Concord Times (Freetown)
Ben Samuel Turay
30 June 2008
Since the ban on the activities of members of Sierra Leone Scrap Metal Association (SLSMA) was lifted few months ago, as part of newly-elected All Peoples Congress (APC) government's effort to bloom the economy, many children of primary and secondary schools-going age have took to the streets to engage in scrap metal business instead of going to their schools.
On the other hand, especially for those who come from not-well-to-do families, picking scrap metals is an easy way of making money to pursue their academic career as their means of support are limited.
Last Tuesday, the writer was in Funkia village, a part of Goderich, on Peninsular Road where President Ernest Koroma, minister of energy and power Afsatu Kabba and some other politicians reside.
Some parents in the area are not happy that their children, who ought to be in their various schools, are always out there on the streets looking for scrap metals.
Fatmata, mother of a primary school child who is engaged in scrap metal business, told the writer that her child stopped going to school in order to make little money in scrap metal business.
"Government should stop this business so that our children can learn," she said as she explained her child's daily routine. She said when day breaks, her child, who is in class four, would put on his school uniform and request money for lunch as usual for a student going to school. But she later got to know through one of her friends that her child has not been going to school for the past term. "I was shocked when I got the news. I am against this idea of scrap business," Fatmata said.
Another parent, Mr. Abdul Kamara told the writer that his child has stopped going to school because of scrap metal business. "Children's education and scrap metal business, which one is important for the future?" Kamara asked as he started his narration.
He said his child in secondary school used to attend classes until he started following his friends in the look out for scrap metals because he had 'different kind of friends.' He linked this mean of making money to peer influence on the part of his son's friends. He also feared that the move will lead to the child's engagement in unruly attitudes that could jeopardize his future. "Some of his friends are smokers and I am doubtful if my child will not be smoking soon if he has not even started," he wondered.
"What is the government gaining from scrap metal business? Who are those people that are engaged in this form of business?" he asked the writer as if he had the answers to his questions. Kamara thinks if the practice of hiring children to collect scrap metals is not stopped, many children will join in the trend and most of them would stop going to school.
A boy hinged on the fact that his parents are too poor to provide all his needs as the reason for going into scrap business. He said he does not usually have money for lunch when going to school everyday. "But now, I have Le 50,000 which I was able to raise through my engagement in scrap metal business," he said.
He admitted that he has not been regular in school since he started doing the scrap metal business last year but maintained that he has been coping with the situation simply because some of his classmates are into the same business.
Mohamed Turay told Concord Times that he discovered the scrap metal business in his first term in school on arrival in Freetown. For the sake of the money he has started making from the business, he decided to postpone his enrolment into school for another year so that, according to him, he will be able to raise enough money that would sustain him throughout each academic sessions. "I will go to school next year," Turay said.
Meanwhile, a concerned citizen, Mr. Tejan Cole, said: "We are training our children to be future leaders but scrap metal is just a business. Is it really good for our kids? I want the government to step into this matter because it is very important." He added that despite the fact that scrap metal dealers, and the association in its entirety, is creating employment for some jobless youths and help in cleaning the environment, there are still some problems with the industry. He made comparison between scrap metal business and criminality.
"We should always remember the two men that were caught at the Kingtom Bridge while trying to sell National Power Authority cables, is that all good?" he asked.
A contractor who is presently constructing a house at Kaningo Juba Hill complained of his iron rods being stolen. Mr. Alpha Conteh said some youths come and take those iron rods and sell them as scrap metals to buyers.
The finger is usually pointed in the younger ones' direction yet we talk of creating a better future for them? The government needs to wade into the situation to guarantee a better tomorrow for our future leaders.
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