Aberdeen-Lumley Beach Cleaning Exercise: A Collaborative Effort for Environmental Preservation

26/10/2024

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency, today, October 26, 2024 embarked on a cleaning exercise at the Aberdeen-Lumley beach, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Freetown. This initiative aimed to enhance the beach’s appeal by ensuring a cleaner, more environmentally-friendly coastal area, fostering tourism, and promoting civic engagement in environmental preservation.

The beach cleaning event attracted community members, government representatives, and volunteers from various local organizations, reflecting a collective commitment to maintaining the country’s natural beauty. Volunteers worked together to clear litter, dispose of waste responsibly, and ensure the beach area is pristine and welcoming for both locals and tourists.

The involvement of the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency is crucial, as it highlighted the importance of local partnerships in achieving sustainable development. By supporting such initiatives, the Agency aims to increase environmental awareness, reinforce the nation’s commitment to sustainable tourism, and encourage active civic participation among Sierra Leoneans.

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs emphasized that maintaining a clean and safe beach environment is integral to promoting Sierra Leone’s image as a prime eco-tourism destination. They expressed gratitude to all volunteers and stakeholders for their efforts, stressing that continued partnerships and community involvement are key to preserving the country’s natural resources for future generations.

The Aberdeen-Lumley beach cleaning exercise not only succeeded in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the beach but also served as an educational platform, inspiring Sierra Leoneans to protect their environment and contribute to sustainable development.

In 2019, the The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) successfully negotiated with the Supermarkets Management Committee for all supermarkets across the country to create a dedicated space for MiSL products to be visibly displayed. Recent monitoring visits by SLLCA and feedback from local businesses supplying MiSL products to these supermarkets revealed that there hasbeen a tremendous increase in sales of MiSL products.  This has triggered the number of Sierra Leoneans coming forward to join the MiSL business line, including entrepreneurs in the provinces.

The MiSL shop is an existing structure that SLLCA and GIZ EPP IV have rented and
refurbished. The location has indoor spaces to display products and also stock a reasonable amount for quick replenishment and to also serve as an exchange space where some local
products will be consumed by customers on-the-spot. Products will be organized based on product families (subsector) as follows:

1. Foods and Beverages

2. Clothing and Textiles

3. Beauty Products and Cosmetics

4. Home and Office Decoration (small items)

Click on the link below to fill the form online!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjWIlPO1cXk-JvtTRapn541mviwebhIoYqy1ZB90L73shIlg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Download and fill the application form now!

Note: After filling the application form, return to the nearest pick-up point as advertised.
You can also send via email: info@localcontent.gov.sl or to the Sierra Leone Local Content Agency’s headquarters at 21 Steward Street, Off Sanders Street, Freetown.

The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) has on Friday April 12, 2024 paid a familiarization visit to the Sunbird Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited (formerly Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited), at the Mabilafu, Mara Chiefdom in the Bombali District.   

In his welcome address, the Associate Finance Manager of the Sunbird Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited, Patrick Tucker said that the visit of the Agency shows a very good recognition to their company, adding that they are pleased to work with the Agency.  

The Director General of SLLCA, Mr. Fodeba Daboh disclosed that the Agency’s visit is just a familiarization visit. “We are here to listen to your concerns and challenges with regards Local Content issues,” he said, noting that many time Multinational Companies take the work of the Agency as an institution that Police them.

He said that the Agency’s mandate cut across every sector, pointing out that that the Agency’s mandate is to create sufficient linkages between foreign Companies and the local businesses.

He disclosed that they want to localize Sierra Leone’s economy thereby making it as a local content economy. He said that they want to see Sierra Leonean employees in managerial positions.

He said they believe in localization and value chain development. He said that they do not settle for low standards.

He disclosed that the Agency is working on a Critical Skills Database where Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad can upload their skills and curriculum vitae, adding that Multinational companies will login to the Agency’s website and search for the relevant skills they need for their companies which will prevent Multinational companies from bringing experts in country to do the same job that a Sierra Leonean can do.

He commended Sunbird Bioenergy Limited for submitting their Local Content Plan, noting that the Company do not need to submit another Plan until after three years. “However, they need to enter into a partnership agreement with the Agency so that the Agency will monitor the implementation of their plan,” he said. 

DG Daboh told them about the Local Content Audit which is conducted once every year to ensure their compliance level.

He said that they regulate to ensure compliance to Local Content laws, noting that quiet recently, the Agency has approved the Local Content Plan for Sunbird Bioenergy Sierra Leone Limited.

He disclosed that local content is about job creation for Sierra Leoneans, noting that the President Julius Maada Bio has declared 500,000 jobs for Sierra Leoneans which the Agency will coordinate and facility the space so as to actualize what the President has said.

“So, we are here today to meet with this Company to see their facilities and staff,” he said, noting that the Agency will come again at any time this year to evaluate the compliance rate of Sunbird.

The Director General of Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) on Thursday, February 8, 2024, received the “Most Outstanding Local Content Agency Across Africa, at the Pearle Beach Resort and SPA, FLIC EN FLAC in MAURITIUS.

The awards ceremony was part of the African Governance Conference and Awards organized by both the International Governance Secretariat and the Business Executive Media Group in Ghana and partners under the Theme: “Utilizing the Dividends of Good Governance in a Post-Covid Africa and Preventing the Occurrence of Coup D’états in Democratic Africa”.

The awards ceremony was well attended by African leaders, business owners, and innovators across Africa, among others.

Some of the awardees are the Minister of Industry in Ethiopia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Burundi, the Director General of Medical Supply Agency of Kenya, and the Minister of Finance and Budget in Djibouti, among others.
The award scheme has been conceptualized to identify and publicly recognize sovereign institutions from all across Africa, multilateral institutions active across the continent, and private enterprises that have made exemplary contributions to good governance on the continent about political governance and socio-economic development.
The Director General thanked God and the organizers for recognizing them at a continental level.
He dedicated the award to the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio for allowing him to serve, and also to the entire team at the SLLCA ranging from the Directors, Managers, and all other staff of the Agency.
He also dedicated the award to his family and the local entrepreneurs. “I believe this will allow us to do a lot more, for the fact that we have been recognized for the outstanding Local Content in Africa, doesn’t mean we will stop doing more, but rather this is a wakeup call for us to redouble our efforts,” he said. “We will not rest until all that we are trying to address in here is fixed, that is, the Africa that we want.”
He disclosed that they want to ensure that they don’t settle for substandard as an African Union, adding that he believed that they can do more in developing the Africa that we want through good governance.