By Alpha Abu
Maripoma Enterprise Limited has shipped into Sierra Leone a huge batch of machinery to kick-start construction of the Tikonko-Mattru Jong Road in the South of the country.
Chief Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa and Journalists were on Monday taken through a vast area at Queen Elizabeth Quay in Freetown where the machines have been offloaded.
In all, 64 units of brand new machines and vehicles are to be utilised by Maripoma in their operations; they include Track Excavators, Vibratory Soil Compactors, Wheel Loaders, Motor Graders, Backhoe Loaders, Tipper Trucks, and Artheads.
According to Maripoma’s Country Director, Mahama Ayariga, there is an extra for each set of required equipment brought in by the company for the road project. He also stated that they have three sea cargo containers full of spare parts for all the machines and other equipment in their possession.
He admitted the delay in getting started was due to the global shortage of chips for some of their equipment which took 7-8 months to address.
Ayariga was certain that it will take a week to get all the machinery to the site where work will commence, saying the company is well- resourced for the road work. He said they are aware of the short window for full-scale civil construction work in the country because of the rainy season, and would therefore take advantage to speed up their work in the coming months.
Chief Minister Saffa in his reaction said he was impressed with what he had seen so far. He praised the Ministry of Finance and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRSA) for their collaboration in ensuring Maripoma settles down for the start of work.
He said the road project to be undertaken by the company will bring huge benefits to the country and will create job opportunities for the local population.
The Tinkonko-Mattru 47 Kilometre road to be constructed is to cost $28 Million. Funds for the project largely came from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA under a loan agreement, with $3 Million coming from the Sierra Leone Government.
The road when constructed will open mainland Mattru Jong in the Bonthe District to huge trading opportunities with outlying towns in the neighbouring districts of Bo and Moyamba.
Maripoma which is headquartered in Ghana is a well-established company involved in not just Civil Engineering, but also General Merchandising.
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