Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) concluded a follow-up monitoring exercise at Socfin Agricultural Company in Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun District on 30th April, 2025.
According to the ministry, the exercise is part of the Commission’s mandate to monitor, investigate, and document human rights violations under Section 7 (2) (f) of the HRCSL Act No. 9 of 2004.
The monitoring team was led by Commissioner Simitie Lavaly, and included Peter Abraham Koroma, Director of Human Resources, Moses Massaquoi, Deputy Director of Business and Human Rights and Labour Relations, Emmanuel Thomas, Deputy Director and Head of Southern Region Office, Haja Aminata Bawoh, Senior Human Rights Officer, and Ansu Osman, Assistant Human Rights Officer.
During the monitor tour at Socfin Agricultural Company, Commissioner Lavaly stressed the purpose of the visit:
“We are here to understand what improvements have been made since our last monitoring visit. We are revisiting the recommendations we issued in 2020 and evaluating the company’s progress.”
Key issues discussed during the engagement included: company-community relations, condition of employment, grievance redress mechanisms, staff training and capacity building, and occupational health and safety measures.
Responding on behalf of the company, Ibrahim Jaward, Admin and Human Resource Manager, highlighted existing structures for grievance resolution, stating, “We have a weekly grievance committee meeting where concerns can be raised and addressed. Departments also manage specific health and safety issues directly.”
Furthermore, he noted that the company had hired external consultants to deliver tailored training sessions, with some employees benefiting from overseas capacity-building programs. He reported that Socfin now employs approximately 2,000 workers, 26% of whom are women, and 9% of Sierra Leoneans currently hold management positions.
Addressing concerns over workplace injuries and staff well-being, he added: “All work-related injuries are fully handled by the company. We operate four health centers for staff and have introduced two ambulances for emergencies. A mini-bus also helps transport staff for check-ups. We’re gradually building toward a fully internal medical care system.”
The HRCSL team toured the company’s Palm Oil Processing Mill, where they interacted with the Production Manager, Dominic Bunduka, and some workers at the Mill. Questions were raised about safety standards, exposure to risks, and health protocols.
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