By Hassan Osman Kargbo
A country where there’s high increase of substandard iron rod, the hardship is just amplifying for the citizens of the country. During a press conference at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Fatmata Kargbo, confirmed that there are lot of substandard iron rods in the country and the ministry is trying to cut down those substandard iron rods in the country and she also revealed plans to commission Odhav Multi Industries (SL) Ltd., an iron rod manufacturing facility in Songo, by the end of the year.
As the hardship is everywhere in the country, the Deputy Minister said that they have intensified efforts to combat the importation of substandard iron rods and said that the Ministry has successfully engaged importers, leading to the cessation of such imports. According to her, 10 shops found selling substandard iron rods have been shut down and stricter certification protocols for iron rod imports have been enforced. These measures, she said, are supported by comprehensive monitoring at the ports to ensure that only iron rods meeting the specified standards enter the market.
Sierra Leone is a country that is facing economic challenges that have translated to high prices on basic commodities. And the issue of substandard iron rod is also another big disaster to the people of the country. Citizens are struggling to afford food, fuel, and other basic necessities due to inflation and currency devaluation. The situation has caused a considerable burden on the people, and the government is struggling to find solutions.
One of the primary reasons behind the rising prices of basic commodities in Sierra Leone is the country’s weak economy and now fake or substandard iron rod is a challenge. People are using this commodity to build their homes and if they’re not in good shape chances are they’re coursing more problem to the people of Sierra Leone. Last month or so, we saw a lot of houses collapse as a result of substandard iron rod according to source. The National Disaster Management Agency recorded a lot of disasters coursed by iron rod that are not in good condition.
Also, Sierra Leone is heavily reliant on foreign imports for food, fuel, and other basic commodities. The country’s agricultural sector is not strong enough to meet the demand for food, forcing the government to rely on imports. The country has poor infrastructure, which makes it challenging to transport food and other basic commodities from rural areas to urban areas, resulting in high transport costs.
The impact of the rising prices of basic commodities on the people of Sierra Leone has been devastating. Many families cannot afford to buy enough food, leading to malnutrition and other health problems. The cost of cooking fuel has also skyrocketed, leading to families cutting back on their use of energy, including the use of firewood and charcoal, leading to an increased risk of respiratory illnesses.
The cost of medical care has also risen, with many healthcare facilities increasing their charges, making medical care unaffordable for many families. The situation has also impacted education, with many children dropping out of school because their parents cannot afford to pay for fees and other educational costs.
The rising prices of basic commodities in Sierra Leone are a reflection of the country’s weak economy, high dependence on imports, and poor infrastructure. The situation has caused significant challenges for the people, and the government needs to take further action to address the issue. Steps such as investing in the agricultural sector, improving infrastructure, and developing local industries could help reduce the country’s dependence on imports and improve economic growth, resulting in lower prices for basic commodities for all citizens. Also the issue of improving on the area of good infrastructure materials should be a great concern for people in the country.
