200 CSOs have raised concerns over recent Parliamentary approval of the Increment of the Toll Gate Fee in a Press Conference on Monday 29th April at Siaka Stevens Street.

The Sixth Parliament of Sierra Leone’s members unanimously agreed, following a relatively uncontroversial debate, to adjust the toll tariffs for the US$154 million, 62-kilometer dual-carriage Wellington-Massiaka Toll Road, which opened in 2016 and has a 27-year lifespan. They also recommended a comprehensive review of the entire concession agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone, represented by the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, and the China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG).

The decision comes after the tabling of the report by the Deputy Leader of Government Business One and Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Works and Public Assets, Honorable Bashiru Silikie.

However, Citizens and the concerned CSO irrevocably condemned this report that seeks to protect Clause 10.4 only, with a devastating effect if a rise in transport price and commodity prices of the increment is to take effect on May 15, 2024.

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They call on the new Speaker to reject this increment on the following grounds;

  1. The report is a breach of public trust as it failed to address the Transparency and Accountability in breach of article 16(1)(2)(3) of the agreement.

The 200 CSO and citizens are shocked and dismayed that the committee had only delt with Article 10.4 and ignored all other breaches like Article 16(1)(2)(3) that seeks an independent annual audited financial report which should inform both parties in the agreement of gross daily revenue and how much the CRSG has collected from the start to-date, has not only been ignored but the report has further concealed the breaches of Article 16(1)(2)(3) leaving the nation in the dark with no transparency and accountability. This has never been done since the start of this agreement to-date. That is not only a breach, it is a disservice on the part of the committee to have wasted all this time and effort just to agree with the minister in making Article 10.4 the alpha and the omega of this agreement.

  1. The Committee report is insensitive to the effect of the devastating pass through effect the toll increment will add to the already suffering public as a result of a hike in commodity prices and high transport fare to the provinces and passengers beyond Calaba town.

  2. Pointless and irresponsible to increase rates on the heavy duty vehicle with the same devastating pass though effect on commodity prices.

The public further sees as irresponsible the increment on heavy duty vehicles above 12 tyres and other category as a non-starter as every increment will add more suffering. The Committee should understand that commodities transported from Guinea for instance and other heavy duty are not sold to monkeys but for consumers. So why the rate segregation – because Drivers Union says so?

  1. The Committee’s appetite to put premium on the presentation of Drivers Union position ignoring our position that resonates with the public.

They believe that Ideally, Members of Parliament are expected to consult with their constituents that elected them. But we have seen that the Committee put premium on Drivers Union who are just drivers. They did not represent all drivers as the body has been in disorder. And above all the Drivers Union has nothing to lose as they will pass through any increment to passengers. The report does not reflect a true public consultation but had to listen to the dis-functional Drivers Union and protect the CRSG with Article 10.4.

  1. Increment in category 1,2,3,4 will hike transport price pole to pole. For instance, Waterloo to Bombay Poda Poda will naturally skyrocket from Le 12 to Le 20 and provincial transportation will be hiked too causing more hardship for citizens.
    The Average Volume vehicle data has not been made public but an expert has opined it to be a sham as it is not independent and only a flamboyant fool will be fooled by CRSG being a player and referee.
    The average Vehicle volume Data by the Chinese is a sham and very misleading as the public does not have access to it. The SLRA or any independent body accessing the raw data or vehicle count must be conducted by the committee anything short of that is seen as a sham The SLRA till date does not have access to the raw data. How come the committee is claiming that the CRSG and SLRA report are the same. How does the committee arrive at such a misleading conclusion? We know that if SLRA makes any statement on this, it will be suicidal for the Heads. But we want anybody to prove to the public that the SLRA has access to the raw data.

  2. Alternative Route

We have provided compelling evidence to the committee that the CRSG has destroyed and blocked all the alternative routes using their machines and cranes. In response the CRSG told the Committee that the Chief and Headmen told them (CRSG) to block all the alternative routes. This contravenes the agreement and there is nowhere in the agreement that justifies such an illegal action that lead to national security threats. Yet still the committee has shifted the burden of constructing the alternative routes to SLRA. So our tax payers money should construct a road destroyed by the CRSG. This looks like a father beating up his daughter who has been raped by some strangers. Instead of chasing the rapist, the father is now blaming his daughter for wearing mini skirt and skin tight.

  1. The Concessionee (CRSG) have become a law unto themselves.

The Native Consortium have provided video evidence to the committee and the court of public opinion, where CRSG arrested vehicles that they perceived to destroy the road through accident. These vehicles are being detained or packed at the CRSG compound at Songo and Masiaka. They will levy heavy fines without going to court. This does not only breach public transport regulations but also violates Parliamentary Standing Order (SO) 18.

The CSOs call for the intervention of the new speaker  by understanding the plight of the already impoverished state of the citizens. They believe if the tollgate fees remain as set, it will further erode the public trust on the 6th parliament. That the public should not expect any change from from Parliament as a matter of fact, there was no point stopping works Minister from implementing the March 1 schedule date, because going to parliament was as good as going by the proposed March 1 schedule increment date as proposed by the Minister.