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The Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Aviation has commenced an inspection tour of key maritime institutions, beginning with the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) and the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA).
The tour, led by the Chief Whip of Parliament and Committee Chairman Hon. Dickson Momoh Rogers, forms part of Parliament’s constitutional oversight mandate to ensure that public institutions deliver services efficiently and in the interest of citizens.
On Wednesday, the Committee held engagements with senior management of SLPHA and SLMA at their Freetown offices. Discussions centered on operational performance, revenue collection, safety compliance, and the implementation of government policy on port efficiency.
The Executive Director of SLMA briefed the Committee on ongoing reforms to improve vessel registration, maritime safety audits, and compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. The management of SLPHA outlined progress on cargo handling, terminal operations, and efforts to reduce vessel turnaround time at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay.
Additionally, a major part of the inspection was a site visit to Bolloré Transport & Logistics, the terminal operator at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay. The Committee inspected container yards, customs clearance processes, and storage facilities to understand the causes of the “alarming cry of containers going demurrage,” as Hon. Rogers described it.
Furthermore, members of the Committee said the inspection would continue with other stakeholders in the transport and aviation sector. A detailed report with recommendations is expected to be presented to Parliament.
Finally, Hon. Rogers assured stakeholders that the Committee’s goal is not to witch-hunt but to improve efficiency. “A functional port means cheaper goods, more jobs, and increased government revenue. That is what Sierra Leoneans deserve,” he concluded.
