Sierra Leone’s Transport and Logistics Company, Bollore has been awarded by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) as the most compliant institution for the year, 2020. NASSIT is a public institution charged with the responsibility of administering benefit and pension scheme for all categories of workers registered with the scheme.
In achieving this objective, it ensures that employers pay the required 15 per cent of workers’ salaries and wages to NASSIT on a monthly basis.
Honouring Bollore Company among a number of companies, a banquet was staged at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown last week. The ceremony was well attended by very important personalities from diverse spheres of life. In full recognition of the role Bollore has been playing in the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone, a certificate of merit was offered to the company.
The award of the certificate is clear recognition of that significant role Bollore plays to national development. The document indicates that Bollore Company, as far as the NASSIT provisions are concerned, is the most compliant company.
“Compliance Award presented to Bollore Transport Logistics for fully complying with the provisions of the NASSIT Act No.5 OF July 2005 for the 2020 financial year,” the certificate reads in part.
The banquet was not only a platform to interface with employing institutions but also to discuss issues relating to their obligations as employers. It is hoped that the NASSIT award will encourage Bollore Company to contribute to the development of Sierra Leone by doing what is right.
Apart from its utmost compliance with the NASSIT Provisions, Bollore would also be credited for respecting the country’s local content policy. The policy preaches the granting opportunities and leverages to Sierra Leoneans and local companies to take an active part in building the country’s economy.
Jobs must be accorded to a Sierra Leonean citizen if they possess the knowledge and skills needed for a particular job instead going in for an expatriate.
Bollore has declared its relevance towards that direction as the company has more local staff than expatriate ones. Bollore staff strength, according to its Human Resource Manager, stands at 318, 6 managers, 44 contract staff and only 4 expatriates.
Even in the face of Covid-19, the company’s Managing Director, Captain Fabjanko Kokan kicked against a move to downsize the local staff when he cut down on the number of Expatriate workers.
Bollore Company has always been in Sierra Leone both in times of normalcy and disasters and when disasters strike, the company flexes its muscle to give alms to the affected especially the most vulnerable. When Ebola broke out In Sierra Leone in May, 2014, Bollore Company is on record to have been one of corporate institutions to have championed the campaign against the virus by way of providing protective gears to communities.
Priority was given to the riverine communities where the company operates. During the Ebola struggle, the company partnered with the media to ensure that awareness-raising in communities is taken far and wide.
No gainsaying that the company played a significant role in ensuring that Ebola was kicked out of the country.
In the face of another deadly virus, Covid-19, Bollore is also complementing the effort of government by providing personal protective equipment to communities along the coast as well as other communities in Freetown.
Its aim is to ensure that Covid-19 is kicked out from the country in the same manner Ebola was defeated to put the country’s economy back on track. Bollore has also achieved sound reputation for its resounding stance in corporate philanthropy and Social responsibility.
The company which has declared its relevance over the years has answered the call of the development aspirations of many Sierra Leonean communities. In a recent press briefing, Bollore officials spoke about the assistance the company has been rendering to various communities in Freetown.
Old Wharf, Moa Wharf, Sea Side, Grafton, Ross Road Police Station and the north-eastern regional headquaters of Makeni among others are communities that have tremendously benefitted.
In the face of Covid-19, the company made available a total sum of Le1, 137, 794, 269 (One Billion, One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Million, Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand Leones) worth of goods for community development.
The Communications Manager for Bollore also explained to journalists that Blind School in Makeni and other communities in the provinces were not left out by the company. Blind School in Makeni and the said communities recently benefitted Le177M worth of Covid-19 materials, and Ross Road Police Station got 300 bags worth Le33M, Sea Side community got 200 bags worth Le 12M to aid them in their road construction effort.
Bollore’ philanthropy did not stop at the Sea Side communities; as Well Woman Clinic in Freetown got Le20M in awareness-raising scheme on breast cancer, a disease that is now posing the greatest threat to the health of women.
Gauging the donations and other forms of assistance Bollore Company has done to communities, it is quite clear that the assistance is in line with the development agenda of the beneficiary communities.
Moa Wharf Community where Bollore is constructing a community is a case in point as the centre was requested for by the community. The Moa Wharf Community, according to Bollore Officials, appealed to the company that they needed a community centre where they would hold meetings and conduct their social activities.
Solar installation was also done in Moa Wharf community to improve energy service there. In addition to its assistance in deprived communities, Bollore Company through its Technical Department has also made an electrical installation from its Water Quay Port to Blackhall community, a project that costs the company Le2 Billion.
Head of Bollore’s Technical Department, Sylvain Ndour recently told journalists that 95% of Bollore’s energy is being used from outside thus reducing fuel consumption by the company. Less Fuel consumption by Bollore means environmental protection by the company as gas emission is drastically cut down.
Mr Ndour remarked that: “the more we use fuel, the more impact we cause on the environment.”
Bollore Company stands a better position, Ndour adds, owing to prudent management of its finances.
The company has also made major concessions for its customers in the Covid-19 period. The company recorded Le30 Billion as waivers, and also continues to appeal to government to reduce the price of containers for which customers are pleased and happy about.
Management of the company assures Sierra Leone that it is ensuring a Zero-tolerance strategy on corruption. Terminal Analysts for Freetown Terminal, Mr Darrel Coker informed journalists that the company authorities had been making serious effort in educating its staff on the ethical and corrupt side of doing business.
Through its public relations strategy, Bollore Company has continued to maintain and improve on its relationship with key public institutions. One of these institutions is the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) a body that is responsible for preventing and investigating graft in Sierra Leone.
Bollore Company has been working with ACC in terms of data and information-sharing.
Bollore is always there for the people of Sierra Leone by meeting its corporate philanthropy and social responsibility obligations to the state.
More awards to come.