By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The Deputy Director of Policy Planning and Research at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sheikh Ahmed Tunis has told Politico that they are committed to transparency in all their programs. He made the comment in reaction to complaints by the Sierra Leone Chamber of Agri-business Development (SLeCAD) over EPA’s alleged lack of transparency and accountability in its taxing matrix.
EPA regulates the environment and advises government and businesses on all environmental issues. As part of its mandate, it also does assessment based on several indicators to issue out an Environmental Impact Assessment license to investors with potential impact on the environment.
“We are committed to transparency. The monies we collect go to the consolidated fund. If you go to our laboratory, we bought all the equipment’s out of these monies. As I am speaking now, I am just from the ports, where we just cleared a very expensive gadget,” Tunis said.
Whiles explaining, Tunis showed Politico some of the indicators in the matrix and the corresponding points which are then calculated as charges for the necessary tax.
Last week, the Executive Director of SLeCAD, Ahmed Nannoh told journalists in a press conference that they are not happy with the matrix EPA used to calculate taxes for agri-businesses. It followed an incident involving the baby food manufacturing company, Bennimix whose operations were shutdown over its failure to secure environmental license. Bennimix has since paid the fine, which SLeCAD said was too exorbitant.
Nanoh said EPA’s ‘one size fits all’ matrix was unfair to the business and they called for a review within 21 days.
“We want a specific, tailor made tax system for the Agro-businesses,” he said.
But according to Tunis, the information in the matrix doesn’t have anything to do with EPA. He said the matrix was determined by Parliament and that they have never attempted to manipulate it.
“This matrix was generic. It was meant to cover all companies, from solar, agriculture, mining, oil, etcetera. That is what Parliament did, we did not set this matrix,” Tunis said.
He however added that the regulator, under the chairmanship of Professor Foday Moriba Jaward, is looking at introducing sector specific matrix. He said that they just completed new guidelines for mini-grid operators, and that they would soon start to develop matrix for agri-businesses. Tunis said they i are willing to consult all industry stakeholders.
© 2019 Politico Online
