By Ragan M. Conteh

In a significant engagement with mining company officials of Gento Group of Companies at Sambaia Bendugu Court Barray, residents of Tonkolili District have appealed for the construction of the Magburaka/ Bumbuna road linking Sambaia Bendugu Chiefdom.

The road, according to them, is significant both socially and economically as agricultural productivity in the district will increase.

Speaking to a mammoth crowd of Tonkolili District, the Paramount Chief of Sambaia Bendugu Chiefdom who doubles as the Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kulio Jalloh III, alluded to the fact that the road has been in that condition for donkey years without previous governments’ consideration for its pavement.

He said he believes that the road being part of the agreement with the Gento Group of Companies will be fixed up to international standards thereby improving the lives of Tonkolili district inhabitants.

The PC underscored the importance of the road which he insists, will not only benefit the people of Sambaia Bendugu but the country in general.

He said the communities have huge junk of mining and agricultural activities including livestock which the people are finding it difficult to address take care due to its terrible roads condition.

“Gento Group will be the first company to massively support the people of Tonkolili district with modern road and will in no small way reduce both transportation cost and other economic burdens on our shoulders in that area. The terrible roads conditions have caused lots of vehicles not to ply those communities. We are suffering in silence with all the massive mining operations going on in the area,” the PC lamented.

He also spoke on the importance of the government’s Local Content Policy by giving mining license to Gento whom they described as their savior.

One Martha Salia who spoke to Africa24 explained lengthily that over decades they have suffered huge losses due to the terrible nature of their roads.

“Our mining lands haven’t solved our miserable situations despite the presence of multi-national companies which is why we are demanding from  companies to help us fix our roads. This will not only alleviate our sufferings but will also increase economic growth in the country,” she stressed.

The hilly community, she said, is also very significant for the tourism sector once the bad roads are fixed up.

Meanwhile, Martha has called for government’s intervention to support them, noting that Sambaia Bendugu is part of Sierra Leone.

Another resident, Musa Koroma also expressed similar frustrations, despite the huge contributions he said they are making to national budget.

“We have agreed with Gento Group for the Kasafoni Mining Concession and have also asked government to support our community’s decision,” he added.

He disclosed that Gento has promised to improve lives in their community, stating that their commitment and support will help to strengthen and address their problems.

He said the construction of the Magburaka/Bumbuna linking Sambaia Bendugu will help to address part of the youth problems in that area.

Speaker after speaker spoke on the importance of the road and how foreign companies and foreigners have exploited their land leaving them to wallow in abject poverty.