Mr. Olumuyiwa said they have started work on the first 3km because with the first 3km, they have issues to discuss with the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), EDSA, SALWACO and the Bo District Council for compensation and relocation of affected people residing too close to the route being constructed.

“We are already in discussion with them and they will also explain what they plan to do to get the area cleared of inhabitants for us to continue our work without hindrance. But already in our first week we have cleared the path for the road up to Tikonko and we hope to work until the rains don’t permit us,” Olumuyiwa said.

He said they are very serious in this job because the president has shown immense interest in it and so they have requested for everything they need in order to make the work easier and be able to complete it within the stipulated timeframe.

Engineer Paul Demby of SLRA said they are happy that the contractor has already started work as this shows that they are very serious and want to get the job done within the stipulated period. He however made it clear that all institutions that have a stake in this project must be ready to help the contractor get the road cleared for the job to be done effectively without any problem and rapidly.

“I am very happy that all the stakeholders are present at this meeting and have shown their willingness to cooperate with the contractor to get the work done easily and timely. We will be making sure that we engage all the stakeholders and the property owners that will be affected so that by the end of the rains, First Tricon would have been given the all clear to work on the first 3km of the road,” he said.

Mr. George Seiya representing EDSA said they had been contacted by the contractor and they are now working together to make sure that EDSA clears all their cables in time for the work to commence in earnest.

He said in the area where First Tricon is currently working they have no underground cables issue but only overhead cables and so it will not be difficult for them to remove them and work with the property owners to do relocation of their poles and reconnection of their cables.

Project Manager of SALWACO Mr. LansanaSawi said when CRSG was working along the Lokomasama Road they worked with them amicably to make sure that everything for the water system was in place before the beginning of work.

“We will do the same with First Tricon as soon as all the stakeholders have met and finished all the discussions. Then the entire cross dots will be in placed along the road so that every village will be able to access water round the clock,” he said.

Paramount Chief Prince LappiaBoima of Kakua Chiefdom said he has been part of the road planning process and is au fait with what they did during the Bo-Kenema Highway job, and promised that they will implement the same in the Bo-Mattru Jong Road works.

“As custodian of the people, I will make sure that I my part in all negotiations concerning the people so that they will get what they deserve and the contractor too will be happy to get the job done,” he said.

The Bo District Chairman Mr. Joseph Musa Bindi said as far as the Bo-Mattru Jong Road is concerned, they must make sure the road is well constructed and should be a Class A road for it to last a long time.

Climax of the meeting was a conducted tour of the ongoing construction work.