The Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, on Tuesday 11th December, 2018 engaged key players at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay to look at various issues raised by importers and other business people regarding processes and procedures that affect the business environment negatively.
The well attended meeting, at the ministry’s Conference Room, saw the Sierra Leone Port Authority, which serves as landlord at the Port, the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Shipping Agencies, Clearing and Forwarding Agencies, Africa Link, Bollerie, and Nectar in one room, discussing the bottlenecks that cause delay and increase in price of imported goods.
Addressing his audience, the Minister of Finance stated that the lack of proper coordination, at the Port, is causing delay and extra expenditure for the business community, which are in turn passed over to the poor consumers. He continued that the meeting will look at the issues, discuss them and make the necessary reforms to improve on the country’s doing business index.
The World Economic Forum’s recent Global Competitiveness Index ranks Sierra Leone 134 out of 140 countries, highlighting the challenges of doing business in the country.
According to J.J. Saffa operations at the ports contribute to the many challenges the country is facing when it comes to the ease of doing business.
Speaking on behalf of the shipping lines, the deputy General Manager of CMA CGM, Sho Cole, stated that Sierra Leone is one of the most expensive ports in the world. This, according to Mr Cole, also impacts the cost of goods. He also called for the review of the total cost of discharging containers, plus improving on security at the port; at least to reduce the insurance premium for Sierra Leone, which is currently high compared to other countries.
Abdulai Fofanah, General Manager of the Sierra Leone Port Authority, in his statement, agreed that security is a great challenge, but he assured the meeting that they are working on it to improve on the situation. On the area of marine cost, the port General Manager stated that the shipping lines are paying a composite figure. However, he said, it is under consideration to be reviewed.
Other issues of delay, due to improper documentation, overlapping of roles between ALIC and customs, fake invoicing, were highlighted by speakers from various sectors operating at the quay.
After listening to the issues, the Minister of Finance, Financial Secretary, Sahr L. Jusu, the NRA Board Chair, Toma Jabbie, and the NRA Commissioner General, Dr Samnuel Jibao, agreed to set up a small working group to address the issues raised for short, medium and long term basis inclusive of various sectors representatives.
This meeting came after the Deputy Minister of Finance of Finance engaged the importers on the issue of hike in prices of commodities, where issues around the operations at the port came out paramount.
“The New Direction government is committed to improve the ease of doing business in the country,” J.J. Saffa assured the business community. He however cautioned them all to operate within the remits of the law.