July 14, 2021
By: MOHAMED M. SESAY
Superintended by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, Honorable Members of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has yesterday unanimously ratified the ECOWAS Regional Corridor Treaty for the construction of a six-lane highway in seven West African Countries including Sierra Leone.
Explaining the significance of the corridor project to Members of Parliament, the Minister of Works and Public Assets Peter Bayuku Konteh intimated that the Corridor treaty calls for the construction of a six-lane highway in seven West African Countries namely; Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
He added that the corridor project is a sub-sector of a Trans-Africa Highway stretching from Dakar/Senegal-Lagos/Nigeria and traversing nine other countries. He added that the corridor is designated as part of the key continental roads and is listed among the programmes for infrastructural development in Africa.
He furthered that Sierra Leone’s component on the corridor project is four hundred and fifty-eight kilo meters running from the Guinea Border Gbayamuya-Masiaka, Bo-Bandajuma and Jendema to the Liberia Border. He added that the ratification and implementation of the corridor project will significantly contribute to the attainment of one of the flagship programmes of the Bio government which is advancing transportation system under cluster three (3) of the National Development Plan.
Minister Konteh also disclosed that the primary beneficiaries of the corridor project in the West Africa Countries are traders, Farmers and Commuters.
He gave glad tidings that the project will enhance better trade, generate jobs, reduce transportation cost and promote security in the country.
He further informed that ECOWAS Commission and the West African Economic and Monetary Union will solicit funding for the corridor project from other multi-national organization such as the ECOWAS Bank, the Africa Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank among others.
In the implementation of the project, Minister Konteh also intimated that ECOWAS shall establish policy Management Authority whose jurisdiction transcends from the contracting parties of Member States.
“After the country had maintained peace, I now realize that the second most important factor which needs to be developed is the road sector. There will be no way a country can maintain peace if there are no good roads which is the more reason government is taking road construction very seriously”, he said.
The Leader of the Main Opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party honorable Chernor Maju Bah who also happens to be a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, affirmed that the just ratified sub regional corridor Treaty was among the topical things discussed in the ECOWAS extra ordinary session in the presence of all the Heads of State.
He added that the regional corridor treaty is a project the ECOWAS holds in a very high esteem. Honorable Chernor Bah therefore encouraged colleagues Members of Parliament to support the treaty which will promote regional trade integration among Member States.
The Leader of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Party Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina recalled that two years ago, Members of the European Union Parliament from Sierra Leone debated the need for inter-connectivity of roads between countries. He added that a month ago he was in Ghana /Accra on a summit wherein, one of the topical things that came up among the governors of West African countries was the adoption of a single currency of which Sierra Leone is about to be a party. He therefore affirmed that with the ratification of the Sub-Regional Corridor Treaty it will definitely benefit Sierra Leone, Cote d` Ivoire, Gambia, Liberia, Guinea, and Senegal, Guinea Bissau especially with the use of the Eco-currency which will actually boost trade system within the ECOWAS region. He also urged colleagues to join hands on deck to speedily ratify the treaty.
Hon. Hassan A. Sesay acknowledged that they are very much aware of the benefit of economic integration within the West African Sub-region. He added that Economic integration is a means by which Member states enhance economic growth within the sub- region. He continued that for the country to be part of an infrastructural project such as the regional corridor treaty, will surely ameliorate the economic growth of the country. He concluded that all member states will definitely have to depend on each other in order to sustain their economic growth.
Honorable Hindolo Moiwo Gevao expressed that the regional corridor treaty will be concentrating on the infrastructure that will be linking one country to another with a very minimal cost. He said he is with the view that if the corridor treaty was approved within time and Sierra Leone happens to be party of the treaty, then citizens of Sierra Leone will have the opportunity to trade their goods in the regional countries at a minimal cost.
He therefore reiterated the need for Members of Parliament to expeditious ratify the treaty adding that, with the Ratification of the Regional Corridor treaty, the country will surely benefit a lot wherein some Sierra Leoneans who may want to trade either to Ivory Coast, Senegal or Gambia will not like to use flight but rather travel on road.
Closing the debate, the Deputy Leader of Government Business Hon. Bashiru Silikie also affirmed that the ratified corridor treaty will not only benefit countries in the Sub-region but also benefit Sierra Leone adding that, the roads will be now connecting and benefitting the people within the corridors and also make it very easy for trade activities.
He added that with the construction of a six-lane road coming into reality it will make travelling from Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Ivory Coast to be very accessible and affordable.