The Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Industry, chaired by Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, who is also the President of the has concluded its oversight activities in the Western Area and the provinces in the Republic of Sierra Leone on Friday 21, June 2024.

During the oversight visits, the Chairperson revealed that the Committee was inquiring into the level of compliance with the agreements Parliament had ratified in favour of the visited entities and to also ascertain the achievements and positive contributions of these entities in the national economy that are impacting the lives of the people.

Key amongst Companies Visited are petroleum marketing companies, National Petroleum (NP), new entrant in the petroleum marketing in Sierra Leone, Aminata and Sons, at both its facilities at Cline Town and Kissy Dockyard. And All Petroleum Products (APP) now Eco Energy,

The Chairperson for the committee, Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay said their visit to terminals of their key overnight priorities assigned to them by the House of Parliament in order to ensure that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are ideally adhering to the importation, distribution, transportation and retailing of petroleum products accordingly with fair and competitive Business atmosphere among OMCs.

Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay told managements of OMCs that Parliament is one of the highest decision-making bodies in the country that checkmates the excesses and examines the successes of various, investments in the country, noting that the Oversight’s assignment is not about witch-hunting, but to help streamline some of the strategy objectives of OMCs and to ensure they are operating within the scope and contest of what average Sierra Leoneans expect them to deliver.

At Bread Avenue, Wellington, the Committee observed that Sonoco is the parent company and under its purview are nine other companies, including Bread Avenue. It was revealed that Sonoco is a leading Guinean company operating in flour, and other businesses. The company is currently constructing flour mill at Cline Town that would supply four other countries and intends to provide employment for over six hundred people.

The Committee observed that Bread Avenue has restaurant and producing high quality bread. The Avenue, according to Management, would soon expand its operations to the West and Central Freetown.
Finally, at Miro Forestry and Timber products at Mile 91, the Committee observed that the company, after many years in planting trees of various species, is now at its production and processing of plywood of international standards. In addition, the company is also producing high quality utility or electricity poles and edge glued board.