The top management team at SALCAB (Sierra Leone Cable Limited) has successfully concluded a three-day Management Retreat at the Lakka Occasions Resort, in the Western Rural district. The management retreat was attended by the Chairman, Board of Directors of SALCAB, Sorie Fofana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Augustine Sheku and the company’s legal retainer, Hon. Hindolo M. Gevao.

The Managing Director of SALCAB, Ishmael M. Kebbay (Jr) articulated his vision for the company in the Financial Year 2020. He emphasized on the need for a second landing cable and also called on the Ministry of Information and Communications to help SALCAB have a say on how the NFB (National Fibre Backbone) Phase 2 project is being implemented by the Chinese tech giant, Huawui.

Mr. Kebbay noted that, the loan from the China Exim Bank for the implementation of the NFB Phase 2 project is an on-lending agreement between the Ministry of Finance and SALCAB. Therefore, he said, SALCAB must have a controlling influence over how the project should be implemented. He therefore called for the establishment of a Project Implementing Unit to be supervised by SALCAB.

The SALCAB Managing Director emphasized on staff discipline and punctuality at work. He called on staff members to support him to deliver on his vision for the company.

Mr. Kebbay said that, his administration is working with the company’s legal retainers to recover all outstanding debts owed to the company.

Mr. Kebbay noted that the red card that President Bio spoke about recently was not only meant for Ministers alone but everyone who plays a leadership role in departments and agencies. “If I don’t perform, I will be sacked by the President…I don’t want to lose my job…Those who are not prepared to work in the interest of the company would have no space at SALCAB”, Mr. Kebbay emphasized.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Board of Directors reminded the Management of SALCAB of President Julius Maada Bio’s desire to deliver on his election manifesto without any further delay. He said the President has declared 2020 as “the year of delivery”. Mr. Fofana called on the Management of SALCAB to put in place modalities to speedily and fully implement projects that the company had undertaken in 2019.

The Chairman of the Board called on the management to submit their programmes and activities for the Financial Year 2020 to the Board of Directors for approval. He called on the management and staff of SALCAB to renew their commitment to work, and embark on tangible deliverables this financial year.

Mr. Fofana thanked the Ministry of Information and Communications for their support and guidance and called on the Minister and Permanent Secretary to continue to support the activities of SALCAB.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Augustine Sheku noted the need for SALCAB to regularize their status. He promised to work very closely with the Board and Management of SALCAB to address this issue as a matter of urgency.

Hon. Hindolo M. Gevao explained his role as legal adviser to the company and assured that the company is operating within the ambit of the laws of Sierra Leone.

The lead facilitator, Dr. Victor Massaquoi assured that at the end of the threedays retreat, the Management of SALCAB should be able to define a clear road map and vision for the company in the 2020 Financial Year.

All departmental heads of SALCAB including the CFO, the CTO, the CCO, the Admin and HR Manager, the Procurement and Logistics Manager and other line Managers played active role in the just concluded three-day management retreat at Lakka.