By Abass Jalloh
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Denis Vandi has disclosed that a 100 solar borehole project is underway but that the process is still at bidding stage and requires consultations and education .
On Wednesday 22nd June 2022, Dr. Vandi signed the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) Agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development which Sierra Leone will benefit from. It will cover the building of schools and hospitals.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and its impact on global economies, countries with a high risk of debt distress, applied for debt service suspension with their donor partners at the Saudi Fund for Development, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The DSSI agreement was signed during a five-day working delegation visit from the Saudi Fund for Development to follow up on ongoing projects like the rehabilitation and expansion of Fourah Bay Bay College (FBC), the construction of the 100 solar boreholes, and the Education support project of which Saudi Fund is providing $25 million.
The finance minister praised the borehole project initiative together with the funding of the FBC rehabilitation and expansion project.
In the health sector, Dr. Vandi stated that the initiative of a hospital project is “laudable”, as it caters for the provision of an ultra-modern facility with the right medical equipment and trained personnel that can reduce the number of people seeking medical attention overseas.
The Head of Delegation of the Saudi Fund for Development, Abdulrahman Alharbi stated that once the evaluation of the technical design of the boreholes together with the education support project was completed, they will look forward to being part of the commissioning of both projects while hoping that the preparation and appraisal of the hospital project will be completed before they return to Saudi Arabia.
In his statement the Financial Secretary Sahr Jusu said the education support project would impact historic institutions such as Government Secondary School in Kenema, Government Secondary School in Bo, and Government Secondary School in Magburaka. Prince of Wales School, Milton Magai Technical University, and the Bunumbu Teacher’s College are the other institutions earmarked for assistance.
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