April 7, 2021
There is growing cry from both sides of the Sierra Leone- Liberian border to officially declare the border open. As it is the border opens and close based on a necessity mutually accepted by the security details of the two countries. It would appear as an ad hoc and informal arrangement serving the interest of Mano River Union citizens- Guinean vehicles are everyday crossing over, and the same applies to Sierra Leone and Liberia citizens. The inter-state trade linkages are so crucial that even where COVID 19 warranted the border closure, there has been a general sense of displeasure among the three sister countries reliant on trade transaction-criss-crosses the two countries. There is clearly improved situation in the COVID 19 transmission and we, the Mano River sub region must come to terms with that reality. The vaccine roll out is one major milestone to tell us that the global community is weathering the storm in containing the pandemic. Whatever formalities we need to put in place to officially open the Sierra Leone border without being oblivious of other security and safety issues must be considered. Guinea border is open even when fears abound that Ebola outbreak was menacing. So, Liberia and Sierra Leone to must work out the diplomatic modalities to officially open the border; and move beyond the unofficially way of doing things. This development has the potential to enhance revenue and assure cross border free-flow of goods and service. What is happening in the present state of affairs is the elevating of bribery by officers from the two sides. They capitalize on the irregular way of running the border to set up their own terms. It is a form of coercion where desperate commuters grudgingly pay monies to the various security details to cross over. Once can certainly not blame this form of corruption that is a compulsion from the increased demand of those commuting the officially closed border and are readily willing to part with cash or even use canoes to beat the iron clad gate at the Mano River bridge. And one cannot be alarmist to even say that had there not been the somewhat corruption laden relaxation of the rules to collect some money from passengers and allow them pass, the human casualty that could have erupted in canoe cross would have been so high. Whatever is the snag in reopening the border officially must be resolved without disregarding the safety implications. For the general benefit that comes with an opened Sierra Leone cascades to the Mano River citizens beyond the securities collecting and pocketing monies- blatant extortion that has collateral effect on the economy in all three countries.