The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Environment Protection Agency, has formalised and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, along with stakeholders, to establish the operations of ten Chiefdom Environmental Enforcement Coordination Committees (CEECOM).
It should be noted that the agency, in August of last year, according to section 68 of the EPA Act of 2022, established ten chiefdom committees (CEECOM) in Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema District; Kakua Chiefdom in Bo District; Lower and Upper Banta Chiefdom in Moyamba District; Simiria, Kafe, Mabonto, Yoni, and Tane Chiefdoms in Tonkolili District; Diang Chiefdom in Koinadugu District; and Marforki Chiefdom in Port Loko District, after identifying pressing issues for which priority and feasible actions had been outlined.
CEECOMS will operate under an Action Plan that sets the operational provisions, objectives, and roles of the committees and the #EPA. The plan aims to consolidate trust in local administration, decentralise environmental governance, and bridge the gaps in enforcement efforts.
The committee’s composition included stakeholders who would ensure that our natural resources are sustainably harnessed and complement the #EPA’s role as the umbrella body for environmental protection and management.
Offences such as illegal sand mining, mangrove destruction, unlawful charcoal burning, deforestation, illAbu-Bakar S. Massaquoier pollution, hazardous waste disposal, among others, fall under the scope of #CEECOM to investigate, with the #EPA serving as the supervisory body.
In his statement, the Executive Chairman, Abu-Bakar S. Massaquoi, emphasised that the success of the #CEECOM Action Plan’s objectives and goals is vital and called for the collective support of local administrators.
“The objectives involve strengthening coordination between the #EPA and local stakeholders, sharing data and resources to build the committee’s capacity, promoting public awareness, and conducting joint inspections and investigations of minor environmental offences as per the scope of the committee,” he added.
The toll-free line 1999, accessible from any Orange Line, and an online complaint through our GRS portal mobile app, are mechanisms for registering an environmental complaint or concern.
The #EPA will provide technical and logistical support, assist in prosecution where necessary, offer training opportunities, and be open to dialogue as a redress mechanism.
