By Yusufu Sesay
Orange Sierra Leone yesterday Monday 27th May, 2024 commemorated Orange Sierra Leone Environmental Day Celebration with the theme “ We Have Only One Earth” held at the company’s Headquarters on Regent Road, Hill Station in Freetown.

The commemoration will follow OSL Environment Week (27th – 31st May, 2024) observation with activities geared towards drawing attention to effective care on the environment and to reduce the risk of climate related issues.

The biggest mobile company in Sierra Leone, Orange Sierra Leone, has been recognized internationally last year with an award as “The Environmental Champion of the Year 2023” for Zero risk in the environment in most of its operations.

Speaking at the programme, Orange Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Sekou Amadou Bah, highlighted the activities of the company in the last three years which played a crucial role in ensuring the environment was free from risk and other disaster affected problems.

He said the commemoration of Orange Environmental Week is a renewal of the company’s commitment towards taking important steps to reduce environmental impacts.

“ For preserving the environment, we are not only protecting the environment but our very selves. My company has cut down carbon emission by solarizing 72% of our sites across the country,” CEO averred.

According to him, he firmly believes that everyone has the ability to protect the environment with preventive measures.
The CEO said the work of the company does not only limit to connectivity of mobile network, but to also reduce the risk of climate change and the environment in Sierra Leone.

Mr. Bah registered the commitment of his company to do more in targeting a zero risk on the environment and to ensure more preventive measures are applied by all departments.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jiwoh Abdulai, acknowledged the crucial role played by Orange Sierra Leone in complementing government’s efforts to preserve the environment and promote climate change.

He said the creation of the Ministry of Environment is a clear commitment of President Julius Maada Bio and his government to promote and deal with environmental and climate change issues in the country.

Jiwoh Abdulai averred that though the government is taking the lead in environmental preservation, collective actions are required in the fight against climate risk, noting that human actions contribute to environmental issues both in the work place and the communities.

The Minister therefore appealed to Sierra Leoneans to ct as Ambassadors of Climate Change in different ways as they must not allow losing the environment, while he spoke about the danger looming in the not-too-distant future if collective actions are not taken to protect water catchment areas of the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC), notably, in the peninsular.