01 February, 2021 (232News)
FREETOWN – Consortium of Civil Society on Social and Economic Justice has expressed concerned over the forcible entry and pre-eviction of Guoji Investment and called on President Bio to intervene.
The pre-eviction allegedly pioneered by the Ministry of Trade under the leadership of the Hon. Minister, Dr. Hinga Sandy and his Deputy Minister in favor of an Indian Businessman from Jolaks contrary to the Joint Venture Agreement signed between the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Guoji Investment and Development Company.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday at SLAJ headquarters in Freetown, the Consortium of Civil Society on Social and Economic Justice Chairman Mohamed Kamara said from their findings, the said agreement was designed to foster Sierra-Sino Friendship to develop trade and bilateral relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Sierra Leone to support and strengthen local markets.
“We observed that small contingent of armed police and military personnel were deployed without the knowledge of Guoji. Also erecting of makeshift structures is ongoing and we also received complaints of human rights abuse by the said military and police personnel allegedly under the direct instructions of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.”
He pointed out that they received complaints of human rights abuse from local and foreign personnel of Guoji Investment Company of denial of their business premises. In addition, it was allegedly reported that the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry eventually went to the aforesaid premises of Guoji/staff officials that they will be evicted on the 31st January 2021.
“This we have considered as a violation of the joint venture agreement that was signed seventeen years ago between Guoji Investment Company and the government of Sierra Leone.”
In their bids to clarify the alleged incident on the said matter, they contacted the Ministry of Trade through the Permanent Secretary and he told them that ‘the decision is government decision and it is irreversible’.
Considering the bilateral relationship that have existed between the government of Sierra Leone and the People’s Republic of China through the Sierra Leone and Sino Friendship Cooperation, they demand for the following:
1. We are calling on the Office of the President to intervene considering his efforts to way-in investors to Sierra Leone and pay critical attention to the Ministry of Trade and Industry in line with their dealings with foreign investment companies.
2. We are calling on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to intervene and save Sierra Leone from another court arbitration and embarrassment.
3. We are calling on the attention of the Inspector General of Police and the Army Chief of Staff to look into the activities of armed military and police personnel deployed at the precinct of Guoji Investment Company and create peaceful business environment.
4. We are calling on the Parliamentary Committee on Trade to look into the matter and act in the interest of the country.
5. We are also calling on the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to put on hold the pre-eviction of 31st January 2021 and all activities of Jolaks.
6. We are also calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene for a peaceful resolution.
“As members of the Consortium, we have committed ourselves to ensure that the issue is settled amicably and save the nation from international embarrassment as such incident has the propensity to destroy the good relationship that has been existing between Sierra Leone and China.”
Guoji Investment Company Marketing Manager Fefegula Moore Foday said the ministry of Trade should go back to the drawing table and reconsider the contribution the company has made to the country.
