While the sole agent for the export of timber from Sierra Leone, Babadi Kamara of Leadway Company, has told journalists that his company has generated over US$50 million as revenue for the government in two years, timber harvesters across the country have noted that government would have realized more if the trade had been liberalized.
The harvesters are calling for the Government of Sierra Leone to issue more timber export license to other Sierra Leoneans so as to create a fair and investment friendly atmosphere in the timber trade.
A good number of harvesters from across the country vent out their anger and frustration over what they described as the unhealthy monopoly surrounding the export of timber from Sierra Leone.
According to the harvesters, the issuance of more licenses would boost trade, create healthy competition, increase employment, all of which will ultimately boost the country’s socio economic development and maximize welfare within its society.
Their call came after grumblings in many quarters over the monopoly on the export of timber to a single Sierra Leonean company, Leadway Trading Company.
Chairlady of the harvesters, Isatu Mustapha Kabba said the country has excess supply of timber that ought to be of immense benefit to each and every Sierra Leonean, and advised the Government of Sierra Leone to issue timber export license to other Sierra Leoneans.
Kabba referred to the fact that before now licenses used to be given to four or five exporters, and appealed for government to seriously consider issuing licenses to more people which she said would be an appropriate action by the Government of Sierra Leone.
“If there are several certified agents, those without licenses can benefit from export quotas or shares. So far, we have tried to have a quota of the available export rights, but no way. I am appealing to the President to listen to the cries of the Timber Harvesters’ Association,” she noted.
According to most harvesters the monopoly placed on the export of timber would not only affect the trade, but would create an unhealthy competition in the trade.
Since 2018, the only timber export agent in the country has been Leadway Trading Company, but Sierra Leoneans and harvesters are now calling on the government to revisit that arrangement and issue more licenses to other capable Sierra Leoneans in the timber trade.
The harvesters claimed that one man alone cannot handle the huge stock of timber coming from Sierra Leone.
They underscored that the monopoly in the trade has had a negative effect on both the production and the trade of timber itself.
President Maada Bio appointed Babadi Kamara, of Leadway Trading Company, through an executive order in 2018 as the timber export agent for the Government of Sierra Leone.
In February this year, Mr. Kamara received commendation from State House for generating over 37 million US Dollars from the export of timber, and for raising an additional four million dollars for reforestation.
The harvesters, however, were convinced that Government would have realized more money if rights to export had been granted to more exporters.
A member of the timber trade, Mohamed Fuhad Swaray, who many people in the timber trade call an expert in the business, told this medium that this is the first time in 24 years that a single company has been given license to export timber, saying it has never happened since 1996.
The harvesters are also calling on the President to consider the situation of women and youths gaining self-employment in the production, loading, and packaging of timber stocks in the country.
19/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7933