Madam Manty Tarawallie, the Minister of State Office in the office of the Vice President, has on Tuesday, 8th October 2024, at the weekly government press conference, explained how Sierra Leone earned the MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) compact.
According to her, President Julius Maada Bio, upon taking office in 2018, had envisioned that the MCC would contribute to the country’s economic development. “We assiduously worked towards eligibility for the compact. The President mandated the Hon. Vice President to lead the process based on his experience in public policy and also as a civil society activist.”
She furthered that during the process, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh was approached by various organizations that offered their services to help deliver the compact to Sierra Leone at a cost, but they were all turned down because the Vice President believed in Sierra Leoneans who ended up delivering in record time.
She implored Sierra Leoneans to be proud that it was their compatriots that 100% landed the MCC compact and, therefore, it should be owned by all citizens. “The MCC is here for all and for the benefit of the entire country,” she said.
Madam Tarawallie underscored that it will be difficult for the Feed Salone project to succeed without energy. “If added values like irrigation and storage, among others, are not part of the process, the Feed Salone will face serious challenges.
Madam Tarawallie informed the public that passing the MCC scorecard is the major criterion for earning the compact.
Every institution, she went on, needed to contribute their fair share which they did. She revealed that the Hon. Vice President had to personally engage institutions to ensure that they did the needful. Madam Tarawalie added that vital documents for the implementation have been signed and the agreement approved by cabinet, while awaiting ratification by parliament before the setting up of the institution that will be managing the project.
She expressed the government’s continued commitment to passing more scorecards to become eligible for another compact.
Civil Society representative, William Sao Lamine, called on citizens to support the MCC implementation devoid of politics as it will benefit everyone.
Credit: Ministry of Information and Civic Education