Thursday 17th September marks two years of President Ernest Bai Koroma’s rule in Sierra Leone, but the question is; can we celebrate with our heads held high or can we carry our heads on the palm of our hands? These are the questions that I want all of us in Sierra Leone to ponder and try to answer them.
I was unfortunate to join the celebrations two years ago as I left the country two weeks before the second ballot and inauguration, but still I believed that Ernest Koroma who was so handsome, tall and elegant, would transform this small rich country into something for the better, but alas, his government has taken the down trodden path of extreme poverty, tribalism, regionalism and politicization of this small country.
Before trying to justify my claims, just two weeks ago the retired President Kabbah was mobbed in the East End part of the city by Sierra Leoneans who were chanting praise songs for Kabbah telling him “yesterday bin betteh pas tiday”.
This is not a good sign for this government as they have failed to provide the basic amenities for the populace. Cost of living has doubled, Parents have to pay exams fees for their children, freedom of speech is at the crossroads and armed robbery on the increase.
When I left in 2007, the last bag of rice I bought was Le70,000, on my return this July, I had to pay Le130,000 for the same bag of rice, with a salary of 20% increase only. Schools fees, books and other basic learning materials have became so difficult to get because the economy is in recession.
When I left the Leone to the Dollar was Le3,000 now it is Le4,000 to the Dollar. It seems that the odds are against this government.
But one thing that is shocking me in this 21st century is, why did the President allow ‘ariogbo’ to play in his compound when the world is so advanced. Does that mean this new dispensation at the State Lodge is behind times? If the ariogbo story is true, then it stands to reason that for the past two years more of such has been done.
We are yet to judge this government as we were told to judge them after 36 months, but these two years seem enough for us to see that the ship is moving in the opposite direction and we are moving far from our destination on a daily basis.
On Education, we have seen and heard all the negativities and the conclusion is that we will never achieve the Millennium Goal in 2015. The past two years have seen more drop outs from schools in all categories, more child labourers, and more illiterates in the country. Why? Because many parents cannot afford the cost of education any longer as there is no more free exams to take coupled with the high cost of living. Teachers are not being paid on time or not paid at all. Pamphlets are now the order of the day as well as extra lessons; these are the reasons why education is degenerating to an unprecedented level.
The new officials at the ministry are more incensed with tribalism and regionalism than working for the good of education in the country. Do we all have to come from the North before scholarships and grant in aid are accorded us? Why should names become criteria for scholarship? When they came they said there were lots of ghost teachers in the ministry and they will do census again. When the census was done, we had more teachers than what they inherited, may God help us all.
As for the economy, the little said the better; we just hope that someday, somehow we will continue to perform the magic of survival, because the salary paid to us is a sin to God. We can’t eat for satisfaction any longer; we just eat to be alive. The policies are not encouraging to improve investment. Even though the Ease of doing Business report is out, the business world is still having problems to develop as the market is contracting, the Leone is depreciating and taxation especially Customs Duties has increased. The pathetic side of the story is that nobody is explaining the reasons for the contracting economy.
On infrastructure, it is good they are continuing the projects they met as continuity will definitely help develop the country. Also they are now trying to initiate their own projects that will enhance the infrastructural development of the country. The sad story was when they opened some of the buildings that were built by the previous government, they should have commended them for such projects just the same way they had been criticizing them for their short falls. We do hope that in future politics would be put aside and the right thing done.
On Human Rights, this new dispensation started badly by trying to silence the Opposition and create fear on the fourth estate, but they failed because this is not the seventies when they succeeded in such attacks. The world has changed so do the people and policies. We cannot sit and allow our democratic rights being trampled upon. They have more to do in Human Rights as Freedom of Expression is being trampled upon. Musicians can’t sing or launch protest songs anymore without prior approval. We have to be very cautious in our reporting or we will be visited by the Task Force.
Women have to be very careful or else they would be raped. The Human Rights record in the country is very poor and I hope it would be improved in the future.
On Marine Resources, it is now difficult more than ever to get fish in the market as the complaints from fishermen is increasing daily. Lots of corruption has been unearthed in the ministry and the report from the American Ambassador was indicting to us because the loss incurred I’m sure has been over a decade now. Government officials collaborating with the poachers to fleece the country from its resources to the point that the president has to visit the ministry to make his presence felt as he is not happy with what is going on in the ministry. The minister has been accused of employing her own son to work with her, if it is true, why were they were accusing the previous government of such deeds when they too would be part of the nonsense.
Electricity has improved a little with the light at all cost and the Bumbuna we are expecting. Bumbuna was started by the APC in the seventies and it is but fitting that they should complete it. But upon completion, we need to commend the previous governments of NPRC and SLPP for their determination to make this dream a reality. We need to commend them and hope this government will commend them for nearing its completion before they took over.
As for tribalism and regionalism, this government has proved they are worse than all previous regimes. The rate of tribalism and regionalism can be felt even when we walk the streets let alone apply for a job or looking at the daily appointments by the government. We knew the previous government was tribalistic, but we never thought this one will be so worse after they had preached about it, accused the previous government of splitting the country into two. We never knew that Bombali District is the only Province that has educated people and that only Northerners should be entitled to government education. Every office, one visits, one will see and feel tribalism and if one does not belong, it is better to leave or find a membership card of the ruling party.
In most priority areas, ministries have not outlined a national strategy. Even where a strategy has been developed, for example for Youth Capacity Building and Employment, and in Justice and Security Sector Reform, there is no-one considering how these strategies may overlap or be in tension with each other. The new government has yet to unveil a coherent approach showing how it intends to coordinate these strategies, although there are discussions of an oversight body attached to the Office of the Vice President that would play this role.
Capacity to absorb international assistance is also a problem. Projects funded by the Peacebuilding Fund are meant to last 12 months. But various projects have taken 12 to 18 months between the approvals of projects to the actual disbursement. The inability of the government to provide a coherent vision is exacerbated by the lack of coordination within the international community. The government is required to meet the benchmarks of a dozen or more donors and international organizations-all with different systems of reporting. It is over five years since the war was declared over and the disarmament, demobilization and re-integration process declared complete. Victims of the atrocities, however, often compare their situation with that of the ex-combatants. While the victims’ needs remain unaddressed by the government, the perpetrators have benefited from well financed programs.
These challenges can be met only with government commitment, government leadership, investment, and transparent, accountable processes. Upcoming opportunities for the government to move this agenda forward and demonstrate its commitment to its people.
Due to prolonged conflict and history of bad governance, Sierra Leone remains a degraded state. Sustained commitment by this government, to put aside tribalism and politicization is necessary for these measures to be transformed into practical efforts that make a serious difference in the lives of Sierra Leone’s people. And only those efforts will guarantee sustained peace and a commitment to human rights and dignity.
To conclude, the two years in office has little to write home about, until we kick out all the negative isms before this government will succeed.