Members of Parliament have joined the Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas to celebrate the two (2) Billion dollar’s Concession Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Gento Group of Companies Limited for the Design, Financing, Construction and Operationalization of Seaport Within the Dublin and Ricket Communities of Banana Island and Logistics Hub (Harbour Terminal) at Kent.
The Agreement is the first 100% Sierra Leonean owned Agreement by Mohamed Gento Kamara which was the more reason it gained currency approval among all Members of Parliament.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas said on many occasions the House of Parliament had been approving agreements owned by Foreign Companies and Foreign individuals. Speaker Thomas said the agreement is the pragmatic definition and promotion of Local Content and the more reason he endorsed the agreement.
“I will like to see one Member of Parliament that will stand and say I am against this agreement. Then probably as Speaker, I would have debated”, he said.
Mr. Speaker edified Members of Parliament that he had gone through the agreement adding that, the agreement is good for the nation. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas alluded that one of the reasons for the importance of the agreement is that the agreement comes from one of the descendants of Sierra Leone in the Person of Mohamed Gento Kamara.
Unlike other Foreign Agreements, Speaker Thomas added that whatever profit Gento Group of Companies make would stay in Sierra Leone. Mr. Speaker assured that an agreement in such nature would impart Sierra Leone. He referenced what the Transport Minister said noting that, the profit alone in the first three years would amount to 800 Million Dollars. He reassured that the profit alone would impart the exchange rate in the country between the dollar and the Leone.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker made a statistical analysis referencing that the depth of Togo’s Port is 16.5 Meters, the depth of Ghana’s Port 14 Meters, in Morocco 16 Meters, in Nigeria in 16 Meters. He said the Depth of the Port in the Gento Group of Company’s Agreement would be the deepest amounting to 22.5 Meters.
Mr. Speaker therefore, called on the Minister of Finance, the Bank Governor and the Minister of Transport to ensure the agreements is supported for the momentous benefit of the nation.
“So I just wanted to see a Member of Parliament to say no to this agreement”, Speaker Thomas concluded.
Concurring to the promotion and Passion Mr. Speaker has for Local Content, the Acting Leader of the Opposition Hon. Daniel Koroma assured Mr. Speaker that no Member of Parliament would go against the agreement taking into cognizance of the importance and nationalistic benefits the agreement has.
All Members of Parliament expressed elation for the agreement which sailed through the agreement to be unanimously ratified.
