By Nasratu Kargbo
A civil society activist, Tamba Deen from Development Watch organisation has recommended that government capacitates and empower the Government Printing Department (GPD) with the needed logistics in order to avoid printing the country’s sensitive documents outside Sierra Leone. Speaking during the budget hearing on the 6th October 2021, Deen stated that “it is a shame for our secret documents to be printed outside Sierra Leone”.
He said the government could stop printing passports, licenses, ballot sheets and other sensitive documents out of the country, if only the government would equip the institution with all the necessary equipment needed to thrive.
“It’s a shame for us to hear that licenses are not available, or we are waiting for the machine in Ghana, let us empower the government printing department,” he said. He explained that the country is struggling with the production of license and passports, and noted that the Government Printing Department has the capacity to do the job, adding that all they need is the support from government to get modernised machines.
He recommended that the budget committee in tandem with government printing department should take a look at Ghana comparatively and make sure to copy some of their methodologies to develop and elevate the country’s printing press into a standardised one where in the country’s sensitive documents can be printed in the country.
Deen made this contribution after the Government Printer (GP) Salifu Lahai Suma made mention of the challenges they face as an institution. Suma mentioned the MOU signed between the government and Excellent Printing Press from Ghana, which he observed has not been in no way beneficial to the government and has yielded no dividend. He said the agreement had long expired, yet they still occupy the government printing press facility, which makes it difficult for the institution to achieve its plans.
He said part of the work plan is to remind Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of their “Obligation to do all their printing at the government printing department as the 2019 Finance Act mandates”. Suma explained that their institution was created to cater for every stationery needs of the government of Sierra Leone. He however stated that the attitude of Sierra Leoneans has been a problem. It was noted that the printing department can generate more money if MDAs were doing all their stationery business with the GPD instead of private printing firms.
Suma also spoke about the immense challenges faced with regards maintenance of machines; the PG explained that when they have issues with their machine, a technician has to be flown into the country by their partners to fix the problem. He said technicians are not readily available and therefore it is needful to train personnel who will be responsible for the maintenance of the printing machines.
The issue of mobility and infrastructure was also laid down before the house.
The GPD requested for the sum of 6, 789, 000, 000, 00 (Six billion seven hundred and eighty nine million Leones) to carry out its activities for the 2022 financial year.
Copyright © Politico Online 08/10/21
