By Crispina Cummings
Parliament has ratified a $12.2 million loan agreement between Sierra Leone and the Arab Bank for Economic Development (BADEA) for the rehabilitation and expansion of Fourah Bay College.
A Minister of State from the finance ministry, Momodu Kargbo said the agreement would also procure laboratory and other equipment and vehicles, adding that the parliamentary oversight committee for Works and Education should be monitoring the project.
Making his contribution, the chairman of the House finance committee, Hassan Sheriff, MP, cautioned that securing the loan was one thing but implementing the project was another. He said serious steps should be taken to monitor the project.
MP of Constituency 92, Pateh Bah urged parliament to ratify the loan because “FBC is of big concern to me and the whole nation”.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Chernor Bah said that it was a shame that FBC could not submit its financial report for the 2011 audit report. He said however that all should come on board as Sierra Leoneans to work for the good of the country and that all actors involved in the loan agreement should ensure its successful implementation.
Deputy Minority Leader of Parliament, Ansu Kaikai said Sierra Leone lacked the culture of maintenance, adding that students should also have the responsibility and moral obligation to take care of the facility and not just the administration.
Earlier, the governing body of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) had approved another US$ 13 Million loan for the development of Fourah Bay College making a total of US$ 25.2 million provided by BADEA. The government of Sierra Leone and other partners are expected to provide the balance of about $ 10 million. The co-financed loan is among the 22 loans and grants approved during OFID’s 141st session to boost socioeconomic development in its 23 partner countries.
