By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is set to transform the Hockey Pitch at Wilberforce Barrack into a military parade square.
This was disclosed at the ongoing budget discussions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 at the Ministry of Finance, Freetown on 17th October 2023.
While explaining the ministry’s deliverables, Director General of the Defence Ministry, Mohamed Brima Daboh noted that part of their FY 2024 deliverables is to recruit and train 300 (three thousand) personnel which process will commence this month in November. He said they want to see the operationalization of the Armed Forces Construction Company realized.
He stated that the MOD would want to see the delivery of major equipment for Peace Support Operations by the military. He also said that they want to ensure President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers Manifesto is achieved by improving the cultivation of 350 acres of Boli Land and 50 Acres of Inland Valley Swamp at Matobong and Kholifa Mabang in 2024 compared to the 250 acres of rice farm at Mano Dase in Moyamba District in 2023.
Daboh pointed out that for FY 2023, MOD completed the Warrant Officers and Sergeants’ Mess at Wilberforce barracks and they intend to resume work at the Kambia barracks. He said that they have procured major equipment for Principal Staff Officers (PSO) and have completed the tender process for the procurement of armoured personnel carriers.
While explaining the ministry’s expenditure pattern for FY 2022 to 2023, he said the original budget approved for the ministry was NLE 117.3 (one hundred and seventeen million, three hundred thousand New Leones) of which NLE 112.3 (one hundred and twelve million, three hundred thousand New Leones) was in respect of recurrent expenditure and NLE 5000 (five million New Leones) was for Domestic Development expenditure.
He said the total spent as of 31st December 2022 was NLE 182.3 (one hundred and eighty-two million New Leones) which is NLE 65 million above the approved budget.
Daboh explained that the original budget approved for the ministry for FY 2023 was NLE 176.5 (one hundred and seventy-six million New Leones) of which NLE 156.0 (one hundred and fifty-six million New Leones) was in respect of recurrent expenditure and 20.5 million New Leones was for Domestic Development expenditure. He noted that the total released as of 20 September 2023 is NLE 394.7 (three hundred and ninety-four million, seven hundred thousand New Leones).
The MoD’s mission is to formulate, implement, monitor, and evaluate strategic defence policies for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces that is fostered within a framework of democratic governance.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (23/10/23)
