VIEWPOINT President Koroma’s Agenda For Change: Two Years On.....What’s The Verdict in Sierra Leone? Posted by Michael Massaquoi, London, UK on Sep 7, 2009, 10:12

Returning to Sierra Leone for the second time since President Koroma led APC administration took office; my optimism for positive change remains high as ever. I am not alone; on the streets of Freetown and up and down the country, the overall impression one gets is that hope is not lost, and indeed, Sierra Leoneans are moving away from the historicity of horror, plunder and hopelessness to one of sanity, strength and determination.  This feeling of high optimism is in sharp contrast to the early days of the government when the public was more hysterical because of the dizzying oscillation of public opinion of the government.

The striking evidence of innovative and focused-driven approach adopted by President Koroma and his team have had huge impact in turning things around combined with the positive strides the government continues to make in delivering public services. Take for example, the energy and water supply, and the growth sectors- agriculture, mining, fisheries and marine resources and tourism; health, education, housing and employment all of which are being given new life line, thanks to the visionary leadership of the President. Added to this is the sagacity of the Anti-Corruption Commission which has been armed with new powers to tackle corruption head on being a major factor that has almost crippled the country.

For all the vicious stream of venom aimed at the President and some members of his cabinet by those who believe there is a corrosive of voters trust, the government has remained on course focusing precisely on delivering change and fulfilling its election pledge. In just two years, the government has made remarkable achievements in the energy supply as most parts of the city now receive regular electricity with energy supply increased from 7MW to 32MW.  The Bumbuna Project is almost completed, and only recently President Koroma commissioned the transmission and distribution network at Kingtom to kick start full electricity supply right across the city.

Progress report on infrastructure shows that Sierra Leone stands to benefit from modern road network as major construction works on feeder as well as trunk roads are ongoing. The government has embarked on major road construction linking various towns and villages across the country, some of which have been impassable for many years. Speaking to the Deputy Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure while on leave in London recently, Hon. Abdul Babagalleh Barrie outlined some of the projects the government has successfully undertaken after securing funds from donor agencies. Hon. Barrie said government contributes 10% to every fund secured from international donors as a commitment to undertake the project.

The construction work on the Bo-Masiaka highway is almost near to completion. Other road networks that are under construction or for which funding have been secured include Freetown-Conakry highway via Rogberay junction; Makeni-Kabala road; Bo-Koribondo; Port Loko-Lungi and many others in the metropolis including the Lumley-Goderich-Tokeh Road, the Hill Cut Jummo Kenyatta road.

Deputy Minister Barrie also spoke of major infrastructure work of key public buildings and market places in the city, and these include the proposed Mini-Youyi building at New England; Victoria Park Market; Fisher Street Market and the refurbishment of Parliament which would provide ultra- modern offices and facilities for MPs and government officials.

On youth employment and empowerment, President Koroma has invested huge resources by setting up a National Youth Commission to maximise youth participation in the job market as well as in the democratic process. There are job prospects in the mining sector as over ten thousands jobs are being created by London Mining and African Minerals for the growing unemployed youth population. The Vincent Kanu Sugarcane Project in Makeni, a Brazilian partnership initiative is in the offing and is also expected to provide additional job opportunities for the unemployed youth population as well as the local community.

Hon. Moijua Kaikai, deputy minister of employment and social security in a telephone conversation in few weeks ago intimated that government is doing all it can to increase the chances of employability.  The deputy minister said a return to work sensitization campaign will soon be launched in every district targeted at the youth population as well as skilled unemployed population across the country. Deputy minister Moijua Kaikai said the growing number of entrepreneurs and private sector including various mobile phone companies, mining companies and the public sector are committed to creating job opportunities for the unemployed population.

There is an impressive progress report on national security as Sierra Leone continues to enjoy peace and stability. Built on the success of the previous administration, the President and his team are committed to fostering and sustaining peace and stability in partnership with the international community. The Peace building Commission and the Government of Sierra Leone adopted a Peace building Cooperation Framework in December 2008, which is widely recognized as one of the principle engagement and partnership tools in fostering peace in the country.

On the fight against corruption, President Koroma’s zero Tolerance to corruption and commitment to promote the concept of attitudinal change are indications of the government’s determination to bring about change resonating the democratic values of 21^st century. There have been instances where the opposition has been involved with the Presidents external travels so as to have a first hand experience with the activities of the government overseas.

The new Anti-Corruption Commission Act is added measure to tackling corruption at all levels. The frequent episodes involving unsavory public servants being caught with their fingers in the till in the past has been drastically reduced or rather curbed as a result of new powers invested in the ACC. The allegation that the government is in league with sacrosanct closed to the seat of power appeared to have been challenged by the actions of  President Koroma as incompetent and bungling members of the government are being dismissed, while those deemed to have underperformed given warning bells.

 However, President Koroma is yet to put in the dust bin the charge that he is a big blubbering jelly of indecision with reference to dealing with the behaviour of Afsiata Kabba, Energy and Power Minister whose ministry has been buffeted by a series of scandals surrounding an alleged fake electricity contract which remains to haunt the government.

In February this year, President Koroma launched the Sierra Leone Justice Sector Reform and Investment Plan. The Reform Strategy has four goals: safe communities; access to justice; strengthening the rule of law and improving the justice service delivery. The strategy is providing a role model for the development of other sector-wide strategies with emphasis on youth employment and empowerment.

On the international front, Sierra Leone is proud to reclaim her place in the comity of civilized and enlightened nations; thanks to Hon. Zainab Bangura, Foreign Affairs and International cooperation Minister, who is one of President Koroma’s able and most respected public servants. With her vast experience in the world of diplomacy, one can choreographed Mrs Bangura’s achievements from her days as a civil society activist and champion of good governance to making Sierra Leone a country of pride in the international circle. Mrs. Bangura’s diplomatic prowess combined with her wit to promote democratic values and resolve conflict is all too well known. Her recent role in settling the Yenga border dispute and her intervention in salvaging the republic of Niger from descending into apocalyptic of bad governance and uncertainty makes proud of our foreign minister and the country.

 Many in the government, and indeed the public have admiration for Mrs. Bangura simply because of her relenting hard work and go-getter attitude in promoting Sierra Leone on the international platform. Only recently, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister laid the rudimentary basis for a viable and sustainable diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and Brazil which Sierra Leone stands to benefit immensely from bilateral trade relations, visa exemption and technological gain.

Our military and national security has had  new transformation and is accredited as a  modernized force, thanks to the foresight of  Hon. Palo Conteh,  Defence and National Security Minister. Minister Palo Conteh has given President Koroma a hand to steer Sierra Leone to unremitting peace, security and national unity. The eloquent and erudite defence Minister is a breed of East London University where he graduated with an LLM in human rights law, one of several professional qualifications he acquired in the UK.  The no-nonsense retired Major and Defence Minister is busy rebranding the military to ensure our defence force remain a force to reckon with. When I visited him in his office some three weeks ago, Hon. Palo Conteh told me he is proud to have been given the responsibility of securing our sovereignty adding he is enjoying the job as it involves new challenges. Hon. Conteh has succeeded in dislodging the belligerent hubris from our military force since his appointment.

In the face of these positive changes there are increasing challenges for President Koroma and his government. It takes a particularly unlucky-or ham-fisted-politician to do the right thing but still emerge looking guilty. By his handling of the Afsiata Kabba affair and a few others, President Koroma appeared to have achieved just that. Notwithstanding, as the government becomes two years old, the public would want to see the President takes off the mask and show the real Ernest Koroma in dealing with controversies that continue to harm the government. The focus now is to remain on course and deliver more public services. The government should not afford to lose sight of its election pledge-sanity, prosperity and dignity for all Sierra Leoneans.