Over 200 Civil Society Organisations are lined up awaiting to protest to register their disaffection if Government attempts to increase the toll gate charges. The Executive Director of Native Consortium, Edmond Abu, has confirmed this information, stating his organization will join with other Civil Society Organisations to protest if there is any increase in the toll gate charges.
Edmond made this statement on Thursday, March 14th, 2024 after the committee on Works and Public Assets called on Civil Society organizations, Drivers Umon President, Kekeh Riders Union at Speaker’s Conference Room Parliament Building Tower Hill in Freetown.
Presenting his position paper to the committee, Edmond called on CRSG to vacate all the blocks being placed at the alternative roads due to exposure of drivers to accidents, stating that the agreement which parliament passed is a bad one and did not meet international standard, pointing out that there should have been only one toll gate, not three.
He dispelled the assertion of the Chinese company that the road cost millions of dollars, which according to him, is not true, pointing out how the people of Songo were crying to the Chinese to construct toilets which they refused to do, instead they used the money to block the alternative route, adding that the money would have been used to construct schools.
He continued that the Chairman informed them that the document which CRSG presented to the committee is almost the same as SLRA but at the previous meeting held, the Director General of SLRA Alfred Jalil Momodu informed the committee that what CRSG presented to them was different from SLRA document.
The Chairman of the Committee Hon. Bashiru Silikie stated that the Ministry of Works and Public Assets has tabled the proposal for the increment of the toll gate why the committee has called on all the stakeholders Civil Society Organizations, Drivers Union President, Kekeh Drivers Union, and others.
Hon Silikie clarified that the documents that CRSG provided to the committee are the same as SLRA.
Alphonso Manley from Civil Rights Coalition said sometime in November he received a letter from the Ministry of Works and Public Assets on the toll gate increment which he supported because nobody is doing business not to make a profit.
Alpha Amadu Bah President of the Drivers Union said when the toll road started in 2016/2017 he was the president they even went on a rampage saying that they did not want it but it was a benefit to them they started with dialogue and negotiated with CRSG and the Ministry of works and the government of Sierra Leone. Bah said that on the review of the toll charges, he has reached out to his union trailers, trucks, and others and they have agreed on all the prices but group 5 which according to him, should be separated from the trucks coming from Guinea and the one in Sierra Leone.
Hon Silikie said on the issue of the alternative route, government has the right to rehabilitate the alternative route, and not the Chinese investors. He pointed out that he has listened to all sides of the stakeholders which will be part of his recommendations.
