He noted that companies and business enterprises who share their policies regarding their procurement procedures enables the Agency effectively monitor the implementation of the SLLCA Act.
He recalled that in a recent letter written to companies which was copied to the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Parliamentary Oversight Committee Chairman on Trade, the SLLCA encouraged companies and other entities that fall under the Local Content Agency purview to submit their plans as this will strengthen mutual cooperation between the two entities.
He used the opportunity however to commend SL Mining for being the first company to invite the Agency to assess their operations even though they are yet to embark on full scale mining operations. The visit enabled the Agency to determine whether they were working in line with the Act.
According to Mr. Daboh, this was a step in the right direction and called on other companies to follow suit. He said requests have started coming from companies calling for an extension of the deadline to present their plans to the Agency; after failing to comply to the directive fourteen days upon receipt of the letter.
“What I have so far learned from these companies is that there is a big communication gap between them and the Agency. It seems our mandate was not clearly spelt out to them. I see these companies as partners in development because without their existence, we cannot be here talking about Local Content and that is why I am encouraging them to cooperate with the Agency by complying,” DG Daboh said.
He further explained that since his appointment few months ago, he has been able to inculcate the much-needed change the Agency needs and has created the visionary leadership the Agency had been lacking. He spoke of his several meetings with development partners such as the World Bank, ILO GIZ, Cordaid, DFID and the Sierra Leone Association of Non- Governmental Organizations (SLANGO) with whom he explained the Agency’s mandate and why the SLLCA should be supported in implementing programs that cut across every sector in the country.
Meanwhile, most people say President Bio’s decision to appoint Mr. Daboh to head the SLLCA, is a laudable decision which has seen the popularization of the Local Content Agency Act within a very short time.
