The Honourable Vice President, Dr. Victor Bockarie Foh Thursday hosted the signing ceremony of the largest infrastructural project sponsored by the European Union in Sierra Leone, the Bo - Bandajuma - MRU Bridge (Liberian Border) Road at the conference room of the Office of the Vice President, Tower Hill.
Welcoming dignitaries from the government of Sierra Leone, the European Union and the press was the Minister of Information & Communication, Honourable Alhaji Alpha Kanu who served as Chairman of the historic event.
In his opening remarks, Kanu stated that "this part of the road, is the last lap of the Trans - West African road for the Sierra Leone government to complete it obligations."
The Director General of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Abdul Aziz Kamara, in his statement, said: "This is a happy day for the people of Bo and Pujehun districts."
He added that the project has a component of three major bridges; the Sewa, Wanjay and Bandajuma bridges.
The road component, he stated, is a 106.3 km, with the CSE serving as the design and supervising consultants.
On the issue of quality and standards, the SLRA boss said the road will be 7.2 metres wide, with shoulders to accommodate cyclists and motorbike riders.
In a short contribution, the Director General of CSE, Mamadou Demba Sow, assured the government and people of Sierra Leone of their commitment to complete the project in record time.
The European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Peter Versteeg, in his statement, thanked all those involved in bringing this project to it implementation stage.
He further appealed to the CSE to create a gender balance by employing women and the youths as a way of empowering the youths adding that he is counting on the authorities to carry out the necessary relocation of locals that are affected by the road expansion, so as to aid the speedy completion of the project.
The Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Kaifala Marrah, in his contribution, thanked the Vice President for hosting the signing ceremony. He stated that this is a clear sign of the premium government places on this project.
The estimated cost for the Bandajuma - Liberia border road, he said, is approximately 105 million euros. An Action Fiche for the sum of 62.2 million euros from the Regional Indicative Programme (RIP) and Sierra Leone’s 10th EDF National Indicative Programme (NIP) to partly finance the work has been approved. The balance funding of 43 million euros has been allocated from Sierra Leone’s 11th EDF NIP to complete the work.
Vice President Foh, in his remarks, stated that he was particularly pleased to be hosting this historic event, informing his audience that he was the Co-chair when the Mano River bridge was opened in 1975. He thanked the chiefs for allowing the work to commence even before compensations are paid.
VP Foh said as a government it is their responsibility to develop the country regardless of who voted for them. He noted that the road will be opening up trade in commodities like rubber, rice and cocoa.
Referring to major road construction, Foh expressed optimism that there will come a time when "we as a nation will be doing it ourselves. But until such time, we will continue to ask the EU for more grants."
Present to witness this historic event was the host Minister; Honourable Mohamed Alie Bah, the Majority Leader in Parliament; Honourable Bundu, Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Honourable Yayah Tunis and other state dignitaries.
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