By Nasratu Kargbo
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) Sheku Lexmond Koroma has warned investors against boycotting of the legitimate official channels which is his office to avoid being duped by fraudsters.
Speaking during the budget hearing on the 21 September 2021, the SLIEPA boss said some investors are in the habit of boycotting the system, even though they as an agency have made their presence and purpose known through different platforms. He stated that with all the needed information, some investors still bypass the system in order to make more profit illegally but in the end are duped.
He spoke about the various methods employed by the fraudsters including claims of possessing diamond and gold and even establishing websites to give a false authenticity to their crooked ways. The CEO explained that on several occasions investors have called him to verify certain individuals who at the end of the day were not what they claimed to be. He further explained that they have prevented investors from being duped several times and institutions such as Office of National Security (ONS) and others have helped them in the process.
He therefore called on “all investors to come to SLIEPA”, stating that it is the agency’s duty to facilitate activities for the investors; by booking an appointment for them with the necessary ministries and all other stakeholders concerned, adding that the institution would also do follow-ups and everything done without any charges. Koroma warned that if any investment company is duped, it can sometimes be difficult for SLIEPA to track the scammers and the institution cannot be blamed, although he admitted it is not good for the image of the country.
Speaking on the 2022 budget, the CEO said the agency’s plans to work on different programs that focus on investment, aftercare, export and research. He highlighted that the investment programs will facilitate everything for the investors in and out of the country. With regards export, he explained that the more investors are brought into the country, the more exportation will increase. Throwing light on aftercare, he said SLIEPA looks after the investors before they get to the country and after they leave.
SLIEPA’s amount budgeted for 2022 is about 7 billion; Koroma explained that this amount is to take care of all the activities outlined for 2022.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (27/09/21)
