President Dr Julius Maada Bio has renewed Sierra Leone’s call for reparatory justice over the enduring consequences of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, invoking the historic Amistad struggle as a powerful reminder that remembrance of past injustice must be accompanied by responsibility, justice and reconciliation.

President Bio made the call on Sunday, 27 September 2026, while addressing a gathering at the United First Parish Church, popularly known as the Church of the Presidents, in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States, during an event held under the theme: “Celebrating Courage: Honouring the Historic Link Between Quincy and Sierra Leone.”

The President described the relationship between Sierra Leone and Quincy as one rooted not only in history but also in a profound human connection shaped by the Amistad story and the struggle for freedom led by Sengbe Pieh, known in the United States as Joseph Cinqué.

His address followed a visit to the Adams National Historical Park, where he viewed the historic Mendi Bible preserved in the Stone Library. President Bio described the Bible as an enduring symbol connecting Sierra Leone and the United States across generations and the Atlantic Ocean.

Reflecting on the Amistad episode, President Bio recalled that in 1839, Sengbe Pieh and other Mende Africans were unlawfully enslaved aboard the Spanish schooner La Amistad. Their resistance eventually led to a landmark legal battle before the United States Supreme Court.

Former United States President John Quincy Adams represented the Africans before the Supreme Court, arguing for their freedom. In 1841, the Court ruled in favour of the captives, paving the way for their release. The United States National Park Service confirms John Quincy Adams’ central role in representing the Mende Africans before the Supreme Court.

President Bio said the historic episode demonstrated two powerful expressions of courage: Sengbe Pieh’s determination to resist injustice and John Quincy Adams’ willingness to confront injustice through law, conscience and principle.

“Nearly two hundred years ago, Sengbe Pieh came to these shores in chains. Today, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone comes to Quincy in freedom and friendship. That is the distance history has travelled,” President Bio said.

Despite that historical progress, President Bio stressed that the passage of time should not erase responsibility for the consequences of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s position that reparatory justice should form part of a broader effort to acknowledge historical wrongs and address their continuing effects.

According to the President, reparatory justice should not be viewed simply as reopening painful chapters of history, but as recognizing historical truth, honouring those who suffered and building a fairer future.

“It is about memory joined with responsibility and justice joined with reconciliation,” he stated.

President Bio further connected the courage demonstrated by Sengbe Pieh to Sierra Leone’s resilience in modern times, pointing to the country’s recovery from the eleven-year civil war, the Ebola epidemic, the 2017 mudslide disaster and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said those experiences demonstrated Sierra Leone’s ability to recover from national adversity while underscoring the importance of building lasting peace through strong institutions, education, justice and respect for human dignity.

Turning to present-day challenges, President Bio said courage must now be demonstrated through efforts to educate every child, address hunger and food insecurity, expand opportunities for women and girls, protect peace and create conditions in which Africans can determine their own future with dignity and agency.

“Sengbe Pieh fought for freedom. Our responsibility is to give that freedom meaning,” President Bio said, linking meaningful freedom to education, opportunities for young people, greater participation of women and the ability of nations to shape their own destinies.

The President thanked the people of Quincy, the Adams National Historical Park and the United First Parish Church for preserving the historic relationship with Sierra Leone. The United First Parish Church has deep connections to John Quincy Adams, who worshipped there and whose tomb, alongside that of his wife Louisa Catherine Adams, is located in the church’s crypt.

President Bio called for the relationship between Sierra Leone and Quincy to continue growing around the shared principles of truth, justice, freedom, friendship and humanity.

He maintained that the Amistad story should remain more than a historical account of resistance and freedom, arguing that its lessons should continue to guide contemporary efforts to confront injustice.

“History must not merely be remembered, it must instruct us,” President Bio said. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65017

 

Amnesty International Sierra Leone has presented findings and proposed reforms from its nationwide consultation on Part III of the Public Order Act of 1965, which regulates public processions and demonstrations.

The findings were presented on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at a validation workshop at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. The engagement brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, political parties, trade unions, universities, traditional leaders, youth organisations and other stakeholders.

The consultation was conducted in Freetown, Makeni, Kenema, Kambia and Bo by Amnesty International Sierra Leone's legal consultants to gather views on the enforcement of Part III and possible reforms.

A key finding was the concern over the discretionary power of the police to approve or prohibit public processions. Civil society stakeholders consulted across Freetown and the provinces supported a shift from an approval based system to a notification based framework, while state institutions generally defended the existing system but acknowledged the need for greater clarity and accountability.

The findings also highlighted concerns from provincial stakeholders over access to the police leadership in Freetown and reported inconsistencies between decisions at the central level and the conduct of lower ranking officers in the field.

The report further identified the lack of clear definitions for terms including “procession”, “protest” and “demonstration” as an area requiring attention.

Among the proposed reforms is a transition to a notification based system, with a fixed notice period and a provision allowing a notified procession to proceed unless there is a lawful and reasoned objection.

The recommendations also call for objective and judicially reviewable criteria for restricting processions, expedited judicial review, decentralization of the notification process to regional and local authorities and independent oversight of police conduct.

The report further proposes removing imprisonment as a sanction for failure to notify and seeking Supreme Court interpretation of the term “notification” as used in Part III.

Opening the workshop, Acting Executive Director of the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, Jeremy Simbo, who chaired the event, said the state has a responsibility to prevent violence and disorder while ensuring that public spaces are used safely and responsibly.

Jeremy Simbo said maintaining public order should be balanced with the protection of human rights and political participation. He said the review provided an opportunity to examine whether the existing legal framework remains appropriate and consistent with the country's legal obligations.

He stressed that the process should be guided by evidence, expert knowledge and broad public participation, adding that constructive differences among stakeholders could help strengthen the final report.

Jeremy Simbo said the validation exercise was important in determining whether the evidence gathered during the nationwide consultations and the proposed recommendations were clear, realistic and capable of contributing to sound policy and legislative discussions.

Amnesty International Sierra Leone Executive Director, Solomon M. Sogbandi, said peaceful assembly is an important part of democratic participation, allowing citizens to express their views, participate in public affairs and demand accountability.

He said the existing framework gives the police significant discretion in regulating processions and stressed that restrictions on peaceful assembly should be based on clear, objective, necessary and proportionate criteria.

Solomon Sogbandi said the consultations had also considered comparative practices and international standards, including notification based systems, risk assessments, dialogue between organizers and police, and independent oversight.

He said the proposed reforms should balance the state's responsibility to maintain public order with the protection of citizens' rights to peaceful assembly and participation.

The recommendations will undergo further stakeholder review and validation before Amnesty International Sierra Leone finalizes its report on the consultative process. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65014

Residents and representatives of the Congo/Pawpaw community have appealed for justice and a peaceful resolution to a longstanding dispute over land involving the community and the military.

The appeal was made on Monday, September 28, 2026, during a Press Conference organized by Amnesty International Sierra Leone at the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone Hall on Kingharman Road in Freetown.

Speaking at the Press Conference, Headman of the Congo/Pawpaw Community, Umaru Bah, said the community had maintained a longstanding connection to the disputed land and had engaged Government institutions over the matter.

Umaru Bah said residents of the community have documents relating to its claim and that parliamentary representatives had visited the area to examine the matter.

“We are not against development. What we are saying is that our rights must also be respected,” Umaru Bah said.

He appealed for the dispute to be addressed through dialogue and the appropriate legal processes, saying the matter continues to affect members of the community.

Former parliamentarian, Hon. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh, called for the issue to be examined through the appropriate institutional processes.

Hon. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh referred to a report concerning the community and the military which he said was laid before Parliament on April 5, 2023.

He stressed the importance of examining the available records and evidence surrounding the matter, rather than allowing the dispute to become a political issue.

“The people are the source of public authority,” Hon. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh said while emphasizing the responsibility of public institutions to address matters affecting citizens through established processes.

Lt. Col. (Rtd) Abu Bakarr S. Kamara, who was the first Commanding Officer of the Peace Mission Training Centre, spoke about the history and purpose of the institution.

According to him the centre was established to provide training for military personnel, particularly in relation to peace support operations.

He also stressed the importance of understanding the history of the institution and the land associated with it when considering the concerns being raised by the community.

Government records indicate that the Peace Mission Training Centre at Hastings was established to strengthen the training and preparation of personnel for peace support operations.

Amnesty International Sierra Leone Executive Director, Solomon M. Sogbandi, said the concerns raised by the community require attention and proper engagement among the relevant stakeholders.

Solomon Sogbandi emphasized the importance of documentation, access to information and clarity concerning the status of the disputed land and activities taking place there.

He called for the concerns of affected communities to be properly documented and addressed through appropriate processes.

Residents who spoke at the Press Conference also made allegations of mistreatment, including claims that some community members had been beaten and detained.

The residents called for their accounts to be investigated and for due process to be followed in determining the facts.

The dispute is taking place within Sierra Leone's current land governance framework, which includes the National Land Commission Act 2022 and the Customary Land Rights Act 2022. The National Land Commission Act provides for institutions responsible for land administration and mechanisms for addressing land related disputes.

The community's central appeal at the Press Conference was for justice through a lawful and peaceful process.

The residents called on the relevant authorities to examine the competing claims, consider the available documentation and ensure that the dispute is resolved through due process. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65009

The Center for Empowerment, Education, Peace and Agriculture for Rural Development (CEEPARD) Sierra Leone, in collaboration with its partners, has concluded the sixth edition of its Summer School Livelihood Support Programme, reaching 2,500 less-privileged children and women-led households across communities in the Western Area Rural District.

The 2026 programme ended on Tuesday, September 22, with a donation and distribution ceremony at the Bassa Town Field in Waterloo, bringing together children, parents, teachers, partners and community stakeholders.

Implemented under the theme, “The 17/7 Principle: An Assurance to Achieve All Round Academic Excellence Through Societal Synergies,” the initiative provided free intensive summer classes and educational materials to children from vulnerable backgrounds.

According to CEEPARD Sierra Leone, beneficiaries received school bags, books, pens, pencils and geometry sets, while selected children who walk long distances to school were provided with bicycles to ease their movement to and from school.

The programme was implemented through six school centres: GEM School in Mabureh Community, REC School in Bassa Town, Sahid High School in Bassa Town along Old Road, Liverpool Islamic School in Grass Field, Memzo Memorial Community School in New London and the Islamic Foundation in Masorie.

Speaking during the distribution ceremony, CEEPARD Sierra Leone Deputy Executive Director, Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray, said the initiative was designed to support less-privileged children and help address some of the challenges preventing them from attending or remaining in school.

He disclosed that CEEPARD supported 1,500 pupils during the 2025 edition of the programme but increased the number of beneficiaries to 2,500 in 2026, reflecting the organisation’s efforts to reach more vulnerable children in Waterloo and surrounding communities.

“We have a lot of school-going pupils that drop out because they say they don’t have bags, pens or pencils to go to school,” Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray said.

He explained that CEEPARD considers the programme part of its contribution towards expanding access to education and complementing national efforts to improve educational opportunities for children, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.

Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray urged parents and guardians to ensure that the educational materials provided are properly used for their intended purposes. He also appealed to organisations, individual donors and development partners to continue supporting the initiative, noting that additional resources would enable CEEPARD to reach more beneficiaries.

Executive Director of CEEPARD Sierra Leone, Hamid Ibrahim Sesay, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting children and vulnerable communities facing difficulties in accessing educational opportunities and essential learning materials.

He said the completion of the 2026 programme should not be viewed as the end of the organisation’s intervention but as another important step towards expanding its educational support.

“The successful completion of the 2026 programme is not the end of the journey. It is another step towards reaching more children, strengthening educational opportunities and building stronger communities through collective action,” Hamid Ibrahim Sesay stated.

According to him, the 2,500 children reached through this year’s programme represent a shared commitment among CEEPARD Sierra Leone, its partners and community stakeholders to invest in education and improve opportunities for vulnerable children.

Hamid Ibrahim Sesay expressed appreciation to donors, development partners and other stakeholders for their continued support, saying their contributions remain important to the organisation’s efforts to invest in children and strengthen communities.

He also commended CEEPARD Sierra Leone’s volunteers, interns and ambassadors for their role in implementing the programme, describing their commitment and service as critical to its success.

“You are the bedrocks of CEEPARD Sierra Leone,” he said, while thanking the volunteers, interns and ambassadors who participated throughout the summer school programme.

Hamid Ibrahim Sesay further acknowledged the support of COFA, Ing. Mohamed Osman Mansaray, Hon. Ahmed Joseph Kanu, Madam Tarneh Kumba Koroma, Abdulai Amadu Bangura, Mr. and Mrs. Sinneh Bangura and the Managements of the participating schools.

Special recognition was also given to Madam Hellen Galband of COFA International, who travelled from the United States and was acknowledged for her continued support and encouragement of CEEPARD Sierra Leone’s activities in Waterloo.

The Executive Director additionally recognized Abdul Karim Kamara, popularly known as Stylish, Abdul Hassan Kamara and members of the team from Lunsar for their contributions towards the implementation of the programme.

With the number of beneficiaries increasing from 1,500 in 2025 to 2,500 in 2026, CEEPARD Sierra Leone said it intends to further expand the Summer School Livelihood Support Programme in subsequent years, depending on the availability of resources and continued support from partners and donors. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65004

Sierra Leone has used the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) to highlight its evolving approach to peacebuilding, calling for stronger national and community-based mechanisms capable of detecting and addressing tensions before they develop into violent conflict.

The country’s experience was presented during a High-Level Ministerial Side Event on “African Leadership and Partnerships for Prevention and Peacebuilding: Advancing National Peace Infrastructures,” held on 25 September 2026 at the African Union Mission in New York.

Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), Hawa Sally Samai, represented Sierra Leone on the panel, where she outlined how the country has gradually moved from post-war reconstruction towards a prevention-focused approach to sustaining peace and national cohesion.

The high-level engagement was convened by Egypt and Kenya in collaboration with the United Nations Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office and the African Union. It attracted representatives from African Governments, the United Nations, the Peacebuilding Fund, Open Society Foundations and other development partners.

Discussions centred on strengthening African-led peacebuilding mechanisms and ensuring that countries have effective institutions capable of responding to emerging disputes and grievances at an early stage. Participants also considered ways of translating the outcomes of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review into concrete national interventions supported by reliable partnerships and sustainable financing.

Drawing on Sierra Leone’s post-war experience, Hawa Sally Samai explained that the country’s peacebuilding priorities have changed considerably since the civil war ended more than two decades ago.

During the immediate post-war years, efforts were largely directed towards reconciliation, rebuilding state institutions, strengthening democratic governance, promoting human rights and restoring confidence among communities affected by the conflict.

With those foundations established, attention has increasingly shifted towards preventing future instability by strengthening national resilience, community participation, dialogue and mechanisms for addressing disputes before they become serious security threats.

Hawa Sally Samai said the challenge facing Sierra Leone today is no longer limited to rebuilding after conflict but also ensuring that the conditions capable of producing another conflict are identified and addressed early.

She maintained that effective conflict prevention cannot operate solely from national institutions in the capital, stressing that peacebuilding structures must extend to communities where grievances and tensions often first emerge.

According to her, women, young people, traditional authorities and Civil Society Organisations have particularly important roles to play because of their direct interaction with communities and their ability to recognize early warning signs.

Connecting those community-level observations with institutions capable of responding through dialogue, mediation and peaceful dispute resolution, she noted, is essential to an effective national prevention system.

Sierra Leone has benefited from a longstanding relationship with the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, which has supported peacebuilding initiatives in the country since 2007.

That cooperation has covered areas including reconciliation, governance, human rights, social cohesion, conflict prevention and resolution, as well as programmes aimed at increasing the participation and empowerment of women and young people.

Despite the importance of international assistance, Hawa Sally Samai emphasized that lasting peace cannot depend indefinitely on externally driven interventions.

“Peacebuilding works when it is nationally owned but internationally supported,” she told the gathering.

She urged development partners to place greater emphasis on building institutions and capacities that remain functional after individual projects and funding arrangements have ended.

Hawa Sally Samai also called for a longer-term approach to financing peacebuilding and conflict prevention, arguing that establishing institutions may be possible within the lifespan of a project, but developing public trust, durable relationships and effective national capacity requires considerably more time.

She therefore underscored the need for financing arrangements that are predictable, flexible and capable of supporting long-term national prevention priorities rather than concentrating exclusively on short-term interventions.

Sierra Leone’s participation in the New York engagement highlighted the lessons of a country that has travelled from armed conflict through reconstruction and reconciliation towards a broader national effort to institutionalize peace.

More than two decades after the war, the country is increasingly placing prevention at the centre of its peacebuilding agenda, recognizing that maintaining stability requires continuous attention to grievances, social pressures and emerging challenges.

The message presented at UNGA81 was that peace should not only be protected after a crisis has occurred but continuously strengthened through institutions capable of listening, mediating and responding before disagreements escalate.

Hawa Sally Samai concluded by stressing that international partnerships should complement, rather than replace, national responsibility for sustaining peace.

“We are not asking you to build peace for Sierra Leone. Sierra Leoneans have built the peace. We are asking you to help us sustain it,” she stated. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65001

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting universal access to accurate, timely and credible information, describing the right to information as fundamental to democracy, accountability and meaningful public participation.

The Association made the commitment as Sierra Leone joined the global community on 28 September 2026 to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information under the theme: “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.”

SLAJ President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, said journalists have a responsibility to verify information, uphold professional and ethical standards and provide the public with accurate and contextualized reporting. He, however, stressed that journalists cannot effectively perform that responsibility without timely access to credible information and responsive public institutions.

“As journalists, we have a responsibility to verify information, uphold professional and ethical standards and provide the public with accurate and contextualized information. But journalists cannot effectively perform that role without timely access to credible information and responsive public institutions,” Alhaji Manika Kamara stated.

SLAJ noted that the rapid expansion of digital platforms has created significant opportunities for citizens to access, produce and share information. At the same time, the Association said the digital transformation has intensified challenges associated with misinformation, disinformation and malinformation.

According to Alhaji Manika Kamara, greater access to reliable information from public institutions remains critical to confronting those challenges and protecting the integrity of information available to the public.

“When accurate information is accessible, false information has less room to thrive. Transparency is one of our strongest defences against information disorder,” he said.

The SLAJ President further maintained that information integrity begins with access, arguing that openness by Government institutions provides citizens and journalists with credible information against which questionable claims can be assessed.

“Information integrity begins with access. When Governments communicate openly and institutions provide timely information, citizens are better equipped to distinguish facts from falsehoods,” Alhaji Manika Kamara stated.

Against that backdrop, SLAJ called on public institutions to strengthen compliance with their access-to-information obligations, proactively disclose information of public interest and cultivate a stronger culture of openness, accountability and transparency.

The Association also urged journalists and media organisations to continue observing professional standards in gathering, verifying and disseminating information. It similarly called on technology platforms and citizens to exercise responsibility in producing, sharing and consuming information, particularly within the rapidly evolving digital environment.

SLAJ maintained that tackling information disorder requires collective responsibility involving Government institutions, journalists, media organisations, technology platforms and citizens.

“The fight against information disorder is not the responsibility of journalists alone. It requires Government, the media, technology platforms and citizens to collectively defend the public’s right to know and the integrity of information,” Alhaji Manika Kamara said.

SLAJ’s renewed emphasis on access to information comes against the backdrop of its continuing advocacy for journalists to have unhindered professional access to public institutions.

On Friday, 25 September 2026, Alhaji Manika Kamara called on the Speaker of Parliament to reconsider the decision barring journalist Melvin Tejan Mansaray from entering the premises of the Parliament of Sierra Leone.

He made the appeal while addressing members of the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Press Gallery during their Extraordinary General Meeting at Committee Room 1 of the Parliament Building. The meeting was held under the theme: “From Draft to Covenant: Securing the Gallery’s Future.”

Addressing journalists at the meeting, Alhaji Manika Kamara emphasized that the media is not an extension of Parliament’s Public Relations wing but an independent institution with a public-interest responsibility to inform citizens and hold public institutions accountable through professional journalism.

While defending journalists’ right to carry out their work, the SLAJ President equally urged members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, fairness, accuracy and integrity.

He reminded journalists covering Parliament that their professional responsibility is not to represent political parties or partisan interests but to serve the people of Sierra Leone by providing credible and balanced information on matters of public interest.

Alhaji Manika Kamara reaffirmed SLAJ’s commitment to constructive engagement with Parliament and other public institutions while defending the professional independence of journalists and their ability to access information and report in the public interest.

The Association said the principles of access, transparency and responsible journalism remain particularly important in the digital age, where information can spread rapidly and inaccurate content can potentially undermine public trust.

SLAJ therefore stressed that strengthening access to credible information, protecting professional journalism and encouraging greater institutional transparency are essential to building an informed society and safeguarding the public’s right to know. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64998

 

Plans involving global energy company BB Energy in Sierra Leone’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas sector are raising an important question about the future of indigenous businesses that have invested heavily in building and sustaining the country’s LPG market over several decades.

The concern follows discussions between the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) and BB Energy on an offshore logistics arrangement intended to support LPG supply to a planned power generation facility.

The September 23, 2026 discussions examined possible delivery arrangements, including weekly calls by large LPG carriers and the use of smaller shuttle vessels carrying approximately 3,000 to 5,000 deadweight tonnes from an offshore mother vessel. Maritime issues involving anchorage, Ship-to-Ship operations, bunkering and other offshore services were also discussed.

While investment capable of expanding electricity generation and improving energy security should ordinarily be welcomed, the development also highlights the need for Government and regulators to ensure that major foreign investments do not unintentionally weaken indigenous companies that have spent years developing Sierra Leone’s LPG industry.

Of particular concern to existing operators is the apparent absence, based on information presently available, of broad consultation with indigenous LPG businesses before discussions reached this stage. These companies have invested millions in storage, cylinders, transportation, distribution networks, safety systems and employment while carrying much of the country’s LPG demand for decades.

BB Energy is not a small entrant. Its 2026 company profile says the group traded approximately 34.5 million metric tonnes of petroleum products and liquid gases in 2025 and generated revenues of about US$21.45 billion. Such financial and logistical strength inevitably creates questions about whether smaller Sierra Leonean businesses could compete on equal terms if the company’s operations eventually expand beyond supplying the proposed power plant.

Those concerns deserve particular attention because BB Energy itself describes the Sierra Leone power project as an anchor for wider LPG supply. Its company information states that it is an investor in the Nant power project and holds the contract to supply LPG, while its earlier corporate profile said the project could create infrastructure for broader LPG supply in Sierra Leone.

There is nothing inherently wrong with foreign investment or increased competition. Indeed, additional infrastructure, reliable supplies and competitive pricing could benefit consumers. The real issue is whether expansion will take place within a framework that allows indigenous businesses to participate rather than gradually being displaced by a multinational possessing vastly greater access to capital, international shipping, storage and supply chains.

Experiences elsewhere in West Africa demonstrate why market structure matters. Ghana has maintained a diverse downstream sector involving local and international operators. Official industry data showed 157 oil and LPG marketing companies actively marketed petroleum products during the second quarter of 2023, illustrating the importance of maintaining competition rather than allowing excessive concentration.

Sierra Leone already has a legal and institutional framework intended to protect local participation. The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency states that its objectives include prioritizing Sierra Leonean companies in contracts and developing domestic participation across petroleum, maritime, transportation and energy sectors. The Local Content Agency Act was specifically established to promote greater ownership and control of productive sectors by Sierra Leoneans.

Authorities should therefore ensure meaningful engagement among BB Energy, existing LPG companies, SLPHA, the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency before arrangements capable of reshaping the domestic LPG market are finalized.

Sierra Leone needs foreign investment, but attracting international capital should not mean sacrificing businesses that invested when the market was smaller and considerably more difficult. Development becomes more sustainable when foreign expertise and capital strengthen indigenous enterprise instead of overwhelming it.

The challenge is therefore not whether BB Energy should invest, but how Sierra Leone can structure that investment so that cheaper energy, electricity generation and improved infrastructure go hand-in-hand with protecting competition, local investment, employment and meaningful Sierra Leonean participation in the LPG value chain. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64995