1,000 Low-cost Houses for Mudslide and Flooding Victims

By Abdul Malik Bangura

Eversince Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma called for support to salvage the condition of August 14^th 2017, flooding and mudslide victims in the country, Sierra Leone hardworking Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Omrie Michael Golley has tirelessly engaged the People of Korea Republic, so as to see how the south-south east Asia country would help in resuscitating the plight of vulnerable Sierra Leonean citizens who are affected by the twin shocks.

                     

Against this backdrop, His Excellency Omrie Micheal Golley has finally jet into with three Korean experts in infrastructural low-cost housing.

The experts, who are from the South Korean JUAN Construction Company, arrived the shores of Sierra Leone on Tuesday 28^th November 2017, and the team comprises Mr. Hoseon Seong, Chairman of the construction company; and another two namely Huian Kim and Kichang Kim.

During an interview with this writer on Wednesday 29^th November 2017, Ambassador Omrie Golley spoke about the purpose of the visit of the Koreans, which he said is to conduct expert and preliminary testing of the proposed site for the construction of one thousand (1,000) low-cost housing units for the victims and affected persons of the mudslide that hit Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital on August 14^th 2017.

Also delving into the financing of the low-cost housing for flooding and mudslide victims’ project, Ambassador Golley said thirty (30) million dollar (USD) has been put aside for the construction of up to a thousand low-cost housing units. Ambassador Golley said the Koreans have already got a proposed site for the construction of the 1000 low-cost housing at Six (6) Miles in the outskirt of Freetown.

Ambassador Omrie Golley also confirmed that already, the Korean delegation has on Wednesday 29^th November 2017, held a meeting with the Sierra Leone Honourable Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure, Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, and also the official visit to the Minister was followed by a visit at the proposed site for the construction of the low-cost houses.

Meanwhile, it is worthy to note that the efforts of Ambassador Omrie Golley to come with Korean experts in Sierra Leone is a fulfillment of earlier promise made by Ambassador Omrie Golley through this writer in one of his earlier interviews from his Embassy in Seoul, South Korea’s capital. 

In that interview, Ambassador Golley made a passionate statement on Monday 11^th September, 2017, to delve into the massive assistances to Sierra Leone by the Republic of Korea in the aftermath of our August 14^th mudslide and flooding disaster that claimed the lives of more than five hundred (500) people, displaced more than three thousands (3000) people and left hundreds more still missing.

Earlier on, whilst elaborating on the more assistance of the Korean people to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Omrie Golley said apart from the huge financial assistance the Koreans gave to Sierra Leone, he was also able to get Sierra Leone to be among twenty two (22) countries that were officially invited by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Government of the Republic of Korea, to attend the Global Infrastructural Cooperation Conference (GICC) that was held in Seoul from the 4-6 September 2017.

He said, the GICC Conference created an opportunity to get Sierra Leone involved in it, so that through the country’s Ministry of Works, Housing and Infrastructure, Sierra Leone was able to present a case for more Korean support in the construction of low-cost houses for affected victims of the August 14^th mudslide and flooding disaster.

Ambassador Omrie Golley further added that the conference was attended by Korean Government institutions, as well as construction companies, financial houses including banks in the public and private sector, and NGO's.

In addition, Ambassador Omrie Goley confirmed that after the conference, he was able to organize a meeting on Tuesday 5th September 2017, between the Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Hyunmee Kim and the Sierra Leone Works Housing and Infrastructure Minister, Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay. At that meeting, His Excellency Ambassador Omrie Golley confirmed that Hon. Alhaji Kemoh Sesay recounted the unfortunate mudslide and flooding tragedy that hit Freetown of the 14th August 2017 and made an urgent appeal to his Korean counterpart for support for the construction of low cost housing units for the displaced.

On the night of Wednesday29^th November 2017, a senior government official who also spoke to this writer on the Support of the Koreans to Sierra Leone acknowledged that the dedicated and patriotic work of Ambassador Omrie Golley in serving the Government and People of Sierra Leone has been very outstanding. He added that apart from the fact that he was the first Ambassador from Sierra Leone to South Korea, “but also the Ambassador has been able to navigate through all the difficulties of setting-up a new mission.”

On the phone late Wednesday night Mohamed Kallon, one of the survivors of the August 14^th Mudslide in Regent Community, who commented on the supports from the Koreans said the news is welcoming to them and that it is a swift and timely efforts from Ambassador Omrie Golley. He also expressed eagerness to see that the work is quickly rolled out and it is done within the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile, just like the mudslide and flooding disaster, under the dedicated stewardship of Ambassador Omrie Golley, Sierra Leone also saw massive efforts from our Korean counterparts during the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, all, including the 1,000 low-cost housing is to ensure that President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma delivers in his Agenda for Prosperity.