With funding from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany represented by the German Development Bank (KfW), the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has concluded a week long Field Supervision and Monitoring mission in Kailahun and Kono districts. The essence of the visit is to showcase the implementation of the ongoing Pro-Poor Growth for Peace Consolidation Programme- (GPC Phase III), engage with relevant stakeholders and to assess the quality and speed of the project.
Speaking on the rationale of the supervision mission, the Commissioner of NaCSA, Abu Bockarie Kokofele advanced that he decided to embark on the tour to get firsthand information, so as to compare with reports he has been getting from the field as well as to get dialogue with beneficiary communities, while assessing the progress of work been done. Commissioner Kokofele commended the beneficiary communities for their support and sense of ownership as demonstrated by their participation and appreciations to the Government through NaCSA and the donor.
Giving the Programme overview, the Programme Manager of GPC III, Salifu Ansu Mansaray revealed that the GPC III succeeded the GPC I & II programmes which ran from 2006-2018; recalling that, in January 2019, the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW) signed a Financial Cooperation Agreement of Euro 20 million for the extension of the GPC programme to a third phase –(GPC III) for a further four years to 2019-2023.
The global objective, Mr. Mansaray disclosed, is meant to improve the employment and income situation especially for youths in rural communities by providing enhanced economic infrastructure (feeder roads and bridges, grain stores with ancillary facilities, cattle paddocks and water wells) along selected agricultural value chains. This, he furthered, is done through the use of labor-intensive approaches. The programme, he noted also aims at improving the capacities of key stakeholders, especially the Councils and the Facility Management Committees (FMCs) in operating and maintaining these infrastructures.
Representing the donors, the German Consultant from Eco Gitec Consults, Bjoern Scheuler describe the level of work in two districts as very impressive and commended the contractors and the communities for being up to the task. He acknowledged the delays in meeting the completion dates, which he noted is being posed by the current COVID 19 pandemic. He expressed optimism that the work would be completed after the rains.
Paramount chiefs from the beneficiary communities commended the government of Sierra Leone through NaCSA and the donor for connecting their chiefdoms, thereby linking their subjects (most of whom are farmers) from the farm gates to the markets. P.C Foday Musa Nyndebo-Gbogboto of Jahn Chiefdom in Kailahun district, who doubles as the Chairman of the NaCSA Board of Directors registered appreciation to the leadership of the country, His Excellency the President Dr. Julius Maada Bio (Rtd. Brig.) for fulfilling his promises through NaCSA. He described road rehabilitation as one of their felt needs which he noted the lives of his subjects depended upon.
Similarly in Kono district, the Paramount Chief of Gorama-Kono Chiefdom, P.C Alhaji Sahr C.N. Kounoh Bundoh ll while expressing his appreciation to the government of Sierra Leone and the donor (KfW), revealed that the NaCSA rehabilitation and construction of infrastructures connecting his chiefdom to others is the greatest milestone in the history of his chiefdom since his emergence into the throne. He recalled how this road made it possible after 34 years to reach his subjects at the other parts of the chiefdom, for which he noted, he will remain grateful to His Excellency the President Dr. Julius Maada Bio (Rtd. Brig.), NaCSA and the donor for making such history in his life time. “ I will pass this history to my children and grandchildren (born and unborn),” he noted.
Similar sentiments and testimonies from daily road users were recorded throughout the communities visited. The GPC III Programme is implemented in selected chiefdoms in Kailahun, Kono, Koinadugu and Falaba districts and the following roads were selected by the respective District Councils for rehabilitation for the 2020 implementation.
Kailahun District : (Njaluahun, Jahn & Kpeje Bongre Chiefdoms) – 61.6 Kilometers of Feeder roads under rehabilitated and 4 bridges (8-20 metres long) from Musalor to Sandaru
Kono District: (Tankoro, Gbane & Goroma Kono Chiefdoms-22 Kilometers of feeder roads under rehabilitated with 5 bridges (8-27 meters) from Woama to Malema
Koinadugu District: (Thamiso I & 11, Kalian Chiefdoms-60 Kilometers of feeder roads under rehabilitation with one 7-meter bridge from Sawuria to Kassasi, Madina Gbonkobor, Kasankoro& Karasa
Fabala District: (Delmandugu, Kular Saradu & Neya Chiefdoms- 32.2 Kilometers of feeder roads under rehabilitation with one 20 meters span bridge from Bendukura to Sansagbaia.
On completion, these roads are expected to open these areas to markets, ease the challenges facing road users including the high incidence of accidents and high cost of transportation while having provided temporal employment for youth in these communities.
