Sierra Leone News: Local Content Agency &Tacugama Sanctuary Sign MoU
By Stephen V. Lansana
Sierra Leone Local Content Agency (SLLCA) and Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Tuesday August 13, 2019, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Freetown.
The purpose of the MoU is to improve tourism and environmental safeguard.
In his address, the Director General of SLLCA, Fodeba Daboh said that the MoU will foster socioeconomic transformation in the country, especially in tourism and environment sectors. He said that unlike the local content of other countries, Sierra Leone’s local content cut across every sector, adding that the tourism sector remains a critical sector to the Agency.
“It is undoubtedly clear that the government’s effort to develop the private sector has been justified by the enactment of SLLCA Act of 2016. This Act has been identified as critical mass in achieving government strives towards human development. If the SLLCA Act is well implemented, it will address issues like employment, poverty alleviation, wealth creation and sustainable economic development for indigenous Sierra Leoneans,” DG Daboh said.
He said that the MoU outlines how the Agency and Tacugama will work in a beneficial partnership and ensure effective collaboration to promote local content, as a driving force in the economic development of Sierra Leone, through the utilization of available Sierra Leonean goods and services.
“I want to underscore the fact that whilst SLLCA’s mandate cut across all sectors, our agency’s strategic pillar, which is in line with the government national development plan, continues to make tourism and the hospitality a priority.” He said that work of Tacugama is complementing government’s effort.
The Development Manager of Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Aram Kazanojian said that they are leading the work in fighting climate change for the past decades in the country, adding that in combating climate change, they need everyone including SLLCA and other government institutions. He explained that Chimpanzees have been declared as the national animal of the country by the Ministry of Agriculture, pointing out that they are wildlife species that are critical to the development of a nation.
He said that Tacugama is obeying the local content because 90 percent of the staff are Sierra Leoneans, adding that they also work with 80 communities mainly in Pujehun, Moyamba and Koinadugu.
He stated that there is high level of deforestation in the country, meaning the soil level of areas where the Chimpanzees live are reduced, adding that they are working with communities to ensure that they protect the environment.
In his opening statement, the CEO of UP! Africa, Chkwu-Emeka Chikezie said that one of the things that this government is committed to is economic diversification, adding that within the context of economic diversification, the Local Content Agency has a big role to play.
He said that Tacugama is a tourist destination, adding that it will add to the country’s national identity because it is not just international tourism but also domestic tourism as well. He said that Tacugama has a big role to play in the protecting the environment and the ecosystem. He added that the MoU between the two institutions is innovative, and that the collaboration will benefit both institutions.
The Ecosystem Manager of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Mahmond Javombo said that, the MoU is a step in the right direction because protecting the environment is very key. He said that the directorate is committed in supporting the two in terms of Science and Innovation.
