NaCSA Commissions Tricycles to Boost Youth Employment and Waste Management Under Green Public Works Initiative.

By Kelvin Mark Kargbo | SLENA Correspondent

The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), in collaboration with Local Government Authorities, held a high-level stakeholders engagement at the Port Loko District Council Hall to launch the Green Public Works (GPW) component of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project.

The event included the official commissioning of tricycles to support youth-led environmental and waste management initiatives.

Key dignitaries in attendance included Minister of Local Government Tamba Lamina, NaCSA Commissioner Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, Mayor of Port Loko Alie Badara Tarawallie, Mayor of Makeni Abubakarr Kamara, Mayor of Koidu-Sefadu Komba Matthew Sam, NaCSA Board Chairman Mohamed E.K. Allie, Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on NaCSA Hon. Abdul Latif Sesay, and several other stakeholders.

The ceremony was chaired by Umaru Samai from NaCSA’s Communications Unit, who underscored the significance of the GPW initiative in empowering communities and reducing environmental risks.

Speaking at the event, NaCSA’s Senior Director of Social Protection, Idriss Turay, described the project as a major step toward promoting youth employment and addressing environmental challenges. He emphasized the strategic use of tricycles in enhancing waste management in participating municipalities.

Mayor Alie Badara Tarawallie of Port Loko praised NaCSA for its developmental efforts, noting the GPW initiative has significantly improved sanitation in the district. “The GPW has reduced the ubiquity of mosquitoes in our communities,” he stated, describing Port Loko as one of the cleanest municipalities since the project began.

Makeni Mayor Abubakarr Kamara highlighted the project’s role in fostering peace and social cohesion, particularly in politically divided areas. He noted its contribution to education, having supported 37 students at UNIMAK, and emphasized the importance of the tricycles in managing community waste effectively.

Mayor Komba Matthew Sam of Koidu-Sefadu also commended the initiative, revealing it has helped reduce financial burdens on municipalities previously struggling with waste management costs. “We’ve saved over 500,000 Leones annually since the GPW project started,” he said.

NaCSA Board Chairman Mohamed E.K. Allie reiterated the Commission's commitment to community-driven development and called on beneficiaries to utilize the tricycles responsibly.

Hon. Abdul Latif Sesay commended NaCSA’s work in transforming local communities through impactful, grassroots initiatives and reaffirmed his support in championing NaCSA’s agenda at the parliamentary level.

NaCSA Commissioner Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina expressed gratitude for the widespread support of the GPW initiative, describing it as a vital intervention funded by the World Bank to address climate and livelihood challenges. He reaffirmed NaCSA's focus on rural development and the Commission’s dedication to environmental protection and social inclusion.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Local Government Tamba Lamina emphasized the project's broader role in poverty alleviation, healthcare access, and sustainable development. He applauded NaCSA’s leadership and reaffirmed the government's commitment to rural transformation and youth empowerment.