In a significant move towards promoting the “feed Salone” campaign initiated by President Julius Maada Bio, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, fondly called “Haja Portloko” visited the prominent Gbondapi Wharf outstation in the Pujehun district of Sierra Leone’s Southern Region. The aim of the visit was to assess the success of the campaign and identify challenges faced by the fish mongers in the region.

Gbondapi Wharf, known for it abundance of smoked-dry fisheries, attracts a significant confluence of districts fish mongers, most of them women, from various parts of Sierra Leone. Kenema, Moyamba, Kono Kailahun, Bo, Bonthe, Tonkolili districts meets at the same point. It is also a destination for traders coming from Liberia to purchase a variety of smoked-dry fish. Positioned along the Wanjie and Sewa Rivers, both freshwater rivers that merge with the salt sea, Gbondapi is considered one of the highest-producing fisheries areas in the country.

As Haja-Portloko embarked on a tour amidst the busy and congested fish mongers, she took particular interest in the displays of fisheries in baskets of various sizes. Her interactions with the traders aimed to understand their challenges and garner feedback regarding the progress of the “feed Salone” campaign.

The presence of the Deputy Minister midst the bustling crowd stunned the fish mongers, who expressed their gratitude for her personal involvement and dedication. They considered it a historic moment, never having witnessed a minister wade through muddy conditions alongside them. Their applause and praises for the Deputy Minister resonated with the efforts of President Bio’s administration, suggesting that her reputation for hard work was well-deserved.

Related News

Accompanied by ministry staff members, including Mr. Sheku Sei, the Head of Artisanal and Aquaculture, and his deputy, the Deputy Minister’s visit served as a testament to the government’s commitment to strengthening the fishing industry and ensuring the success of the “feed Salone” campaign. The engagement with fish mongers at the grassroots level displayed the government’s dedication to alleviating their challenges and transforming Sierra Leone into a self-sufficient nation in terms of food security.

The Gbondapi’s stakeholders commends the Deputy Minister’s visit to Gbondapi Wharf, highlighting it as a significant milestone in realizing the goals of the “feed Salone” campaign. The commitment demonstrated by the government towards uplifting the fisheries sector and supporting the livelihoods of those involved is commendable. It is expected that such initiatives will contribute to the growth and development of communities reliant on the fishing industry, fostering a more prosperous future for Sierra Leone.

Through continued collaboration between the government, stakeholders, and the fishing communities, it is hoped that the objectives of the “feed Salone” campaign will be met, leading to sustainable development and ensuring food security not only in the Southern Region but across Sierra Leone as a whole.