By Joseph S. Margai in Freetown, Sierra Leone
The Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Dr. Sarah Finda Bendu, has called on all the staffs of the Authority to improve on their teamwork in order to enhance performance within the Corporation.
Dr. Bendu, who was speaking at the SLRSA’s Management & Board Retreat held at Elle’s Guest House on Femi Turner Drive in Goderich yesterday (October 26, 2017), said she decided to start a retreat for management and board of SLRSA because she wanted to ensure that every individual contributes to the development of the institution.
She said prior to the commencement of the rebranding process at SLRSA, there was a report that shows that Africa regional road transport sectors were not emphasizing on the promotion of road safety.
“In our rebranding process, we retrained and ranked the road safety corps, who were once referred to as traffic wardens, embarked on clearing of abandoned and vehicles on the road in order to avoid road traffic crashes. We also established our branches in the districts of Sierra Leone in order to showcase out services to the customers, we procured utility and tow trucks, refurbished our license hall and fitness center and we moved from paper to paperless system in the office,” she explained.
At each of the retreat that they have been organizing, she noted, they set strategic goals which they would collectively achieve, adding that the set goals included submission of report for every meeting, task accomplishment, alignment to operational guidelines and supervision, public education, collaboration and team work, capacity building, finance and resources management, equipment and vehicles management and there were compliance by most departments of the institution.
Dr. Bendu emphasized that the staff of the Authority must put the interest of the institution first, while urging them to know their mission and vision statements including the core values of the institution.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mohamed A. Jalloh, said organizational retreat is now a common phenomenon in the corporate and public world, adding that it is a modern management strategy that seeks to maximize the full potential of staff by giving them the opportunity to nurture their skills, talent and competences.
“SLRSA, over the years has been making strides to rebrand itself by improving service delivery. And this is one way to empower and motivate staff,” he said, urging all of the participants to build up team spirit, renew commitment and devotion to duty for the betterment of SLRSA,” he said.
He also urged SLRSA to be mindful that its budget and strategic plan must be linked to national strategy that will support national development.
He encouraged staff of SLRSA to be ambitious, committed, optimistic, strong, and devoted, result-oriented and seek for change and be the change Sierra Leone desires.
SLRSA’s Board Chairman, Rev. Michael Samura, said the retreat should serve as a way of bringing up suggestions, ideas, which should be incorporated into the strategic goals.
He said both the board and management should be aware of their responsibilities in the institution, and in going forward, no one would be left out, encouraging all to do things that will promote the institution and by extension, Sierra Leone’s image.
