pupil had been caught in Bo climbing an electricity pole to steal copper cable at night.
He said one of the challenges they are facing is that some police officers don’t know the difference between EDSA copper and the ones they remove from scrapped items like starters, generators and the like. He pointed out that they are ready to go anywhere where their members are when there is an issue to address. He said the association has got the news that metals are removed from cemeteries adding that none of their members are involved in such an act.
He noted that recently, they rushed to Kono within a twinkle of an eye to sensitize their members against buying stolen EDSA cables. He said the association is aware of the strides the government is taking toward providing electricity for the country.
The scrapped metal trade has engaged a good number of youths even adolescent boys who either do not have jobs or cannot afford to continue going to school. The forming up of a regulatory body has been lauded by authorities as well as members of the public who are yearning for discipline in the trade.
