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The recent collapse of a seven-story building in Shell, Kissy, resulting in the tragic loss of 15 lives, once again highlights the deep-rooted issues plaguing the construction sector in Freetown.
President Bio’s promise of a full-scale inquiry is commendable, but Sierra Leone’s history with such investigations casts doubt on whether meaningful action will follow. Far too often, recommendations from similar inquiries are ignored, leaving the systemic problems unaddressed. Accountability, once again, is at the center of this tragedy, and we must not allow this to become another case of forgotten promises.
The collapse at Shell is symptomatic of a larger problem – the flouting of building regulations, the use of substandard materials, and the frequent cutting of corners by unscrupulous developers. This negligence is further compounded by bribery and corruption at various levels of government, which enable unsafe buildings to go up in some of the most vulnerable parts of our city. The result is that lives are being lost, and people are left to fend for themselves amid a ticking time bomb of unsafe constructions.
Sierra Leone has a robust legal framework that requires architectural and structural drawings to be approved by certified professionals before construction permits are issued. However, this process is often bypassed by those willing to pay a little extra to circumvent the rules. As a result, many buildings in Freetown are constructed with little regard for safety, and even less consideration for the people who will live in or around them.
The chain of accountability in such disasters, pointing out the roles of various institutions, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, and the contractors themselves. The Ministry should regulate the importation of construction materials, while the Standards Bureau is responsible for ensuring that only quality materials enter the country. Yet, both institutions seem to be failing in their duties, with substandard materials flooding the market and finding their way into construction projects across the city. This failure in regulation leads to preventable tragedies, like the one we’ve just witnessed.
The responsibility does not end with the government. Contractors, homeowners, and even tenants have a role to play in ensuring that construction is done according to the law. Too many builders prefer to use unqualified personnel, bypassing certified engineers and architects to save costs. These decisions are often made with full knowledge of the risks, yet they proceed in the name of expediency and profit. This negligence costs lives, and it must stop.
The situation at Shell, Kissy is not an isolated incident. Several areas in Freetown, such as Hill Cut, Tengbeh Town, and the famous Samba Gutter, are rife with illegal constructions. Buildings are being erected along waterways and landfills without any regard for safety or the environment. This unchecked construction not only endangers lives but also exacerbates the risk of flooding and other disasters.
President Bio has vowed to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies, but this is not the first time such promises have been made. The real test will be whether his administration takes tangible steps to enforce building regulations, hold corrupt officials accountable, and ensure that only qualified professionals are allowed to construct in high-risk areas. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and other relevant authorities must also play a more proactive role in identifying and preventing dangerous construction before lives are lost.
At the heart of the matter is the need for genuine accountability. The government must show that it values human life over profit by strictly enforcing building codes, conducting regular inspections, and ensuring that those responsible for such #disasters face legal consequences. The tragedy at Shell, Kissy should be a wake-up call for Sierra Leone, but we must not wait for another building to collapse before real action is taken.
Lives are being lost, and it is time for everyone involved – from the government to the private sector, and from homeowners to contractors – to take responsibility. Sierra Leone cannot afford another tragedy like this, and we cannot allow this to become just another statistic in a long list of preventable disasters.
Two factors seem to be contributing for the circumventing the legal proceedings of obtaining building permits;
One could be the ineffectual and negligence of government officials responsible for issuing the said permits. Because one may want to obtain permit as faster as it is, but officials mount unwarranted delay just to initiate bribery.
Secondly, the obvious corrupt practice to give illegal permit without due process.
In its entirety incompetent government officials are eclipsed in both SLPP and APC. Sierra Leone needs to take a robust steps this time round.
My deepest condolences to the families that lost their loved ones. What happened is sad and pathetic at the same time. In a sane climate, the government sectors responsible for issuing building permits and the owner of the building will be sued for manslaughter but sadly we don’t live in a sane place. Everything goes in Salone. How can govt allow people to build in steep slopes, dirty boxes, and waterways? Or do people think there aren’t measures to take or factor in when adding floors to an existing building? I know many people are not educated enough to know the risks of renting spaces in such buildings that’s why I’m blaming the government sector( the ones responsible for building or altering structures). The sad reality is, there are still many disasters waiting to happen. People need to raise awareness of such buildings( not just put an X mark on them) I pray Sierra Leonean citizens have the wisdom to know the risks involved in such.
Money money money money money, money problem is felt by people all around the world and this is no exception for Sierra Leoneans but we yon just too pass mark bo. We love money and use, sacrifice others welfare or well being for our own selfish advantages and greed and that is exactly what the love of money does for the Bible says “for the love of money is the root of all EVIL”.
May we as a people (Sierra Leoneans) give 8n to USE MONEY and LOVE PEOPLE.