By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
Deputy Leader of Government Business, Bashiru Silikie, has called for a parliamentary investigation into alleged illegal charges imposed on importers at the country’s ports, warning that the practice is worsening the suffering of Sierra Leoneans and increasing the cost of doing business.
Speaking in Parliament, Hon. Silikie said concerns have been raised over the operations of Africa Global logistics and express service providers responsible for tracking shipping containers entering the country. According to him, importers are already required to pay a standard fee of $5,000 for container tracking services, yet they are allegedly being forced to pay additional fines of $1,000 without any legal backing.
The Deputy Leader questioned the legality of the fines, stating that there is currently no law authorizing such penalties. He therefore announced plans to move a motion urging the Parliamentary Committee on Transparency and Accountability to investigate the matter.
He further alleged that many importers and shipping agents have become frustrated by the excessive costs, with some reportedly abandoning their containers, which later end up being auctioned.
Hon. Silikie proposed that all monies collected through what he described as unlawful fines should be refunded to affected importers if investigations confirm that no legal framework exists for the charges.
The lawmaker also turned attention to the cement sector, expressing concern over rising cement prices despite government concessions granted to importers and manufacturers. He reminded Parliament that agreements had previously been approved granting companies a grace period of four years to establish cement manufacturing operations in Sierra Leone.
According to him, those agreements were intended to reduce dependence on imports and stabilize prices, but instead the country continues to witness persistent increases in the cost of cement.
He therefore called on the Finance Committee, working together with the Public Accounts Committee, to investigate all agreements involving cement companies operating in Sierra Leone. The investigation, he said, should determine whether companies benefiting from government concessions are complying with their obligations while continuing to import cement and raise prices.
Hon. Silikie concluded by informing Parliament that he would formally submit the motions for debate during the next parliamentary sitting.
The proposed investigations are expected to spark wider national debate on import regulation, transparency in revenue collection, and the rising cost of essential commodities in Sierra Leone.
