China-Sierra Leone Fishing Harbour Deal

Sierra Leone on the west coast of Africa has agreed to sell 250 acres of beach and pristine rainforest to China in a $55 million deal to build an industrial fishing harbour. Conservationists and anmial welfare groups are outraged and demanding copies of the environment assessment report and the social impact report that are officially mandated.

The government said it is only a fishing harbour that is envisaged, the aim being to centralise fishing activities. Officials also claimed that the area to be developed would ensure minimum impact on the ecology and has touted a compensation package of over $1.3 million.