The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on NaSCA and NGO’s in the Sierra Leone Parliament, Chaired by Hon. Dr. Roland F. Kargbo, has ended a four day on-the-spot oversight visitations in some operational areas of selected NGO’s and NaCSA projects in Port Loko, Bombali and Tonkolili District in the Northern part of Sierra Leone. The aim of the oversight is to get first-hand information on projects implemented by NGO’s and NaCSA for and on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone
In his respective statements on the sights visited, Hon. Dr. R. Kargbo said the Committee has a constitutional mandate to carry out oversight on NaCSA and NGO’s projects in the country; citing the relevant constitutional provisions and further noted that it was not a witch-hunt but it was their responsibility as MPs to oversee their work.
In Port Loko District, the Committee visited the Kagbanthama and Mange Town Community Health Posts in the BKM Chiefdom, constructed by NaCSA. During the tour of the facilities alongside, staff of NaCSA, MPs raised serious concerns on the delay in the completion of the projects, the poor quality of furniture supplied by the contractors and the delay in handing over of the said facilities to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the beneficiary Communities.
In Tonkolili District, the Committee visited the TDC Primary School at Petifu Line, TDC Primary School and Maranathan Senior Secondary School both in Masibgbi. Unlike in Port Loko District, the Committee was encouraged by the quality of furniture supplied by the contractors but however concerned structures which had leakages and cracks all over.
The contracts for the said projects (Quick Wins), according to documents, were awarded in 2017 and they were to have lasted for six months but lasted for over three years and as at the time of the oversight, they have not been officially handed over.
In addition, the Committee was concerned by the action of NaCSA to give all contractors their retention fees without the issuance of completion.
In addition to NaCSA projects, the Committee also visited NGOs and some of their projects in Bombali District and they were Mankind Activities for Development Accredition Movement (MADAM), Matei Initiative Empowerment Program for Sustainable Development, the Bridge of Hope and Inter Aide. Unfortunately, the three NGOs the Committee intended to visit in Port Loko; Poverty Eradication Center, Safe Water Sierra Leone and Team and Team International were not found.
In Bombali, the Committee was extremely impressed with the work of Mankind Activities for Development Accredition Movement (MADAM), the Bridge of Hope and Inter Aide and called on Government double their partnership efforts with especially MADAM and the Bridge of Hope.
The Committee, in its concluding statements to both NaCSA and NGOs, disclosed that they would be summoned to Parliament for further engagements.
