By Saio Marrah
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Thursday 11th November, 2021, approved defence industry cooperation between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of Turkey. The agreement entails the development, production, procurement and maintenance of defence goods and services.
The Minister of Defence, Retired Brigadier Kellie Hassan Conteh in addressing members of Parliament, noted that the agreement seeks to support the Republic of Sierra Leone Arm Forces (RSLAF) in diverse ways. He said it will develop and strengthen the security system in both countries and improve the security industry cooperation by deriving scientific and technical capability in modern defence and other security systems.
He added that the agreement will benefit the RSLAF since Turkey will be willing to transfer skills and other inventions they will be coming up with. He noted that other security sectors within the country will also benefit from it. He also added that they intend to expand it to other security sectors in modernizing their activities.
A member of parliament from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), who also doubles as the Chairman on Committee of Defence , Sahr Egbinda Juana of Constituency 002 , Kailahun district, described the agreement as a laudable one. He described RSLAF as one of the best in Africa, but lack the necessary equipment to carry out their military activities.
He said for the minister bringing an agreement that will ensure the military not only ordering military equipment but also to be part of its manufacturing, distribution and maintenance, is a great initiative.
Another Member of Parliament from the main opposition All People’s Congress party in parliament, Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh, of Constituency 032 in Bombali district, said it is a development for both countries, but he called for it to be implemented according to the good intention of the agreement.
He also called on the Defence Minister to use the agreement to fully capacitate the Maritime and the Air wing of the RSLAF.
He said at the moment, the Maritime wing is incapable of patrolling and securing the country’s sea because it does not have requisite ammunition to do so and that the country is losing huge resources by that.
Another opposition MP, Abdul Karim Kamara of constituency 059, Kambia district applauding the military for being among the few institutions that he believes are highly professional and said he had no doubt about their capabilities when on peace keeping missions.
He also called on the minister to make sure they benefit from Turkey by bringing more training, and transfer of knowledge. Kamara also called for better improvement of the military personnel in diverse areas like the improvement of their barracks among other things.
He also called on the government to bring in similar agreement in areas of rice production from countries like China and Thailand.
Another main opposition MP, Alusine Osaio Kamara, of Constituency 058, Kambia , who is a retired military officer, called for improvement in the conditions of service for the military.
The Minister Conteh in his response said the concerns by the MPs will be taken into consideration during the implementation of the agreement that will last for two years and may be extended.
He said Turkey is among the few countries that is open to more of the opportunities they seek.
He added that the president has already done an agreement in United Arab Emirate for RSLAF to plant and produce its own food to reduce the burden on the government.
Copyright © Politico Online 12/11/21
