Parliament Ratifies $45M JOLAKS Trade Deal, Approves ECOWAS Aviation Acts
By Osman Marah
Sierra Leone’s Parliament on Tuesday unanimously ratified a trade agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and JOLAKS Manufacturing Company Limited, paving the way for an estimated $45 million investment aimed at expanding local manufacturing and creating jobs.
Presenting the agreement, Minister of Trade and Industry Alpha Ibrahim Sesay said the deal would support the diversification of JOLAKS’ production beyond vegetable oil, the company’s core product since its establishment in 2012. He told lawmakers that JOLAKS has already created more than 700 jobs and is expected to generate additional employment nationwide as operations scale up. He added that all regulatory requirements had been satisfied.
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay said the company’s reported production capacity of 3,000 metric tons per day signals strong potential for employment growth. She called for strict parliamentary oversight of the agreement’s implementation, compliance with the 30 percent female representation requirement, and meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives in host communities.
Deputy Leader of Government Business II, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, cited Section 40 of the 1991 Constitution, noting that Parliament has the exclusive mandate to ratify international agreements. He described the corporate social responsibility provisions as central to the deal and said the government’s policies were helping to create a business-friendly climate.
Hon. Unpha Koroma of the Western Area welcomed tariff protections under the agreement but urged improvements in staff training, worker welfare, and community engagement. From the opposition benches, Hon. Abdul Kargbo supported the deal while stressing the need for stakeholder collaboration, youth employment, and strict compliance with agreed terms.
Majority Leader Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, closing the debate, said about $30 million of the total investment would be injected over several years. He reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to safeguarding both investors and citizens and ensuring companies meet environmental, labour, and national standards.
In response to concerns raised, the Trade Minister pledged continued oversight of environmental compliance, labour conditions, and national interest protections.
In a separate decision, Parliament also approved a Long-Term Partnership Agreement with Rainforest Builder (SL) Limited.
Additionally, lawmakers ratified several ECOWAS Supplementary Acts designed to harmonize aviation regulations across member states. The measures address market access, tariff frameworks, passenger compensation, aviation security, and competition in air transport services, aligning Sierra Leone’s aviation sector with regional standards.
