BY FOHAD MBAIMBA KALLAY IN KONO
The Commissioner of National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, with the German Financial Cooperation team through KFW Development Bank, has concluded a monitoring tour and inspection on the progress of the work of the Pro-Poor Growth for Peace and Consolidation GPC 3 PROJECT IN Kono district.
According to the Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, their visit was to examine progress, inspect, and ascertain firsthand information in connection with the ongoing construction of the two bridges and to provide technical advice where necessary to the project funding partners.
Commissioner Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, for the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), revealed that their inspection visits also brought them the heartfelt joy of the people, and they shared their depressed stories connected to the Koakor Bridge.
Giving a grief background of the Koakor Bridge, Commissioner Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina for the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) noted that the bridge is one of the major bridges, and it is in a strategic location in the district that links chiefdoms like Gbense and Sandor chiefdoms, respectively, and it’s also linking to the newly established Falaba District.
“President Julius Maada Bio has assured the people of this nation that he will surely do anything he says, and Kono is in the heart of President Bio,” he said.
Commissioner Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina of NaCSA underscored the eminence of the two bridges, Koakor and Yekuma, under construction; they serve as connective to chiefdoms and another sister district to enhance easy accessibility transporting local agricultural products to the main market of Koidu. He cited that after the completion, the bridges will reduce the cost of transportation fairs, and it will help improve the social-economic situation in the district and the country by extension and help protect the lives and properties of the beneficiary communities. He stated that it would aid sick people, children, antenatal women, and lactating mothers to have easy access to nearby health facilities.
He maintained that they realized the 42-meter Koakor Bridge crossing point, the water level had increased, and they had technically jointly agreed to extend another meter to avoid water disturbance to the people.
“Finances are available despite the GPC3 folding up, and that is why they decided to visit the project sites to ascertain the requisite information related to the projects. They were able to identify some problems and provide technical advice to the contractors for quality work to be done,” he noted.
The Commissioner for the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, assured the people of Kono that the Koakor Bridge will be completed in the next two months, while the Yekuma Bridge needs some time, considering the extension of the work.
He urged the beneficiary communities to always visit the project sites for quality work to be done.
Salifu Mansaray is the Program Manager for Pro-Poor Growth for Peace and Consolidation (GPC) 3 POJECT through the government of Sierra Leone with support from the German Financial Cooperation team through KFW Development Bank, said that three chiefdoms benefited from (GPC) 3 POJECT, Gbense, Kamara and Sandor Chiefdoms respectively. He disclosed that he contracted the projects last year, 2023, and the project was expected to end in a six-month period. Adding that Koakor Bridge crossing point, it’s at the accomplish point, and very soon, the people will start to use it. The Yekuma Bridge will take some time.
Representatives from the German Financial Cooperation team, through the KFW Development Bank, commended the contractors for their good work and reiterated their support for completing the projects.
Engineer Mohamed Fofanah stated that the 64.9-meter-long and 6-meter-wide Koakor Bridge project started in February 2023 and assured the people of Kono that by June 2024, the bridge would be officially in use.
He thanked the community people for their support in ensuring the successful completion of the project.
Bobson Sesay, the sit engineer of the Yekuma 21 Meters Bridge, stated in November 2023 that they would start the floating process by the end of April 2024.
Local authorities and residents thanked and appreciated the effort of the government of Sierra Leone through NaCSA and the German Financial Cooperation team through KFW Development Bank for their timely. They cited that they had lost many of their relatives and properties in the rivers before now, but the modern bridges will salvage their burning issues. They commended the contractors for the good work. They assured their support to enhance the successful accomplishment of the projects.
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