By Ragan M. Conteh

The acting Leader of the opposition in Parliament, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma, has disclosed in Parliament that the lack of low cost housing in the country has resulted to “landlords becoming demigods.”

He made the statement while rounding up the debate on the bill entitled, “The Sierra Leone Shipping Agency Act 2024.”

Hon. Koroma said there are lots of companies in country that are supposed to build lots of low cost houses across the country but unfortunately they are not doing so.

According to him, to rent a house or apartment in particularly Freetown is very expensive as a result; people cannot afford housing in the country.

He therefore pleaded with the Speaker to look into matter and for Parliament to attract companies to build affordable housing for the masses.

Speaking on the Sierra Leone Shipping Agency Act 2024, he described the Bill as a very laudable Bill. However, the Leader raised concerns over circumstances in which State-owned entities found themselves inept in light of powers and effective revenue mobilization, making a comparative reference to the moribund State Lottery and Sierratel. He used the opportunity to emphatically oppose the lethargy of state institutions with similar powers, but could not stand the test of time to raise revenue. He expressed worries over the government’s own revenue generation institutions with the same powers but could not support the government to pay the wage bill. He also raised other serious concerns, including the exclusion of the National Revenue Authority from the Board as an irony. Hon. Koroma concluded by advising those piloting Bills to always come along with extant laws.