By Lawrence Williams
The current proposal to increase toll gate charges along the Wellington-Masiaka highway by the China Railway Seventh Group has generated some concerns. One major concern is the potential impact on public transportation and commodity prices in the country.
With the proposed increase, it is important to carefully consider the wider effects it could have on the everyday lives of ordinary people, especially those who struggle to afford basic necessities.
Another point of concern is the lack of wider consultation and careful consideration before approving the proposed increase. Questions have been raised as to why the government would readily approve the demands of the Chinese company without conducting a thorough assessment of their compliance with the Concession Agreement signed in December 2015.
According to the Concession Agreement, any adjustments to the toll tariffs should only be made after a review of the base traffic data by both parties, and when there is a substantial variation in the exchange rate. While the proviso reference to the exchange rate is clearly understood, it’s certainly certain that the principle justification for any review of toll charges should and must be informed by the “base traffic data”. This clause was included to prevent the Chinese company from making frivolous claims to increase toll tariffs.
Additionally, the agreement requires the China Railway Seventh Group to submit to the Government of Sierra Leone regular reports, audited financial statements, budgets, and other relevant accounting documentation for validation, inspection, and compliance purposes.
In addition, as part of these agreements, the Chinese company is obligated to build two ultra-modern markets, one in Waterloo and the other in Masiaka. However, these markets are yet to be constructed, and the company is now seeking to increase the toll charges for the second or third time after obtaining the government’s approval to extend the concession period from 25 to 27 years.
It will be interesting to see how these concerns are addressed in the next edition of the Fritong Post, as the potential impact of the toll gate fee increase on transportation and commodity prices will be carefully assessed.