Deal #8769

The deal only came to light after residents were told by officials in the Whale Bay area, where the harbor is planned, that there was a hold on any land exchanges because of a Chinese deal, says Jane Aspden Gbandewa, who runs an an eco-tourism business in the area.

The community mentioned that the compensation stated by the government was also unfair, claiming that the rate was about 30 times lower than the market value of the land. Sierra Leoneans are protesting a planned industrial harbour over concerns the Chinese-financed project will destroy pristine rainforest and pollute the ocean. conservationists call China's plans to build a harbor at Black Johnson Beach in Sierra Leone. They call it disastrous for fishing in the area that has been described as the last piece of natural paradise. Local residents and activist groups are resisting the plan. But there are also proponents, it can give Sierra Leone an economic boost.The Gwadar project in Pakistan has also faced stiff opposition from local fishermen displaced by the project, while concerns have been raised as to whether the local workforce will be able to benefit from the project in the event of a loss. sudden influx of workers from elsewhere in Pakistan or abroad.

Green Scenery, a local environmental NGO, has accused the government of not carrying out environmental due diligence, however, and has urged it to cancel the project.

The project would "destroy virgin rainforest, plunder stocks of fish, pollute the marine environment and five individual ecosystems that are breeding grounds for fish and support endangered species of birds and wildlife =

The government said the beach, one of many along the nation’s 250-mile (400km) coastline, revealed the finance ministry had set aside a compensation package of 13.76bn leone (£950,000) for affected landowners

Industrial fishing port

Will ensure a regular supply of fish” on the local market.

Greenpeace Africa condemned the decision, arguing that "West African fishing communities are already suffering the effects of environmental degradation and the climate crisis. They further mentioned that allowing more extractive activities in this region will only make the situation worse.