It was September 17, 2007 when the All Peoples Congress Party led by President Ernest Bai Koroma took the mantle of state. The party is now two years in power and to sound the opinion of other political stakeholders about their two years, Ishmael Bayoh and Jon-Bu spoke to the National Party Chairman of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) Mohamed Bangura.
Awoko: What are your impressions about President Koroma’s 2yrs in office?
Mohamed Bangura: My general impression about President Koroma’s two years I will say is impressive to some extent having in mind that he took the reins of power at the time I will look at Sierra Leone as a non-starter. That was the time when Sierra Leone was labeled as the worst place to live and the bottom of the development index, the most corrupt country and the darkest city in the world. I mean, everything was upside down, twenty four months in governance is not a long time considering the situation in which he took power. So he needs to do few things for himself to right a legacy. As a human being he is so generous, so foresighted but his biggest problem is the people around him.
Awoko: Can you comment on how he has handled the issue of corruption?
Mohamed Bangura: I will say for sure that corruption is one of the areas that I can rate him high for the simple reason that he has empowered the Anti- Corruption Commission as the issues of corruption now lies solely in the hands of ACC. Here is a commission which was toothless and now an act of Parliament has empowered them to arrest and prosecute. What else do you want from the President? I will grade him high on that.
Awoko: How has he handled the economy?
Mohamed Bangura: Of course the economy is one of the areas that they are far below but one would understand why they are far below. Remember initially that I said they took power at the time when everything was upside down and people hold the argument that the dollar is now Le400, 000 and a bag of rice is Le120, 000 whilst during the SLPP the bag of rice was Le85, 000. There is no way you can put a hold on inflation and when the SLPP took over from the NPRC, a bag of rice was sold between 25-Le35, 000 and when they left in 2007; it was Le85, 000 per bag. There is no way you can stabilize it but he has to improve in this area.
Awoko: Can you also explain how he has dealt with inter-party relationship?
Mohamed Bangura: Inter-party relationship is another area he has scored marks when you look at the post election, there was lots of complaints of violence in almost all over until when he intervened personally. His personal visit to the SLPP office helped pacify the situation and now we have seen party conventions are being attended by political opponents and the country relatively calm in terms of party violence. So his presidency improved inter-party relationship for now.
Awoko: What would say about the issue of security?
Mohamed Bangura: The issue of security is another area they have not done much. You will agree with me that the armed robbers seem to have the upper hand all over the country and I will say that the rate of crime is on the increase compared to before. That partly also has to do with the poor state of the economy in the country which has created unemployment. The state security should be able to clamp down on lawlessness.
Awoko: Can you say the President has done much in the area of electricity?
Mohamed Bangura: The availability of electricity in the country is a very grey area and one needs to be very careful when talking about electricity. Yes, the APC has helped electrify Freetown compared to before which was Kabbah tiger city. But the manner in which that electricification took place had some problems. The Income Electrix saga – the shady deals that has left the country with huge debts. It is no secret that the government has placed overwhelming strength in trying to have Bumbuna.
Awoko: People have accused the APC to be tribalistic and regionalistic, what would you say to that?
Mohamed Bangura: That’s an area that sounds very silly because the pre-requisite for a job is not based on a tribal region as one has to be a Sierra Leonean and if he appoints all Northerners in his cabinet, that is his prerogative if he fails, he is responsible for that.
Awoko: Do you think the President is on a firm footing?
Mohamed Bangura: I am not too absolutely sure that he is on a firm footing. He needs to do lots lots more to actually be on a firm footing. His vision yes, but the implementation no, having the right people to do the implementation no. He seems so sympathetic to lots of people’s cause during his presidency and that is slowing his progress. I always say this that there are lots of people around him very close to the corridors of power that have no business to do there and until he starts to take some radical decisions, he is going to find it difficult to be on a firm footing. But he has the vision, a very clear one
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