Define your direction MR. President Koroma
The World Bank in its latest report is warning that "developing countries will be hit hard by falls in private investment." The Washington-based agency predicted nearly $1 trillion less in foreign investment this year than they did in 2007, leaving developing countries, such as Sierra Leone, hundreds of millions of dollars short of the money they need to finance their obligations.
This poignant message from the World Bank will most certainly scupper President Koroma’s government spending plans, as taxation from personal income and business corporations are set to decline quite significantly by the end of 2009. The World Bank is also forecasting a significant reduction in donor funds. This nightmare will be compounded by the fact that healthy revenue previously generated from exports, have been falling quite sharply in the last six months.
Amid these grim predictions, government borrowing continues to rise alarmingly. The expectation now is for the government to increase productivity, by embarking on public finance efficiency management strategies, especially with regard to improving the management of the utility services, such as water and electricity. But will President Koroma instead, continue to borrow and spend his way through the current economic downturn? The President is surely at a cross-road, which way will he turn?
It may be recalled that during the reign of the previous government, President Koroma served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guma Valley Water Company. In all the years that he occupied the helm of the company; its performance was on a downward spiral. Poor management, under investment and the lack of government commitment became the hallmark of the company.
With President Koroma now in control of the country, the expectations of the people of Freetown in particular and the nation in general is very high, with respect to the management of the country’s public utilities. Indeed President Koroma is the first head of state in Sierra Leone, to have had the privilege of serving as the Head of Guma Valley Water Company, before taking over the reigns of power in the country.
Some critics would argue that during his stewardship of Guma, there was no strategic management plan put in place by his Board to halt the rapid decline, nor to improve the supply of clean and safe drinking water; hence it is not surprising that today we see the continuation of that very same lethargic and inept approach to water supply management in the country.
Others may also argue that if ever there is anyone in the current government, who ought to understand what needs to be done to resolve the problems of water shortage in the Capital, it is the President himself.
Ironically, the frequency of water shortage in the Capital has gone far beyond embarrassing levels. It has now become a matter of life and death, especially for those in the poorest areas of Freetown, trying to access clean, safe drinking water.
To be elevated from the position of Chairman of the Board of Guma Valley Water Company to that of Head of State is mercurial to say the least. But not being seen to be rising to the challenge that such responsibility now place on the President, is difficult to fathom.
The provision of clean, safe drinking water is one of the 2007 election campaign promises that brought this government to power. The people of Freetown gave their overwhelming support to the President at the 2007 elections. This was the people’s investment, and now they want their return on that investment. Can the government rise to the challenge to meet their expectations?
Recently, a delegation of European and Sierra Leonean experts visited Sierra Leone to discuss the Capital City’s water requirements. Unfortunately, all requests by the team to have meaningful discussions with the relevant ministries were declined, because it is alleged, money had not changed hands.
Whilst the Sierra Leonean members of the delegation interpreted this hopeless response as typical of the establishment, for the European delegates, it was shocking. The team was hoping to approach the EU for funding to address the problem of water supply in Freetown after their visit. And if those discussions with the respective ministries had gone ahead, there was every chance of work to rehabilitate water supply in the Capital to have gone ahead.
Several commentators on Sierra Leone’s politics have mentioned that the President is surrounded by a small group of people that are frustrating his efforts to accelerate the pace of development. But this is hard to believe, because leadership is just that: you lead and others follow. Sadly, very few people in the country are holding their breath, after recent announcement by the government that the World Bank is now ready to invest millions of dollars in fixing the water crisis in the Capital City.
Others have argued that the absence of a comprehensive and coherent National Development Strategy, explains the current patchy and incremental approach to tackling key development issues facing the country. The lack of innovative thinking in the government may also be explained by the fact that the government appears to be strapped on to the tailcoats of donors. Who pays the piper calls the tune.




The Millennium Development Goals funding, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, the UN Peace Building Fund, come with strings attached, and the government does not seem to have the courage to remove the shackles of bondage that are creating so much misery and strain on the country’s poor.
Of course no one is suggesting that the government should ditch the donors, because that would be foolish. But there is reasonable expectation for the government to renegotiate the terms and modus operandi of those funding streams, to take into consideration the global economic outlook, and Sierra Leone’s need for industrial development. Without this bargaining power, the country’s future remains bleak.
As the government and people of Sierra Leone prepare to celebrate the switching on of Bumbuna electricity, honest, patriotic and serious minded economists from across the political spectrum are all asking the same question: given the current difficulties faced by the private sector in raising investment capital, needed to expand industrial production, how will the sudden increase in electricity supply in the country increase the country’s GDP?
“In 2007, poor countries took in $1.2 trillion in foreign investment. This year the figure is likely to be $363 billion — less than a third of the record 2007 amount, and just over half last year’s total of $707 billion. Industrial production has fallen sharply in the past year, as companies in the developed world worry that people will not have the money to buy their wares”, says the World Bank. One therefore begins to wonder, how President Koroma’s government hope to balance the books, with their hopes pinned on boosting export trade.
Critics of the government’s policy to immediately electrify the entire country with the supply of 50 megawatts of electricity, without a coherent industrial development plan in place, are beginning to doubt the country’s ability to repay the $600 million loan that was borrowed to finance the development of Bumbuna, not to talk of meeting its operating costs. The government does not seem to have a plan as to how the 50 megawatts of electricity will be profitably utilised.
They also argue that the need for Bumbuna should be driven by the demands of a government that is hungry for industrial and economic development, rather than the social and political capital gains that it seeks to achieve at the 2012 elections.
Questions as to the viability and sustainability of Bumbuna are now also being asked by those concerned about the level of debt burden on a country with such low industrial base, and an economy that is largely donor driven. But of course supporters of the government would argue that an immediate increase in the supply of electricity will accelerate the growth of small service sector businesses, such as night clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc. But is this economically viable?
The government is hoping that the new surge in electricity supply would encourage the growth of manufacturing production. But this argument appears weak and tenuous, given the current state of the global economy, the decline in market demand and production outputs.
The supply of electricity is one driving factor in the economic development mix. The country lacks skilled workforce to meet any increase in new jobs created by the manufacturing sector that may want to take advantage of the increased supply of electricity. Although the government has commissioned a review of vocational skills development provision in the country, there is concern that this review does not seriously reflect the economic challenges at hand.
Although some of the major trunk roads are now being constructed, the pace of rehabilitation of existing feeder roads destroyed by the war is grinding too slowly, to keep up with the pace of industrial development needed, to make Bumbuna a cost effective enterprise venture.
The country’s industrialists and potential investors would regard the ‘snail’s pace’ of infrastructure rehabilitation as one that is adding to the cost of doing business in Sierra Leone. The call for the creation of devolved regional assemblies and regional economic development agencies in Sierra Leone is getting louder. This may well be the answer to the political paralysis, caused by tribalism that hinders economic progress.
The rehabilitation of the country’s sole international airport has become politicized and mired in controversy. Decisions as to the financing and contracting of the immense expansion work that needs to be done are held in abeyance. It appears the government does not consider nor appreciate, that the airport is the gateway to everything that Sierra Leone has to offer to investors, visitors and tourists.
The reality is that very little has changed at the airport since it was built. But allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and incompetence are becoming rife. Although new systems are being installed to improve baggage handling and passport checks, yet staff productivity, morale and pay remains alarmingly low.
Unfortunately, the Government lacks the finance needed to invest in developing the airport into a modern infrastructure meeting the high standards expected by the international traveler. And if ever there is a strong case to be made for the privatisation of state enterprises, the airport ought to be the first in line for private sector ownership.
In the meantime of course, the airport continues to symbolise the chaotic image of a country that is being rebranded by the government, and serves as a microcosm of what awaits visitors upon their arrival in mainland Freetown.
Amid all of these problems that bedevil the effort of the government in turning the country’s fortunes around, the President and his Vice are embarking on frequent visits abroad, with the hope of seeking development aid. The President has set a new record in Sierra Leone, by visiting Nigeria twice in one week. What would this yield for the country?
China has promised to develop a series of hydro-electricity dams, adding to the 50 megawatts output of Bumbuna. The Japanese are building a new electricity sub station at Regent to supply the Peninsular and its environs. But what does President Koroma intend doing with all this electricity?
What is now clear is that the uncertainty of the country’s economic future is becoming greater, as the world’s economy goes into deep recession and Sierra Leone’s debt burden continues to mount. Government revenue generated through taxation and export trade is declining very rapidly.
As the government continues to rely heavily on donor funds and public sector borrowing to meet its budgetary requirement, the President no doubt will be asking himself this question: “Should my government continue to borrow more money to spend on building social and political capital in anticipation of 2012, or should we take painful decision to cut back on public spending?” President Koroma is now at a cross-road, but which way would he turn?”




Tamba Morkway-Sossah

Constant excuses


The nineteen to twenty months rule of the All People’s Congress (APC) government has recorded piles of unfulfilled promises. These promises range from those made during the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections campaign, to those made by the newcomer APC regime. During elections’ campaigns and even after assuming the citadel of governance, the people of this country were misled to believe that Sierra Leone would be developed within a twinkle of an eye, and as such their lives would be improved. Unfortunately however, the desperate citizens overwhelmingly voted the APC to power and continued to give them the benefit of the doubt, even with the glaring reality of the seemingly failing administration.
Provision of jobs for the youths, good living standards of the citizens, quality education, beautification of the country, provision of twenty four (24) hours electricity, maintenance of non political police and military force, political tolerance and freedom of the press were amongst the uncountable promises the APC made and continue to make to sons and daughters of Sierra Leone. But amongst these numerous promises, how many of them are really near realization.
The more disturbing thing of these promises are the fact that most or even all of them continue to record worse scenarios, when one decide to compare how it was during the past regime. Rather than instituting strides to remedy and adhere to the various promises, the ruling government is notoriously finding excuses for each and every failure. Its failures are either always blamed on the main opposition party cum erstwhile government or attributed to some hardly believable excuses.
Let’s take a look at some of the promises that are either slowly being pursued or are seemingly not achievable at all. Starting with the issue of the youths, it is a sad fact to note that the numbers of idle youths continue to record a steady increase, whilst the formation of the proposed Youth Commission maintains its snail pace.
No wonder the rate of armed robbery, rape and numerous occurrences of activities that does not befit the status of a civilize society, are becoming the order of the day in this beautiful nation. Yes, this is what happens when unfulfilled promises are made to disgruntled youths. They would be left with no option other than that of helping themselves realize what is due them. As the popular adages go: “Promises are debts”, and “All honest debts must be paid.”
The ‘changing the lives of the people’ promise is far from ever becoming a reality. The lives of the citizens continue to record worse occurrences, with the present deadly economic situation in the country. Citizens are finding it tough to put food on their tables whilst the prices of basic commodities continue to rise.
Quality education for the children of Sierra Leone has turned out to be poor education standards. This is evident in the National Primary Schools Examination (NPSE), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, since the assumption of power of the APC. In the history of this country, these exams have recorded worst grades in this administration more than it has ever happened.
The APC promised to beautify Sierra Leone within a wink. Rather than our country being beautified, it is now being presented as an instrument of mockery to the international community. Amongst the numerous humiliations poor Sierra Leone continues to face, instead of being beautified, is the so called Freetown City Council Clock Tower. The less talked about it, the better.
The citizens are also yet to enjoy the proposed twenty four hours electricity. The huge sums of money that have been spent on the present electricity supply did not achieve that goal, whilst the almighty Bumbuna amongst numerous promises now ‘awaits the rains’.
Maintenance of a non political police force and armed force: The police force and armed forces are undoubtedly being used by this administration as aides to achieving political goals. The police have on several instances failed to restore calm whenever operatives believed to be linked with the ruling government attack opposition parties’ outfits and their supporters. They are also on several instances been used by political extremists to unlawfully arrest and detain innocent citizens. One can also easily conclude that the military is being politicized when military personnel staged a parade at the APC Convention in Makeni and even went to an extent of bringing in the military band to entertain the guests with the APC Victory Song again and again and again.
One cannot say there is political tolerance in a country where the ruling government is having a field day harassing and intimidating opposition parties’ outfits and supporters. The SLPP Headquarters both in Freetown and other areas across the country have been attacked and partly set ablazed severally. Opposition supporters are also being used as rape elements, as rape cases on them are reported on ceaseless basis.
Press Freedom is also among the numerous promises by the APC administration that are yet to be achieved. The Freedom of Information Bill is yet to be debated in Parliament, whilst journalists continue to suffer undue harassments and tortures. Journalists have been intimidated, molested, physically manhandled, chased out from their areas of assignment, and charged with libel, simply because they are performing their sacred duties.
It has even went to an extent wherein the police gave the go ahead for five million people to arrest and drag two journalists, including a female, to the police station.
Even though it is unchallenged that the APC administration has its successes to boast of, the aforementioned anomalies under their watch are superseding those achievements.
Hard to come to terms with however, are the unbelievable excuses being forwarded by this regime for each and every failure they record, instead of instituting corrective measures and intensifying efforts towards fulfilling their countless promises.
The Youth Commission is always trumpeted to be near completion, but thousands of youths are still roaming the streets of the country with battered fates.
The deplorable standards of living of the citizenry are always blamed on the global economic turndown, and on the ‘negative attitudes’ of the citizenry.
The list is long and one will continue to go on and on and on.
The citizenry is becoming fed up with excuses, time to act is now. The excuses are becoming irritating. It is a must that these promises are
fulfilled and the time is now.