By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Social Welfare Government of Sierra Leone Conference Room at New England Ville, is a demonstration of President Julius Maada Bio for President 2023 empathy for his people, especially those in vulnerable conditions during the cash transfer event on Thursday, 12th December 2024.
Explaining the purpose of the welfare aid initiative, the Director of Family Welfare at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Mrs. Rokie Conteh, said the initiative was done under the family welfare directorate of the ministry responsible for handling welfare issues, especially family issues. Mrs. Conteh said that over the years they have recorded so many issues of fathers neglecting the homes, adding that even when punishments are brought against them, the issue remains unresolved.
She continued that women are suffering in the homes due to lack of finance to provide for themselves and their children. She said that it is because of this reason that the government, through the ministry, decided to render this aid for them to use and start up a small business that will help in taking care of their children.
On her own part, the Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty, said that the cash transfer given to the less privileged is part of the responsibility they have as a ministry to seek the welfare of the people.
The Honourable Minister said that they transferred cash to One Hundred and Forty beneficiaries, each receiving One Thousand Three Hundred New Leones (One Million Three Hundred Thousand Old Leones) from twelve communities in the western area, urban and rural, in Freetown, namely Kissy dockyard, Rokel, Kroobay, Shell, Waterloo, Texaco, Eastern Police, Hasting, Deep Eye Water, among others. The minister furthered that eighty percent of the recipients were women and mostly female heads of households.
The minister said that this is not the first time they are supporting the less privileged, as they have undertaken such gestures in the past, stating that this time around it was different and that they ensured the selection was centralized by sending social workers to go into these communities to assess and fish out the most vulnerable people.
She said that this fund has been provided by the government of Sierra Leone and that it is part of their plan to give welfare grants not only to institutions but also to the poorest of the poor households.
She thanked the government of Sierra Leone, headed by the visionary President Rtd. Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio. The minister further admonished the beneficiaries to make good use of the grant from the government.
She also admonished them that the government has a flagship program, which is Feed Salone, adding that they are expecting them to see the welfare aid as a token, where they themselves will go and develop a business model that will help them and their families.
“This initiative will be replicated in communities right across the country in the coming years,” he said.
In appreciation, two of the beneficiaries, Yama Samura and Mohamed Kabial, applauded the government and the ministry for such a thoughtful gesture and appealed to the other beneficiaries that they should ensure that the money is being put to proper use, which will not just benefit their families but also multiply.