Residents of Kenema have complained the stakeholders of Kenema, including the Mayor, Resident Minister and members of Parliament, for the state of the Kenema township road contract.
In a letter dated 20th March, 2019 and addressed to President Julius Maada Bio, the residents of Kenema complained that over 90% of them are not happy with the ongoing tarring of the two major streets in the heart of the city of Kenema (Blama and Hangha Roads).
They called on the President to immediately stop the work and investigate the circumstances leading to the award of the contract to First Tricon Construction Company.
The residents noted that the two streets are not wide enough and also not properly tarred. They informed that, if the contractors are allowed to move on with the present design of these roads, it will lead to terrible traffic jams.
They particularly cited the design of the road around the entry point to Kenema, from the Bo highway, as very narrow with a terrible curve that has got the tendency to cause numerous accidents.
The residents also questioned the rationale behind the stakeholders (MPs, Mayor and Resident Minister) continuing with the same road contractor employed by the APC. According to them, the APC, from inception, had no good plan for Kenema District and its people.
They alleged that the stakeholders maintained the same road contractor largely because of kickbacks. They also alleged that Lebanese men, who are very close to the present road works in Blama and Hangha, have bribed the contractor and the stakeholders to prevent them from removing their fences, which are very close to the road.
The residents called on President Bio to stop the Kenema road works and ensure that whatever project is taken to Kenema is sustainable and in the best interest of the people. They blasted the current works as sub-standard and not reflective of what Kenema should have from a Government they have worked so hard to bring to power.
It will be recalled that this medium noted, in previous editions, that most of the contracts awarded to First Tricon Road Construction Company, largely in the east and south of the country, were not re-advertised as provided for in the Public Procurement Act. First Tricon has benefitted over 60% of the over five hundred billion leones allocated for the restart of the township roads projects across the country.
First Tricon has no record as far the construction of roads is concerned in Sierra Leone. The only road they have started and completed in Sierra Leone–the Njala Mokende road- is reportedly questionable in terms of its design and longevity. This is why this complaint is not a surprise to this medium.