One of the leading mining companies in Sierra Leone, Leone Rock Metal Group, donated 1,000 bags of cement to the Parliament of Sierra Leone on Monday, November 4, 2024, to support the construction of offices for Members of Parliament. The symbolic presentation took place at the Speaker’s Conference Room at Parliament Buildin g, Tower Hill in Freetown.
Welcoming Leone Rock officials, the Deputy Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Gilbert Bosco Nhabay, noted that the donation arrived at a crucial time when Parliament seeks support to improve office accommodation for MPs. He expressed appreciation for the donation and emphasized the significance of the construction project, highlighting the challenges MPs face in securing adequate office space.
Representing the management of Leone Rock, Mr. Ansu Momoh, Director of Community Affairs, presented the donation to Parliament’s leadership. He stated that the donation reflects Leone Rock’s commitment to its corporate social responsibility, especially in supporting the work of Parliament and the MPs from Tonkolili District. He expressed hope that the 1,000 bags of cement would help initiate the construction project.
In his statement, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, expressed gratitude for the donation and praised the collaborative spirit in national development. He commended Leone Rock for its partnership with Parliament and for its support in constructing offices for MPs.
The Deputy Opposition Leader of Parliament, Hon. Daniel Koroma, also welcomed the donation, noting that the lack of office space has been a long-standing challenge for many MPs, some of whom currently use the canteen to conduct official work. He commended the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker for their efforts to improve MPs’ working conditions and expressed Parliament’s willingness to collaborate with Leone Rock.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, speaking on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, thanked Leone Rock for its generous support. He also acknowledged the efforts of both past and current parliamentary leadership to enhance MPs’ welfare. Additionally, the Deputy Speaker expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its support in Parliament’s office construction initiative and shared that various construction companies and cement manufacturers had been approached regarding the project.
He also highlighted new security measures implemented by Parliament and mentioned that the President would be informed about Leone Rock’s donation. In furtherance of Parliament’s transformation, the Deputy Speaker noted that the former Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament had recently donated electronic attendance machines to track staff working hours.
