February 22, 2021
By: Mohamed M. Sesay
President Julius Maada Bio has on the 19th February, assured the people of Sahn Malen that he is going to chair the process of resolving the long drawn land conflict in order to ensure a mutual corporation between SOCFIN and the locals of the chiefdom.
President Bio made this statement during the official commissioning of the newly constructed second oil mill plant by the SOCFIN Agricultural Company.
He added that he has been constantly hearing about the sporadic land dispute between the people of Sahn Malen and SOCFIN Agricultural Company.
He promised to facilitate a peaceful roundtable between the conflicting parties.
“Immediately when I leave Sahn Malen today, I will send for the two conflicting parties for a peace talk so that we will settle the dispute. You all know that SOCFIN is a huge investment Agricultural company and they have come and established in Sahn Malen. I know you are not pleased about the initial arrangements but however, there are some developments in Sahn Malen. The Country Director of SOCFIN, Honorable Sama of Malen Land Owners Association have started speaking after a very long periodof malice, and I am going to ensure that they continue talking for the sake of the people of Sahn Malen,” President Bio reassured.
H said his visit to Sahn Malen was to tell the people of Sahn Malen profound thanks and appreciation for voting him as president and to also Commission the newly constructed oil Mill by SOCFIN.
He added that developmental activities are now visible at Sahn Malen, adding that he would put modalities in place for a sustainable benefit for all those whose lands are utilized by SOCFIN Agricultural Company, describing it as a win-win solution to the land dispute.
President Bio promised the people of Malen of electricity supply and free quality education for deprived children.
He used the occasion to announce that bt 2.6 million pupils are now in schools and government is paying their fees.
President Bio further intimated that, he cannot put money into the pockets of everybody in Sahn Malen Chiefdom as a compensation for voting him as president, but said with the introduction of the Free Quality Education, children of Sahn Malen now have the golden opportunity to support their parents and become ministers, doctors, engineers etc.
President Bio recognized the teachers at Sahn Malen and further encouraged them to continue with the good spirit of teaching the pupils. He encouraged parents to send their girls to school alluding that it was a girl that topped the last NPSE examination in the entire country.
He also called for a special protection and attention of girls indicating that there are a lot of young boys and even the aged who violently raped them. He reminded that his govern has instituted a grave penalty for those who engage in such nefarious act. President Bio also acknowledged that due the demand of the Free Quality Education, he said the classrooms are now becoming a bit congested and therefore promised that his government would increase the number of classrooms in all the schools across the country.
President Bio also promised to construct a Senior Secondary school of excellence that would be exclusively set aside for girls, and also a sixty bed hospital would be also constructed for the people of Sahn Malen, acknowledging that Education and the well-being of folks go simultaneously.
During the commissioning the oil Mill at SOCFIN Agricultural company, H.E Bio assured the management of SOCFIN Agricultural company that the construction of the oil mill is an indication that Sierra Leoneans can do it.
In his welcoming statement, the Paramount Chief of Malen Chiefdom, Hon. V.B Kebbie on behalf of the people of Sahn Malen heartily welcomed H.E Bio. PC Kebbie also asserted that Sahn Malen is the most developed Chiefdom through the effort of the SOCFIN Agricultural Company in the Chiefdom.
He added that SOCFIN has been constructing roads, building schools, giving out scholarships, building community halls and many more developmental activities. He added that SOCFIN has made Malen has become a name on the map wherein people across the country visit on a daily basis some for job and some for studies.
On his part, the Independent Candidate in the House of Parliament Hon. Siaka Sama said he will always be very supportive in ensuring President wins more votes in Malen. He added that President Bio promised them during the 2018 campaign for a win-win settlement of the land dispute in Malen and therefore said that, the people are very happy to have heard President Bio following up on that commitment to resolve the Malen land dispute.
He further prayed for the president for more wisdom to resolve the conflict amicably. He appealed to the Resident Minister to receive delegation of aggrieved land owners of Malen for a fruitful meeting with him.
The Country Director of SOCFIN Agricultural Company Gaben Harringsman said SOCFIN together with the support of Sierra Leoneans have built an industry gearing towards making Sierra Leone totally independent in terms of the importing of basic food items such as palm oil. He disclosed that SOCFIN exports a huge quantum of palm oil adding that it is a personal victory for him because he said he started the project eleven years ago together with the Paramount Chief Kebbie. He expressed his gratitude to President Bio for showing that he (H.E) is a man of action. He extended his gratitude to the people of Sahn Malen, noting that SOCFIN is for the good of the people and SOCFIN is here to stay. He furthered that SOCFIN would again increase its corporate social responsibility in order to help tens of thousands of communities. He made mention of the fact he and Hon. Siaka Sama started working few months ago declaring that 2021 is a year of peace and reconciliation with the aggrieved land owners in Malen.