The Resident Representative of the Africa Development Bank in Sierra Leone; Dr.Samuel Onwona has disclosed that Sierra Leone is not benefiting much from support from the ADB and other donors because of weak implementation capacity of projects on the ground.
He made this disclosure last week during a farewell ceremony held for 25 health personnel going for a three month health management course in the University of Ghana.
The ADB representative frankly pulled the bull by the horn when he underscored in his statement that Sierra Leone has not been doing well in the implementation of projects funded by the ADB especially within the health Ministry.
He took time to explain the criteria used by the ADB to allocate funds to member countries for developmental projects.
Some of the criteria he highlighted include performance analysis of countries and institutional assessments which include 15 composite factors embracing governance issues, funds disbursement and procurement issues. It is based on results achieved on the ground, timely presentation of quarterly reports, technical assistance and infant and maternal mortality rates are all factors that can either contribute to increase or decrease allocation of funds to countries.
Dr. Samuel Onwona encouraged Ministry of Health and Sanitation which is an implementing partner of some ADB funded projects to improve on service delivery so as to entice the ADB to increase its budget ‘allocation to Sierra Leone.
Amongst litany of problems the health Ministry is engulfed in, the ADB Resident Representative expressed dissatisfaction over the shortage of trained medical personnel in the country.
He made reference to recent statistics of doctors which shows only 108 doctors available for over five million Sierra Leoneans.He noted that the number is very low and this will affect service delivery.
He however pledged ADB’s continued support towards building the capacity of medical practitioners in the country.
By William Freeman
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