Strategically addressing Sierra Leone’s myriad of challenges is like dancing the old time monkey twist in the quick sand of the number 2 River Beach; the more you wriggle, the deeper you sink. It is like the Chinese box. Less than 100 days since President Bio took the reins of power, the nation now knows how courageous, thick-skinned and forthright the man they put in power is. For me the greatest thing for which we should all support President Bio’s programs is because from the onset he set the criteria on which we can access him. He virtually gave us the ropes to proverbially hang him if he goes out of tune. He told us he wants to curb corruption, indiscipline and poverty, using accountability and transparency as the vehicles. He promised to lead by example and so far he is true to his word.
I think our nation has always been crying for a leader that will make bold decisions to tackle corruption, poverty and social injustice A selfless leader that is forthright, encourage accountability and transparency from also those around him. We cried for a leader that will strive to advance a development agenda for the common good. To a maximum extent, President Bio’s Free Quality Education Scheme touches every household in Sierra Leone in every nook and crany. A country that has a high number of educated people at various levels ,has more chances for survival than our present state of education. Zimbabwe went through severe economic and political hardship but they survived it all partly because of their high literacy/education and awareness. Education indeed makes a man easy to rule but difficult to enslave. In this modern world if you cannot read and write, you can hardly dictate the pace of your own destiny.
One realization we need to have is that the free Quality Education program we are looking forward to has no magic wand that someone can shake and everything falls in place. No, not at all, every stakeholder in fact including every community member has to play his or her own part. So no one should be left behind in the sensitization on this program. Communities should own it and make it sustainable. I am sure when the implementation plan comes out we might see a phased schedule probably starting with the Primary sector. Well let’s wait for the Government Implementation Plan on the Education program. As citizens we can contribute to improving on that plan and actually offer to support implementation. With more people having education, the country can together move in the right direction where every citizen can have the opportunity to explore his or her potentials to the full.
In terms of expertise, it is better to develop our own as it is far less expensive to engage someone who is a Sierra Leonean to do a technical work than hiring an expatriate. Since the global economic meltdown in 2008, it looks quite evident that over dependence on donor support to meet budgetary needs is unsustainable. You can thus understand when our government keeps talking about diversification of revenue generation. Surely domestic revenue generation is seen as the key source for fiscal space expansion because of its sustainability. The moves to raise revenue have to have the political will. The government introduced austerity measures in 2016 to strengthen public finance management for greater efficiency in public service delivery. Apparently it did not yield any dividend and that government never told the public how it went belieing its failure. Programs can only be successfully executed with domestic funding when strict fiscal reforms are adhered to. President Bio’s measures to this end so far are getting positive results.
Many projects in Sierra Leone have failed in the past because we have wasted so much money by giving contracts to the wrong people who sometimes even run away with the moneys. Conversely we have also witnessed instances where disbursement of funds for projects is delayed for reasons other than accountability. You can check the audit reports over the years and you will see how procurement procedures have been bye-passed with impunity. If development is also about improving people’s lives then projects affecting people’s livelihoods should also have their input to ensure ownership and sustainability. Good governance has its major ingredients as: healthy life; access to resources and acquisition of knowledge.
On the issue of sustainability, a lot depends on both the service providers and service users. The demand and supply ends must function effectively. The service providers are expected to provide good services that meet the needs of the people. For their part the service users should own the services and take keen interest in the services and hold authorities accountable. Poor service delivery is one major bane in our state governance. The wastages and leakages speak volumes of how our resources are managed. Even with new the population of a bit over 7 million we are supposed to live a far better life because of the vast natural endowments we have been blessed with. A functioning and vibrant democracy requires leaders who are motivated by patriotism and forthrightness, those whom the spoils of office cannot buy.
For a long time Salone’s governance dispensation has fallen far short of accountability despite the strides they have made in some sectors like electricity, water and roads. A lot of information abounds partly from researches done by the Budget Advocacy Network and others that funds mismanagement and wastages are monumental. Perhaps this is why although the government claims to have done so much, critical minded Sierra Leoneans do not seem impressed. The fact is that all the claims of progress are not reflected on the living conditions of the average sierra Leonean. Price hikes have been astronomical due mainly to corrupt practices and therefore the poor become even poorer.
We clearly are missing something in our governance, we are yet to have a government that demonstrate ample accountability in its activities in such a way that it translates into what goes on the table or plate of the common man. Our governments should make a commitment to accountability and also consider the needs of stakeholders in its decision-making and activities and delivers against this commitment. Accountability is based on four dimensions: transparency; participation; learning and evaluation, and feedback mechanisms. Without all these even the best thought out program Our current governance dispensation falls far short of accountability despite the strides they have made in some sectors like electricity, water and roads. A lot of information abounds partly from researches done by the Budget Advocacy Network and others that funds mismanagement and wastages are monumental. Perhaps this is why although the government claims to have done so much, critical minded Sierra Leoneans do not seem impressed. The fact is that all the claims of progress are not reflected on the living conditions of the average sierra Leonean. Price hikes have been astronomical and therefore the poor becoming even poorer.
We clearly are missing something in our governance, we are yet to have a government that demonstrate ample accountability in its activities in such a way that it translates into what goes on the table or plate of the common man. Our governments should make a commitment to accountability and also considers the needs of stakeholders in its decision-making and activities and delivers against this commitment. Accountability is based on four dimensions: transparency; participation; learning and evaluation, and feedback mechanisms.
Our current governance dispensation falls far short of accountability despite the strides they have made in some sectors like electricity, water and roads. A lot of information abounds partly from researches done by the Budget Advocacy Network and others that funds mismanagement and wastages are monumental. Perhaps this is why although the government claims to have done so much, critical minded Sierra Leoneans do not seem impressed. The fact is that all the claims of progress are not reflected on the living conditions of the average sierra Leonean. Price hikes have been astronomical and therefore the poor becoming even poorer.
We clearly are missing something in our governance, we are yet to have a government that demonstrate ample accountability in its activities in such a way that it translates into what goes on the table or plate of the common man. Our governments should make a commitment to accountability and also considers the needs of stakeholders in its decision-making and activities and delivers against this commitment. Accountability is based on four dimensions: transparency; participation; learning and evaluation, and feedback mechanisms.
might come to naught.
By Beny SAM
Tuesday June 26, 2018.
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