The Parliament of Sierra Leone has put on hold the proposed increment on toll gate fees, which was to take effect today March 1, 2024, until further notice.
Minister of Works and Public Affairs, Dr. Dennis Sandy yesterday tabled in the House of Parliament the Review of the toll fee charges.
Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu said the review should be put on hold until Parliament has diligently investigated the various concerns and proposals made by the public.
He observed that two issues discovered during the consultative meeting are lack of verification of traffic data by Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority and the need to critically look at the various concerns.
Earlier, Members of Parliament and the China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) held a consultative meeting with regard the tollgate at Committee Room No.1 in the House of Parliament.
In his presentation at the meeting, Bingo Wang, the CRSG began by expressing gratitude to the government of Sierra Leone for their support since CRSG began operations in Sierra Leone. Wang highlighted the benefits of the Wellington to Masiaka Toll Road and discussed the challenges faced by the company.
He emphasized that as a crucial partner to the government, CRSG had successfully reconstructed, maintained, and operated the Wellington to Miasiaka Highway project, expanding it from a 2-lane road to a 4-lane road, including the Orugu Bridge.
He recalled the previous state of the road, noting that it was poorly maintained and led to frequent accidents and long travel times. He explained how the upgraded road had contributed to economic and social development in Sierra Leone, creating job opportunities, improving access to amenities and medical facilities, and reducing travel times and accidents.
However, Wang also highlighted challenges such as overloaded vehicles, illegal activities, which had increased maintenance costs and also the challenge caused by exchange rate fluctuations.
Despite these challenges, Wang urged stakeholders not to let them jeopardise the road’s lifespan or hinder its contributions to national development. He emphasized the importance of honoring the contractual agreement between the government and CRSG, which had been approved by Cabinet and ratified by Parliament in 2015. Wang explained the justification for toll tariff adjustments based on exchange rate variations, as stipulated in the contract.
Following Wang’s presentation, Minister of Works and Public Assets Dr. Denis Sandy shared his perspective on the tollgate issue. He emphasized his commitment to transparency and truth, recounting the process of receiving and reviewing CRSG’s request for a toll tariff adjustment.
Sandy described the formation of a technical committee to assess the proposal and the subsequent approval by Cabinet, highlighting the importance of considering the country’s interests and protecting foreign investments.
Dr Sandy clarified the provisions of the contractual agreement and emphasised the need for acceptance of the outcome, as it would impact investor confidence in Sierra Leone. He underscored the importance of upholding the agreement signed in 2015 to safeguard the country’s legacy and ensure a fair return on investment for CRSG.
In conclusion, stakeholders were reminded of the financial obligations of CRSG and the need to balance national interests with the company’s financial viability. The importance of transparency, adherence to contractual agreements, and consideration of the broader implications for Sierra Leone’s development were emphasised throughout the meeting.
