Sierra Organic Palm Defrauds Environment Ministry
By: Abu Bakarr Kanu
Sierra Organic Palm Company takes over from Sierra Leone Agriculture (SLA) to invest in oil palm plantation in three chiefdoms of Bureh, Maconteh and Kasseh in Port Loko District has been exposed for not undertaking environmental social impact public disclosure to start business as usual.
In an in-depth investigation by Heritage Newspaper of the abandoned property worth millions of dollars, the investment is to increase employment, middle man power and human capital development in a bid to boost the socio-economic engine of the country.
In 2017 the Sierra Leone Agriculture closed it operations and abandoned their palm plantation with three estates and other staff quarters, properties worth millions of dollars. After they have announced to be bankrupt, the land owners sued SLA to court. The case was facilitated by NAMATI paralegal organization which won the case against SLA and the properties were handed over to the communities. But the properties were later looted.
Sierra Organic Palm expressed interest thereafter to invest in the palm oil production, the question people are now asking is who own Sierra Organic Palm. This is because many think that the same Chief Executive Officer who was investing in SLA is also using another name Sierra Organic Palm to continue the wasteful investment on their land.
Mohamed Kamara, the Country Director of Sierra Organic Palm (SOP) said that he cannot give details and payment of surface rent. He revealed that the company is registered and have engaged stakeholders to relate with the community elders of Bureh, Maconteh and Kasseh chiefdoms. He maintained that the company has agreed to pay surface rent to the land owners.
According to NAMATI paralegal organization SOP should provide a clear environmental social impact public disclosure. They further pointed out that if SOP is a new company that serious to invest, they need to engage in public disclosure of the environment.
Land Rights Activists in Port Loko District are anticipating the agreement between land owning families, government and SOP, district multi stakeholder platform with NAMATI to clearly state the position of the people on environmental public disclosure and payment of surface rent. Many people now accuse SOP of defrauding the Ministry of Environment