By Politico staff writer
The Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment, and the Resettlement Action Plan reports for Phase IV of the Mano River Union Road Development and Transport Facilitation Programme has been unanimously accepted by Stakeholders in Kailahun District.
The endorsements were made in a three-day public disclosure event that were held in Koindu, Kailahun and Freetown from July 24 to 26 respectively.
This project phase according to a report by the CommunicationSpecialist of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority Keifa Mohamed Jaward, involves the Upgrading of the Buedu- Koindu-Guinea/Liberia Border Roads Project.
The ESHIA provides the benefits and possible environmental, social and health risks, and adverse impacts associated with the implementation of road construction activities under the programme, and their respective mitigation measures. The RAP provides procedures for involuntary resettlement of project affected persons (PAPs).
The public disclosure of the ESHIA and RAP reports were in fulfillment of both the national and the African Development Bank's safeguards requirements,according to the report.
The public disclosure gives project affected communities and other interested persons the opportunity to participate in the ESHIA process and express their concerns and opinions that may be incorporated in the final report.
During his address to stakeholders at the Kailahun District Council Hall, the Deputy Director General of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Ing. Alfred Jalil Momodu, said although road construction projects are beneficial to everyone, there are some adverse impacts accompanying them that cannot be ignored. "That is why we are here to prepare your minds and also work with you to minimize those adverse impacts and enhance the beneficial ones," he stated.
Ing. Momodu said that every development comes with a price, and that some people should be ready to pay the price for the benefit of all. "We know that some of you may have sentimental and cultural attachments to the properties that are to be demolished within the road corridor, but you have to accept the situation and move on," he continued.
However, in Koindu Town, the Executive Chairman of EPA-SL, Dr. Bondi Gavao alluded to the fact that the benefits of the road construction outweighs the adverse impacts, and assured the stakeholders that his agency shall work with SLRA to ensure the satisfactory mitigation of all adverse impacts associated with the project implementation.
In terms of the beneficial impacts of the project, the ESHIA report stated that the road project will reduce travel time and cost, improve safety, enhance the economy through trade facilitation, restore and improve security, and create jobs.
On the negative impacts, the report stated that the road construction activities has the potential to cause noise pollution, air pollution, accidents, occupational health hazards, disease transmission and involuntary resettlement.
However, the report outlined measures to be implemented to mitigate the adverse impacts, including the payment of compensation to property affected persons, regular maintenance of equipment, enforcing the use of personal protective equipment, proper disposal of waste, traffic management and awareness raising on sexually transmitted and communicable diseases, and other health problems associated with the project activities.
After every presentation at the three locations, stakeholders were granted the opportunity to seek clarifications, propose better alternatives to those outlined in the reports and engage in an open poll to approve or disapprove the reports.
The residents and stakeholders of the project communities and other interested persons that were present at the public disclosure events in all three locations overwhelmingly approved the project in the presence of representatives from EPA-SL, Anti-Corruption Commission, Civil Society and the media.
In his statement, the Paramount Chief of Kissi Teng Chiefdom, Emmanuel Nyama Ganawa III expressed his delight to know that the road that has for decades been a major challenge to the movements of people and goods in Kailahun District is about to be upgraded to asphaltic surface layer.
The members of Parliament representing the project communities in Kailahun District, Emilia Lolloh Tongi and Sahr Tengbeh applauded the reports and urged SLRA, MRU and AfDB to fast track the project implementation process for the road works to be completed during the tenure of the current government.
The EPA-SL is expected to present the final reports to its Board of Directors for approval before the African Development Bank provides the funds for the actual implementation of the project.
The ESHIA and RAP were jointly presented by the Director of Environment and Social Safety, Lucy Essa and the Project Manager for the MRU Road Development and Transport Facilitation Programme, Ing. Patrick James Lavaly.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (31/07/23)
