By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown -2/8/24:
The newly appointed Executive Director of Standards Bureau Dr. John Paul Kaisam has urged member of the country’s business community to stop importing sub-standard products into the country, stating that people are sick and dying of substandard products related diseases.
He said this to news men immediately after he officially took over office from the outgoing Executive Director Prof. Thomas B. R. Yormah in a special ceremony at the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau headquarters in Freetown on Friday, August 2, 2024.
He expressed appreciation to President Julius Maada Bio for according him the opportunity to serve his country. He planned to align the Government ambitious development agenda ( Big 5 game changers) with Sierra Leone Standards Bureau efforts to work towards Fostering national development .
From all indications, Dr Kaisam has an institutional memory of the country’s national quality infrastructure given his previous work as the National Technical Coordinator for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation UNIDO and as senior personnel at the National Pharmaceutical Quality Control Laboratory where he acquired unique knowledge working with various sectors on the importance of Standards and quality to ensure synergy across multiple organisations involved in accreditation, metrology, conformity assessment and quality promotion.
It was during his tenure as National Technical Coordinator for the West Africa Quality Programme (WAQP) funded by European Union, the food Chemical and Micro Biology Laboratories were operationalized at the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau with capacity development for staff to conduct critical analyses. He recalled preparing local enterprises such as Sierra Fishing Company, G Shankerdas & Sons Sl Ltd, Luvian Water and Images of Bennimix baby food Company for certification in ISO 22000, 2005, thereby witnessing their transformation from uncertainty to confidence.
Priority areas for Dr Kaisam are: Strengthening collaboration with key Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and development partners to align standards with international best practices to enable our products compete on the global stage.
On the area of legislative and regulatory framework an advocacy will be scaled-up for the creation and enforcement of legislative and regulatory requirements to support quality standards in an environment where quality thrives, business flourish to ensure consumers safety and confidence in their choices.
On community engagement, Dr Kaisam said outreach programme to sensitize citizens on the significance of Standards and quality is key.
He talked about the need of capacitating staff to acquire the requisite skills for quality service delivery across the board.
He promised to align his institution’s programme with the Government Development Agenda particularly the ‘big 5 ‘ priorities by leveraging technology and supporting the “Feed Salone” initiatives to boost local agriculture and food security.
He craved the indulgence of his staff to inculcate the habit of team work spirit as each and every staff is an invaluable asset with skills and insight to contribute towards the collective success of his institution.
He encouraged active participation in reviving the Bureau through innovation and experience sharing to create a legacy that will endure for generations to come.
In his farewell address, the outgoing Executive Director Sierra Leone Standards Bureau Prof. Thomas B R Yormah maintained that on assuming office in September 2018, he inherited huge institutional challenges and gaps but amidst those challenges he worked assiduously to build capacity and fix the various Laboratory equipment, upgrade terms and conditions for staff, set up management system certification body, launched the national metrication system that is awaiting to be roll-out in general trade and commerce.
Prof. Thomas Yormah however, highlighted some challenges which slow down his efforts this ranges from inadequate resource to devolve, unavailability of mobilities and reagents and poor electricity supply to keep the laboratories up and running.
Deputising the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Senior Permanent Secretary Alhassan Kondeh acknowledged challenges confronting Sierra Leone Standards Bureau but expressed optimism that cabinet has recently approved private partnership to partner with Sierra Leone Standards Bureau to improve capacity to enhancing quality service delivery.
He admonished staff to support the new Executive Director succeeds.
The newly appointed Executive Director Sierra Leone Standards Bureau was officially welcomed by his Deputy Mr. Amadu Jogor Bah whom he said has brought in a wealth of experience with an nspiring vision for future development of Sierra Standards Bureau.
The occasion was witnessed by a Council member of Sierra Leone Standards Bureau Dr. Isaac Palmer.