As part of its heightened security measures at the Freetown Port, Queen Elizabeth 11, a team of Port officials including the Deputy General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio made an unannounced visit to the un-stuffing area where goods are screened before exiting the Freetown Port.
The team lead, Mr. Askia Bio said: “We are here to observe the clearance processes of goods at the Port to ensure they meet all the security protocols before exiting.”
The team witnessed the un-stuffing of consignment, engaged clearing & forwarding agents, representatives of shipping lines and other port stakeholders in the clearing processes. The team also verified ports users who are accessing the port to ensure they have identification cards or authorized to enter the port.
The team after intensive engagement and collaboration recommends:
1. Develop an Oversight Committee that will be in charge of monitoring, development of security policies and lay down principles as well as inspections of the targeted areas;
2. Ensure physical verification of every items in container in the Un-stuffing areas;
3. At most two (2) receivers per container must be allowed during the un-stuffing processes;
4. All clearing and forwarding agents should be in uniform and with valid ID cards;
5. No bags or other related materials should be allowed within the Un-stuffing areas;
6. No container should be unstuffed without the presence of a custom officer;
7. Request for an additional security personnel (about six (6) specifically) to be stationed at the three strategic locations in the un-stuffing area;
8. With the exception of BOLLORE and LEONEDOCK personnel, any other stakeholder representatives should seek approval from SLPA to gain access to the un-stuffing sight;
9. No government security personnel should witness the unstuffing areas without SLPA management approval.
