According to the President, the last time he visited Malen Chiefdom was during the period of Campaign and he was welcomed in your large numbers to support me and with the aim of resolving the land issues.

‘In my manifesto, I promised the people of Malen to help solve issues around the lands if your votes we’re casted in my favour, you believed in my promise, and went out in your numbers to vote for me and my party. Among my reasons for today’s visit is to thank the people of Malen for voting for me in the last Presidential election.

After the elections, you have also patiently been waiting for us to resolve the land issue once and for all and to develop this country; I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Malen people for their patient.

‘I have already started the Peace process long ago by sending a committee to do fact finding that will form the basis of the action. I want to assure you all that, we are in the middle of the process, and from this day, I’m going to prioritize this issue to ensure that it is revolved once and for all.

President Bio also re-assured his audience that when he return to Freetown he will send a message to the Malen Land Owners Association (MALOA) and the Agricultural Company   for a tet-a-tet discussion  in Freetown to discuss on a possible and acceptable ways of resolving the existing grievances in the chiefdom.

President Bio also explains to stakeholders in Malen that Socfin Agricultural Company has brought huge amount of money to invest, and it is the responsibility of the government and the local authorities to provide them the platform, by hosting them and equally taking care of their investments.

“The truth is that, the company is now with us and we have started realizing some profits.

As it was said by Mr. Gerben, they have started realizing little profit in their bucket. Moreover, himself and Honorable Sama have started discussing around the grievances, I will tell them to continue talking and planning for peace and Development of Malen. I know the top most expectation of you all was for me to come here and settle your grievances.

President Bio was blunt to explain to residents of Sahn-Malen that as a government they have achieved a lot by implementing the free quality, I never saw light in Sahn, but now they are visible, which means development is on the way. Also, it was a very difficult task for you to send 4 or 5 children to school at a time. I am happier Pujehun District used to have high percentage of school dropout most associated with fees, now those pupils are attending the free quality Education, and “I am going to load their heads with Education”

In his succinct message to the people and government officials; Chief Executive of Socfin Agricultural Company; Gerben Haringsma applauded the President and his government in taking the strains to come and launched the phase 2 projects of the Mills.

President Julius Maada Bio according the CEO is showing that he is not a man of words but a man of strong action which will help to develop the country as a whole.

Also grateful to the people of Sahn Malen including the Paramount Chief and other traditional leaders for making the Socfin Agricultural Company a reality; and he will always be with the people of Sahn-Malen by doubling the Social Responsibilities across the chiefdom.

Finally, Gerben Haringsma also urged the Member of Parliament to come onboard and help push development in chiefdom.

‘I have being engaging Mr. Sheka Sama about 4 months ago to see how we can come together to develop Sahn-Malen’, he said.

Mr. Gerben also predicted that 2021 will be a year of prosperity and development in Sahn-Malen Chiefdom.

Source : Guardian SL, 25/02/2021

http://guardian-sl.com/president-bio-is-proud-to-open-the-biggest-oil-plantation-in-africa/

During his South/Eastern tour over the weekend, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio visited Sahn Malen in the Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun district where Socfin Agricultural Company operates.

After addressing the people of Sahn Malen including local authorities, the Independent Member of Parliament for the area and the Management of Socfin Agricultural Company, President Bio proceeded to open Phase 2 of the Mill Extension at Socfin.

The extension of the mill takes the processing capacity from 30 tons per hour of Fresh Fruit Bunches to 60 tons per hour. The total cost of the mill extension is estimated at US14.1 million.

So far, Socfin has invested about US$171 million in their operations in the country since 2011.

President Bio described Socfin as a very serious company that has helped to transform the lives and livelihoods of the people of Malen Chiefdom.

The President called on the people of Malen Chiefdom to embrace and protect the investment of Socfin in their chiefdom.

One of the company’s shareholders, Gerben Haringsma described the Year 2021 as the year of peace and reconciliation in Malen Chiefdom.

Gerben Haringsma described the people of Malen Chiefdom as very hospitable and accommodating. He praised the Paramount Chief of Malen Chiefdom, BVS Kebbie for his support to the company since its inception in 2011.

Socfin now has an enviable friendly relationship with the people of Malen Chiefdom.

The Independent Member of Parliament for Constituency 104 in the Pujehun district, Hon. Shiaka Sama admitted that his group and Socfin have been holding fruitful discussions in order for lasting peace to rein in Malen Chiefdom.

PC Kebbie thanked President Bio for visiting his chiefdom which he described as the biggest chiefdom in Pujehun district.

PC Kebbie also praised Socfin for developing his chiefdom to an enviable level that is admired by many visitors, both local and foreign.

In 2020 alone, Socfin spent a whopping US$1 Million on Corporate Social Responsibility in Malen Chiefdom and has paid US$260,000 lease money for 12,000 planted hectares of land.

The company employs 1,554 permanent staff and up to 2,600 seasonal staff and security contractors of about 940 workers.

The company pays 24% above the Government legislated minimum wage to their employees.

Socfin has the largest and most modernized mill in the whole of West Africa.

Source: Owl Press, 21/02/2021

http://owlpress-sl.com/president-bio-praises-socfin/

Post date: June, 08, 2020

By : Malen Land Owners Association

Both Socfin Agricultural Company and Kissy Industry are local manufacturer in Sierra Leone helping the government to boosts and actualized the Local Content Policy by giving back to humanity.

The steps taken by this twofold company should bestowed confidence to the government of Sierra Leone by giving the platform to more local industries to flourish in the country at a time like this when Sierra Leoneans needed most.

Jamel Shallop is the Chief Executive Officer of Kissy Trading In a telephone interview with this medium said the four thousand batter oil will help the improvised and the medicated soap will keep Sierra Leoneans clean as they will have the opportunity to wash their hands in all public places in a bid to mitigate the convid19 virus.

The Made in Sierra Leone/Locally produced goods is a step in the right direction which the government should help to propagate as best practices to intended investors across the world.

Gerben Haringsma owner of Socfin Agricultural Company was very vocal his love and desires he has for Sierra Leone and hope that with their little assistance to the government which will eventually reach the people across the country the convid19 will be a thing of the pass.

“Socfin Agricultural Company is busy harvesting and producing oil palm which can be used for local industries to produce the much needed medicated soap to see how we can eradicate the corona virus by constantly washing our hands on a regular basis,” he assured.

“With Socfin Agricultural Company and Kissy Trading there can be no shortages of palm oil as both companies are up to the task to deliver for all on sundry.

Post date: April, 10, 2020

By : Guardian SL

http://guardian-sl.com/socfin-kissy-industry-donate-to-sierra-leoneans/

Socfin never grabbed the lands of the people of Sahn Malen. It argued the lands in an above manner after holding extensive negotiations with the land owners, with the involvement of the traditional leaders, the government and civil society organizations.

FIAN International’s MD, Florence Kroff and her local partner, Green Scenery’s Joe Rahall have time without numbers done all they can to paint Socfin’s operations in SahnMalen as an example of post-colonial exploitation of Africans by former colonialist capitalists, though FIAN denies responsibility for the contents of Green Scenery’s publications. The truth of the matter is far from that.

Socfin’s nearly twelve years stay and long term investment plan gives hope to the Government of Sierra Leone that the country’s economy can be diversified from depending on the mining sector. Moreover, Socfin has helped the government to realize huge revenue from the sector through export duties.

The impact of Socfin on the economy was captured by the Minister of Finance, Jacob JusuSaffa in his 2018 Budget Statement and Economic and Financial policies for the Financial year 2019 in the Well of Sierra Leone Parliament in paragraph 19 when he told MPs that, “…the performance of the external sector improved during the first half of 2018. Total value of exports for the period January to June 2018 is estimated at US$518.8 million. The sharp increase in exports is accounted for primarily by the export of palm oil by SOCFIN Agricultural Company…”

Socfin is not a fly-by-night company that was established through the back-door. It followed to the letter the laws of Sierra Leone.

On the land lease issue, Socfin began on a very fruitful relationship with the people of SahnMalen – from land lease negotiation through the Government, to massive employment of youths and investing of millions of United State Dollars to establish the biggest palm oil plantation in West Africa.

It was most unfortunate that immediately the company started harvesting and exporting its produce, misunderstanding ensued between the company and the people brainwashed by civil societies like Green Scenery into believing that they deserve more than what was being given to them. This led to series of riots and destabilization of the operations of the company.

Green Scenery also accuses Socfin of land grabbing, completely ignorant of the agreement between the company, the landowners, traditional authorities represented by Paramount Brima V. S. Kebbie and the Government.

Unsubstantiated human rights allegations and all sorts of unhealthy campaigns have also been put up by Member of Parliament Hon. Samato cripple the operations of the company.

CSR – SOCFIN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO SAHN MALEN AND PUJEHUN

The biggest non-mining DFI Company in Sierra Leone, Socfin not only provides thousands of jobs for Sierra Leoneans but continues to contribute to the country’s economic growth.Beyond fulfilling its CSR, Socfin continues to invest significantly in the following sectors.
Agriculture:

• To support the people of SahnMalen in agriculture, Socfin is directly involved in the yearly cultivation of 600 acres of boli-land with floating rice varieties for people within the company’s operation.
• Distributes annually 800 bushels of seed rice for inland valley swamp cultivation
• Distributes 351 bushels of groundnut seeds to 16 Women’s groups in Malen Chiefdom
• Construction of four fish ponds – one each in Kpangba, Gboyama, Jumbu and Senehun
• Supply of 135 bundles of fishing nets with accessories to four fishing communities; Gangama, Hongai, Massao and Kortumahun in Malen Chiefdom

Health Sector:
Providing medical facility in many parts of the country remains a challenge for the Government. People walk long distances from the district to major towns for medical services.
• SAC has invested hundreds of millions of Leones in the rehabilitation and supply of furniture to Niahun Clinic; reconstruction and electrification of Sengema Health Quarters; and Electrification of Sengema, Taninahun and Bendu Clinics
• Supplied Hospital beds to Niahun, Sengema, Taninahun and Bendu Clinics and furniture to Sengema Clinic
• Ambulance services for Malen Community with all expenses paid for by the company.
• Construction of one facility at Sahn and the provision of 24 hours electricity and water supply to the center

Education:

The 30-35 literacy rate of Sierra Leone is far below other countries in the sub-region because majority of rural children in Sierra Leone cannot get access to schools within their localities. Changing this narrative requires not only the intervention of Government, but also the private sector. Even before the proclamation of the Free Quality Education by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, Socfin had invested money in education in the Chiefdom.

• Construction of the new primary schools in Bendu, Mallay, Kortumahun and Sinjo
• Rehabilitation of Malen Junior secondary school and Kassay primary school
• Provided them with learning materials to facilitate teaching
• Sanitation facilities provided by rehabilitating water supply and the development of modern toilet facilities for these schools
• Payment of stipends to 9 teachers who were not on Government payroll and 2 security personnel in Malen Junior Secondary School, one teacher in RC School in Sahn and one teacher in Bendu Primary School.
• Payment of scholarship to 220 students; amounting to Le83, 000,000 (Eighty- three Million Leones) for BECE Students with aggregate 25 and below from Malen

Junior Secondary School
• Support of transport and feeding to BECE Students taking examination in Pujehun
• Support of transport and feeding to NPSE Pupils and their teachers in Socfin’s operational areas taking examination in Sahn
• Rehabilitation of Malen Junior Staff Quarters
• Financial support to all schools during the June 16th Day of the African

Micro Finance:
To support the growth of small scale/medium enterprise in the chiefdom, Socfin has provided micro finance to 102 petty traders in 27 communities in Malen Chiefdom with over 200 Million Leones seed money

Water and Sanitation:
Socfin has provided water-wells with hand pumps and latrines in all its operational areas which have helped reduce the outbreak of cholera in the chiefdom
Infrastructure:

Infrastructural development has been paramount in Socfin`s operation seen in:
• Construction of community halls in every village in its areas of operation
• Construction of football fields in village communities
• Rehabilitation of praying fields in village communities
• Construction and equipping of Malen Community Radio Station, worth more than Fifty Thousand United States Dollars
• Construction of roads, bridges and culverts in all communities in Socfin’s operational areas
• Construction of the Central Mosque in Sahn and the rehabilitation of Mosques in villages

OVERALL IMPACT OF SOCFIN’S OPERATIONS ON SAHN MALEN AND PUJEHUN

Sahn Malen Chiefdom that once was a sleepy economy has now with Socfin’s investment become a hub for job seekers not only from the district but also from other parts of the country.

Source: The Satellite News, 15/02/2020

http://www.thesatellitenews.com/index.php/en/other-news/570-fian-belgium-s-allegations-against-socfin-are-mere-lies

The meeting was organized by Mohamed Metzger popularly called ‘Jaggey Boy’ and the Secretary General Daniel Benson Sillah, of MALOA.

The two men have called for peace and tranquility within the association as they surge for the unforeseen future.

The two quintessential figure of MALOA appealed and pleaded to stakeholders of Sahn-Malen and Management of the Agricultural Company for peace and tranquility to reign in the chiefdom and also help create jobs for the jobless youths in the chiefdom.

According to Mohamed Metzger popularly called ‘Jaggey Boy’ the formation of MALOA was to have peaceful engaged with stakeholders in Sahn-Malen for the welfare of the chiefdom people and how the Agricultural Company will improve the livelihood of the people in terms of employment.

According to them they regret all the negative deeds of MALOA in the past as they have now come to the realization that the agricultural company and the chiefdom authorities are on the right track for peace to prevail in Malen Chiefdom.

Daniel Benson Sillah also recalled the tough and trying times he was having with Hon. Sheka Sama during his campaign trail as independent legislator.

“The people of Malen knows that without Daniel Benson Sillah Hon. Sheka Sama will not have won the 2018 elections as Member of Parliament,” he said, noting that during the incarceration of the legislator he was all over the local and international media propagating the innocence of Mr. Sheka Sama.

Benson-Sillah was very vociferous on their peace drive which he assured his audience that no souls of Adams will hindered them this time around in their quest for peace and serenity in Sahn-Malen.

He also praises the fortitude of the Paramount Chief and his subjects in given them open hand as sons and daughters of Sahn-Malen Chiefdom.

“We need to move forward and forget about the past, the time has come for all of us to take advantage of the goodies in our chiefdom,”

According to him, the cause of MALOA drives to something surreptitious which eventually put the association into public ridicule and laughing scorn.

The meeting which was staged at Gboyama community on Sunday was to map out lasting harmonization in Sahn-Malen Chiefdom between the Agricultural Company, MALOA and the Chiefdom administrators who according to Jaggey Boy they are ready for peace and tranquility across Sahn-Malen Chiefdom.

Supporters and sympathizers of Malen Affected Land Owners Association who spoke to this medium after the meeting were delighted to see Jaggey Boy and Benson to openly called for development and later eschew individuality into the peace process.

They assured that no individual including that of the Member of Parliament will influence them to create any chaos or mayhem into the chiefdom.

According to the representative of the Agricultural Company who spoke to this medium after the meeting boasted that all the grievances from MALOA have being addressed and they’re still addressing them with the help of the grievance committee headed by the Paramount Chief set up to look into pertinent issues affecting residents across the chiefdom.

“Management of Socfin Agricultural Company will continue with its corporate social responsibility across the chiefdom,” he said, noting that the priorities of the Malen people are equally important to that of the day to day operations of the company.

The building of schools, hospitals, awarding of scholarship, micro-credits, court barrays, roads amongst others will continued to be our core responsibilities to the people of Sahn-Malen Chiefdom and Pujehun District as a whole.

“We wanted to assured the Paramount Chief and his subjects for our unflinching supports to Sahn-Malen, we love the people and their hospitality since the starts of our operations to date.

Source: Guardian SL, on 17/03/2020

http://guardian-sl.com/maloa-disowns-sheka-sama/

This endeavor has been manifested as the company is nearing completion of its expanded US$27 million oil palm processing factory situated at Kotumahun village in Sahn Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun district, southern Sierra Leone.

Commenting on the development, Plant Manager, Akwasi Adu Boahem, said the expansion is a sustainable, environmentally friendly economic venture that is in line with RSPO international standards.

When fully completed by September this year, the expanded SAC’s Sahn Malen oil palm mill will be the largest in West Africa.

The new mill which has modern facilities and high quality state-of-the-art equipment has the capacity to process thirty to sixty four tons of palm kernel per hour.
In terms of contributing to employment in the country, the mill will eventually employ 340 skilled and unskilled personnel. Currently 170 are fully employed supported by 1, 000 casual laborers.

The mill will produce an unlimited quantity of edible palm oil and employ the transport industry; with two local and one Malaysian contractor on site.
Major shareholder and Board member, Gerben Haringsma said after eleven years of investing, SAC Ltd will start making profit next year.
General Manager, Phillip Tonks reassured all of the company’s continued performance of its corporate social responsibilities.

Host Paramount Chief Brima V. S. Kebbie and the Chiefdom Speaker assured land owning families that SAC is here to stay and will continue to live up to its obligations; noting that one cannot do anything without something but that with a little one can do a lot and that a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.

It can be recalled that in 2009, after visiting Socfin’s plantation in Liberia, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Agriculture officials called on Socfin – a member of the French group Bolloré, to help develop industrial -scale oil palm plantation in Sierra Leone to reduce dependency on imports and increase export earnings.

The Government of Sierra Leone and Socfin agreed on a suitable site at Sahn Malen.

A bottom-up consultation process was initiated with all stakeholders: growers, landowners, traditional chiefs, and community leaders.

After receiving formal consent from the majority of local people in the Sahn Malen community, 18 000 hectares was identified for the project, of which only 12, 500 hectares would be planted.

Once the project was in place, agricultural works started in 2011: nursery development and gradual replanting of 12,500 hectares of palm plantations.

In 2015 the oil mill was constructed, with the aim of becoming the main palm oil supplier on the domestic market and one of the country’s biggest employers.

The cooperation between the government and the Socfin Group enables the introduction of new agricultural techniques, which ensures the implementation of a soil fertilization program, including the introduction of cover crops on depleted soils and agricultural capacity building.

In April 2016, former President Ernest Bai Koroma, commissioned the Socfin mill.

GM Phillip Tonks informed the audience that SOCFIN has already injected an investment of over US$130 Million.

Post date: February, 04, 2020

By : The Satellite News

http://www.thesatellitenews.com/index.php/en/other-news/561-massive-economic-boost-as-socfin-expansion-assures-of-job-opportunies-for-sahn-malen-residents

They told The Satellite that after Hon Sama’s diabolical plan to incite the community against Socfin and project them in bad light failed over the years, the independent MP has initiated a new attack on the company by peddling angry rants on social media platforms against the company.

Local authorities of Sahn-Malen Chiefdom said over the past weeks, Hon Shiaka Sama of Constituency 104, Sahn-Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District was on social media peddling angry rants intended to incite violence against the company and also create insecurity in the Chiefdom.

The MP accused Socfin of killing his people with hunger and starvation and giving bribes to Paramount Chiefs, an allegation the chiefs do not take kindly to, and also made several sweeping and baseless allegations.

“The global sabotage tactics now employed by the independent MP to destroy Socfin, with the government do nothing to put an end to it, will definitely dampen President Bio’s effort in luring investors into the country,” they warned.

They said an official complaint has been lodged to the relevant authorities against Hon Sama for inciting youths within the chiefdom to protest and shut down Socfin Agricultural Company with threat of kidnapping and holding hostage foreign workers. This saw the company’s operations shut down for the past days.

This same MP, they said, who thinks he is above the law because he continues to enjoy immunity from the government was also accused of instructing the youths of Senegeh Village to organize a Poro initiation ceremony without knowledge and prior approval of the Paramount Chief and chiefdom authorities with the aim to create state of insecurity in the areas and stop the company’s operations.

The residents said even though the Resident Minister South engaged Hon Sama and the community people to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the problem, Hon. Sama made all sort of disparaging comments against the President and Vice President in that meeting and threatened to walk out.

They said Hon Sama authoritatively stated that he has lost confidence and trust in both the President and Vice President, which according to the, simply means that he is highly determined to continue with his diabolic plans to create insecurity in the community, since he has no regard for the President and Vice President,” the people said.

“ Hon Sama is “fanning” violence in the chiefdom, therefore government needs to take prompt action to save the community” they urged.

Post date: January, 28 2019

By : The Satellite News

http://www.thesatellitenews.com/index.php/en/other-news/553-as-youths-brainwashed-to-destroy-socfin-s-operations-hon-shiaka-sama-accused-of-undermining-president-bio