By Ragan M. Conteh
The Members of Parliament, from both the Opposition and the incumbent, including Hon. Dickson Rogers, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo and Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, have spoken on the need for the early submission of project proposals for EU funding. They warned against the improper utilization of the funds, and acknowledged the good job done by Hon. Ibrahim Bundu.
They said Sierra Leone now exports its fish to the EU market, recognizing the leadership skills of Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma. For the domestication of Agreements to attract more EU funds, Councils had previously reneged on the use of EU funds, which resulted into the suspension of those officers.
This was disclosed during the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Delegation to the ACP-EU (African Caribbean European Union) and JPA (Joint Parliamentary Assembly), headed by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, on Tuesday 16th March 2021.
The delegation continued its stakeholder discussion under the Cotonou Agreement in Kenema District, after a similar engagement in Freetown that attracted the attendance of the Head of EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Tom Vens.
Introducing the Head of Delegation, Hon. Dr. Paran Umar Tarawally said that he was a battle tested political returnee along the current Leader of Government Business in the Parliament, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma.
According to Hon. Nyuma, since they took over the reign of the current Parliament, they had promised to take Parliament to the people, including other International Parliaments like ECOWAS, ACP-EU and the Pan-African Parliament.
Giving a background of the Cotonou Agreement, he said it was aimed at poverty reduction and creating a forum to discuss common political, economic and social relations among member states.
He also said that the Sierra Leone Delegation is an equal partner with membership to the Committees on Social and Political Affairs in the ACP-EU. In light of effective representation and participation, he said he had been appointed as co-Rappatoir to the Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment, and his Delegation had submitted four reports to the Parliament of Sierra Leone for consideration.
Speaking on a strong parliamentary dimension, for effective representation, he solicited inputs from interested parties relating to a topic on social welfare and the environment; and observed that African products are not well received by their European counterparts due to economic power.
Relating to the post-Cotonou Agreement, he said it will be focused on democracy and human rights, investments, climate change and migration.
Speaking on the intermediary role of the National Authorizing Office (NAO), established under the Cotonou Agreement, the Director of NAO, Ambrose James, said it was good to explain its development interventions to beneficiaries saying, “EU in its development assistance gives grants and not loans.” He said the Cotonou Agreement expired in 2020, but has been extended to November 2021.
He said also that the 11th EDF Fund was focused on improving Governance and civil society, education, agriculture and infrastructure.
He highlighted the technical and capacity building support to civil society, Parliament, NEC, NCRA, value chain addition relating to agricultural productivity and profitability, construction of 100 kilometers road from Bandajuma to Liberia, including major bridges, construction of 33 kilometers road from Moyamba Junction to Moyamba Town, including Mabang and Gbere bridges.
He said Kenema District has benefited from EU grants in the area of education, citing the construction of 25 schools, provision of furniture, governance to improve service delivery to citizens and improving the cocoa value chain for the attainment of food sufficiency.
He said communication gap, staff turnover in Councils and stringent rules and policies, regarding utilization of EU funds, still remain a challenge to projects implementation.
Speaking on the benefits of the Cotonou Agreement, Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, noted that, following the coming together of 79 countries, Cuba and other 15 EU countries did not sign the Cotonou Agreement. He said grants are better than loans.
He said the Agreement is geared towards promoting social development and equitable distribution of resources, sustainable development of the human person and promotion of development cooperation.
On benefits, such as the construction of Gbalamuya and Bandajuma Roads by the EU, he spoke on ministerial and ambassadorial interventions before ratification by Parliament, and on barriers to the said Agreement, he said Africans did not enjoy elections observation like their EU counterparts, but more resources are directed to CSOs, which deprived Parliament of much needed funds to do oversight. There was also limited African representation in decision making, insecurity and BREXIT.
With regards the need for the enactment of the cybercrime Act by Parliament, he said the post-Cotonou Agreement will involve the Organization of African Caribbean Pacific States (OACPS) focusing on democracy, human rights, climate change and investments.
During the interactive session, the Chief Administrators, for both Kenema District and City Councils, said they were neither aware nor consulted about the construction of 25 schools in Kenema District with EU funds. They also said the Cotonou Agreement is at variance with existing national legislations regarding tax deductions.
The Chief Administrators, for Pujehun, Kenema, Kailahun and Kenema District Councils, made brilliant submissions on projects funded by the EU.
The Chairman for the Kenema District Council gave the welcome address. Members and staff were introduced by Karmoh Conteh, Director of Legislative Services, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Christiana Syl-Turay, Secretary to the Delegation.