By Sorie Fofana.
The Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kallon, has insisted that he is not personally against any project that is a vote winner for the SLPP. But, he has insisted that, those behind the Bo Airport Project must follow due process before embarking upon such a vital national project.
The Bo Airport Project can only go on smoothly if all the stakeholders in the Aviation industry sit together and sort out their differences.
Constructing an international airport requires a lot of consultations, both at home and abroad. An international Airport must meet all international aviation standards before it is certified by ICAO.
At home, an environment impact assessment study must be carried out and certified by EPA. That has still not been done in the case of the Bo Airport Project.
The landowners have not been properly consulted and approval must be given by the local authorities before the project proper commences.
As far as we are concerned, we welcome the idea of the construction of a modern international Airport in Bo, the second capital city. But we must insist that the people behind such an important national project must follow due process, by properly engaging all relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Sierra Leone Airport Authority.
We must insist that nobody is against the Bo Airport Project. All we continue to say is that, due process must be properly followed. Period!
May common sense prevail!
