By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – The Minister of Trade, Ibrahim Sesay, officially launched the national metrication system at the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau Headquarters in Freetown. The Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, Professor Thomas Yormah, highlighted the challenges of implementing the metric system amid the existing chaotic practices in marketplaces.
During his welcome address, Professor Yormah urged traders to embrace the metric system, emphasizing its benefits for both traders and consumers. The national metrication system aims to streamline trade and commerce in Sierra Leone, instill confidence and satisfaction among consumers, and ensure fair value in every transaction within the metrication framework.
Addressing speculations circulating in the media about the privatization of the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, Minister Sesay clarified that while certain aspects may involve public-private partnerships, it does not entail the privatization of the national quality infrastructure. He emphasized the Bureau’s commitment to providing quality service and fostering partnerships for enhanced efficiency.
Minister Sesay highlighted the significance of accurate measurements in achieving the goals of initiatives like the Feed Salone Initiative, which focuses on agricultural productivity, food security, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable prosperity. He stressed the importance of consistent standards measurements aligned with global trends to support the Feed Salone agenda.
The Minister also underscored the role of digital transformation in establishing a global quality infrastructure adaptable to promoting fair data use. He emphasized that metrology, the science of weight and measurement, is a central component of national and international quality infrastructure supporting the new digital economy.
Initiated in 2011, the metrication process in Sierra Leone began with petroleum products across the country. Frank Martin, Manager of the Metrology Department at the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, emphasized the importance of metrication for non-metric countries like Sierra Leone, highlighting its sector-by-sector implementation. The metrication exercise, starting with the petroleum sector, has proven to be vital for the economy’s various sectors.
As Sierra Leone embraces the national metrication system, the government aims to create a more organized and standardized trade environment, ensuring fairness and transparency for both traders and consumers. MJB/21/12/2023
