January 10, 2022
There is renewed outcry of residents of Malen chiefdom protesting the negative portrayal of the operations of Socfin Agriculture Company.
The boldness and confidence by residents of Sahn-Malen Chiefdom to outrightly condemn the meddling of Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations in their chiefdom is heightening to draw the attention of the central government and the local authorities in Pujehun.
According to indigenes, the behavior of some of these CSOs/NGOs is a concern to their existence as they are urging on the government and the local authorities to put the necessary modalities in place for peace and tranquility in the chiefdom.
Youth groups who spoke to this medium praise the fortitude of the agricultural company for the immense contributions they are rendering in the chiefdom and the district as a whole.
They called on the speedy intervention of the government through the local government in Pujehun to start monitoring some of these organizations that are visiting some of these chiefdoms in the name helping the vulnerable.
Accordingly, the youths last year December allegedly chased out a local Non-Governmental Organization Green Scenery and one of their key partners FIAN-Belgium out of their chiefdom for reasons which they say was due to the increasingly interference by Green Scenery and FIAN-Belgium for projecting their chiefdom negatively.
The irate youths urged Green Scenery and FIAN-Belgium to give peace a chance but rather help build the chiefdom in a positive way which will be acceptable by the people and the chiefdom authorities.
“The countless development attributed to the agricultural company is unprecedented,” they said.
They added: “We are appealing to the various Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations to practically work in the interest of the people and not to discourage multi-national companies coming to help the people of Sierra Leone.”
Malen Youth insist that the presence of the agricultural company in Sahn-Malen Chiefdom is a blessing to Sierra Leoneans and most especially the people of Sahn-Malen who have benefited immensely from the developmental strides.
Socfin Agricultural Company according to our findings has being receiving international and local awards from recognized institutions across the world for the massive transformation of a chiefdom which was declining and deteriorating in the past years.
Paramount Chief for Sahn-Malen Chiefdom BVS Kebbie during one of his public statements stated that the company has elevated the chiefdom to a class A Chiefdom.
He highlighted the corporate social responsibility of the company as unmatched in comparison to other companies across the country. The below analysis clearly show how the company has transformed Sahn-Malen to greater height.
1. General Infrastructure, roads& bridges, housing- USD 350,618
2. Repairs of water wells -USD 13,898
3. Health care, provision of ambulance, power – USD 305,618
4. Education support & building Schools- USD 107,971
5. Community support, food security, radio station support- USD 164,277
Local Government & District COVID support-42,333
Total Corporate social responsibility spent in 2020- USD 831,277.