Decentralization will eradicate poverty – APC

The APC manifesto has said that poverty in Sierra Leone is heavily concentrated in the rural areas, and decentralization and rural development will definitely eradicate poverty.
There has been an unprecedented massive migration to the urban areas because of the lack of opportunities especially employment, good schools and hospitals.
Decentralization is the corner stone on which rests the policies and programmes that will facilitate development and participation of our citizens in every part of the country.
The APC firmly believes that the true decentralization of political, legislative, economic and administrative functions would encourage the rural population to stay in their localities and participate in the management of their own affairs.
These sectors are beset with the following problems; unwillingness on the part of the central government to devolve power, functions and resources to the local units.
In the rural areas, lack of basic services; lack of employment opportunities and rural urban migration resulting in unavailability of adequate labour and undue pressure in the urban areas
Because of these problems the party will embark on: logistical capacity building that will give real meaning to multi-sectoral devolution; instituting strict supervision and monitoring of local government authority to ensure accountability and transparency, without micro managing.
Introducing a more focused, coordinated, sustainable and holistic rural development program that will use both internal and external resources to raise the capacity of the rural economy for self sustenance and improve standards of living for the population.
Rehabilitating the crumbling infrastructure and provide where necessary additional rural roads, rural water supply, affordable healthcare and rural banks through cooperation with local government authorities in accordance with our decentralization policy.
The APC will fund rural development programmes in collaboration with our national and external partners. Encourage home-based industries that will create employment in the rural areas. Provide for the rural population to participate in the development and management of their affairs through self-help.
Accelerate the moribund decentralization process and meaningfully empower local councils with a view to achieving the goals of the MDG’s on time.
Facilitate compilation of statistical base line studies of all services, facilities and inadequacies in all districts. Such data will be useful in planning the needs of the rural population.