By: James Kamara-Manneh
At a jam-pack press conference held at the Raddison Blu Hotel in Freetown with senior cabinet ministers, newspaper editors and media owners were informed that the government of Sierra Leone has successfully terminated the agreement with ARISE IIP for the development, expansion and management of the Pepel Port and Pepel-Tonkolili Railway.
Speaking at the occasion, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawallie said the contract was mutually cancelled when the condition precedents weren’t met and Arise failed to waive their rights to those precedents, and furthered that the Arise agreement was terminated after the 9th of July 2023 the satisfaction date.
The Minister confirmed that the government has entered into agreement with Kingho Railway and Port Company (KRP) for the control of the Rail and Port. He described the Rail and Port as a very crucial instrument facility in our mining sector, and it has been managed by private entity depriving government of its full share, while the citizens were not benefiting from it. Minister Tarawallie said in 2018 under President Bio’s regime the government took charge by regulating the rail and port facility for the mining sector.
He emphasized that the decision to partner with Kingho Rail and Port was made following ARISE IIP failure to meet the contract’s prerequisites. He highlighted the mutual termination of the previous agreement, indicating that the new deal was necessary to prevent a potential void in vital infrastructure development.
While the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Alhaji Fanday Turay assured the public of a forthcoming regulatory body that will oversee not only railways but also cable cars, fostering job creation and bolstering expertise in the sector.
He addressed concerns about monopoly, assuring that the agreement with Kingho includes provisions mandating a minimum 10% capacity reservation for other interested parties, promoting fair and competitive access.
While the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Julius Mattai extols Kingho’s significant investment of over $100 million, which played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Rail and Port infrastructure that was previously in a dilapidated state. He emphasized that the decision to partner with Kingho was made in the best interest of the country, underscoring the positive impact on national development.
He clarified that the Rail at Pepel serves cargo carriages exclusively, emphasizing its role in bolstering the country’s logistical capabilities. Despite the transition, he affirmed that Arise IIP maintains the Industrial Zone in Koya, signifying the government’s commitment to fostering diverse industrial development initiatives.
The briefing concluded with a resounding message of commitment to national progress, assuring the public that the government remains dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive infrastructure ecosystem, thereby propelling Sierra Leone’s journey towards sustainable growth and development.
The press conference was chaired by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, the Attorney General, Transport and Aviation Minister, and the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, the session was aimed to clarify the recent developments concerning the rift that was caused from Arise to Kingho Rail and Port.
