Wednesday, November 13, 2024
25.8 C
Freetown
25.8 C
Freetown
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Home Blog Page 23

SIERRA LEONE MID-TERM CENSUS DEMANDS POLITICAL CAUSE – BASED COLLABORATION

By
SLL
-

by Mahmud Tim Kargbo

Cause based collaboration is no magic bullet. It still takes plenty of thoughtful research, creative insight, political savvy and hard work to craft workable solutions to the biggest problems facing Sierra Leone today and then to make them widely available. But I am convinced that, when it comes to most of the major challenges we face, Multi-stakeholders partnership is the key to achieving real progress. To make this happen, our politicians and professionals need to:

– Identify honest brokers who will bring stakeholders together around shared causes. They need to spend their time on coordination, communication and ensuring a focus on a common measurable goal. Can we train people to be honest brokers? Could we create collaborative apprenticeships with mentors who can teach the art of brokering? There are many candidates waiting in the wings; let’s put them to work!

– Sierra Leone Executive Arm of government and the opposition parties must learn how to spend time to share their interest in a cause to thoughtfully define the cause, explore a specific solution and devise a system to measure results. They must learn how not to give in to the temptation to jump at a solution that sounds right or that some mischievous politicians within their political parties are selling…… It’s always very good to take a deep breath and open up to other views.

– Our Executive Arm of government and opposition parties must learn how to ask each other early in their planning efforts for any new project, Who can they collaborate with to improve their odds of success for instance, in the previous census. They need not assume that the partnership path with each other is too hard to follow – surely there are models for collaboration that will smooth the way.

Chances are the Executive Arm of government and these opposition politicians got into politics not only to make a living but also to play a significant role by helping Sierra Leone move forward in a number of tangible ways by evolving and expressing more of our human potentials. If so, their aim is to create what we are calling a “positive change” a purpose-driven politics that is about love and excellence, service and profit, spirit and money, authenticity and professionalism. It’s about being a politician that expresses your soul and empowers the self-actualisation of all Sierra Leoneans.

But so often when our politicians say they are motivated to change Sierra Leone and got elected by the people or got an appointment from President Bio, they haven’t studied what makes a politician effective and powerful, nor how to integrate the best practices for a truly enlightened relationship with party members, the Executive Arm, investors and even opposition members. They haven’t learned how to market heartfully and effectively, nor are their offerings and services aligned with their real purpose and targeted to the right cause. And this is what’s currently lacking in our present-day politics in Sierra Leone.

THE TAKEAWAYS.

– The hard, but uncomfortable truth is, no single individual, organisation, corporation or foundation can solve the significant problems currently facing Sierra Leone. So let’s stop looking for heroes to address the important issues of our day. Instead, let’s focus on bringing together the teams of organisations and individuals that must collaborate to address problems in the previous census.

– Opposition parties in Sierra Leone can start by identifying honest brokers to coordinate the collaboration – people or organisations that are widely trusted and highly skilled in building partnerships. Such people or organisations will gather the requisite resources needed to hold the collaboration together in executing this midterm census and measure its progress to common goals, the collaborative glue.

– Next, opposition parties opposed to the midterm census need to put together a key influencer map to identify the people and organisations that needed to be involved. Then meet with those influencers to launch a collaboration. If their anticipated concerns don’t have a widely accepted solution, the discussions may be heated – which may force them to simplify their goal or accept a partial solution on the way to their ultimate objective. Meeting people periodically to share knowledge and measure progress can be useful to address their concerns. But deep collaboration is much more likely to produce fundamental/sustainable change.

An old friend of mine once told me a story about his days in a musical band in his native country (UK). ” When I started playing in a jazz band back in the seventh grade, one of the first things I learned was the difference between being a good soloist and being part of a great ensemble. It’s not enough to be skilled at playing your own instrument. You need to learn to listen to everybody else’s sound, develop the flexibility to let your rhythms and harmonies mesh with theirs, and give others the freedom to improvise. Little by little you find yourself producing, as a group musical creations that soar above the capability of any single performer”.

Today, as a young Sierra Leonean under the Bio led SLPP government with a number of problems in Sierra Leone I am passionate about, I believe it’s time for us to learn the same lesson. In today’s politics in our country, it’s not enough to spend time picking the best politician. I am tired of the many egos that are rewarded at conferences by being featured as heroes and leaders for starting an organisation, looking good, and telling a moving story. That’s not what’s needed to be truly successful in advancing the big cause of our day!

The real big problems we’re wrestling with are too complex for that. Instead, we need great ensembles that can archive much more than any single artist, no matter how gifted – bands that combine the gifts of many kinds of stakeholders to produce a powerful and long-lasting impact in support of the causes in which we believe.

AN HONEST / UNBIASED BROKER:

A person, group or entity that is widely trusted and capable of rallying the interested parties behind the unified effort. The honest broker typically has autonomy from party elders and related organisations within the party structure. And is not the most knowledgeable expert on the key issues opposition parties believe will affect the midterm census in the country or their parties interest, but rather he is able to bring people together and can find the common linkages among members of a disparate group.

This leader must have a “managed ego” ( the ability to subordinate his or her reputation or image to the importance of the case); be a superb networker ( able to gather a wide array of people to share ideas and resources); be an-in-the-moment, focused, and sensitive listener; have leadership experience; be seen not as a fundraising competitor, but rather as a finder of new resources; and, of course, have a profound passion of the shared goal. The typical honest broker is a political leader who is skilled in collaboration, innovation, goal-setting and other relevant activities. Other crucial qualities include humility, empathy, audacity, flexibility and vision. He must open links to other key influencers; people or organisations whose support is essential to forging a complete solution.

He should set up an enabling group to provide the collaborative glue. A small group of focused individuals need to come together to create and maintain the collaborative effort. This group is typically of limited duration and is tasked with convening meetings, sharing knowledge, gathering resources, tracking outcomes and holding the key stakeholders accountable for their commitments until the shared goal is achieved.

Defining and practising values like these helps to ensure that the collaborative partnership within the opposition parties and the Executive Arm remains focused on the issues that really matter during the midterm census rather than falling prey to the weakness that derail so many well-intentioned efforts within the Executive Arm and the opposition parties such as interpersonal squabbles, philosophical differences, tactical disagreement, ego battles, politics of grievance and irrelevant distractions.

OBJECTION TO COLLABORATION:

Self centered politicians within the Executive Arm and the opposition parties are dubious about the feasibility of political collaboration in this midterm census. They raise plenty of questions about the collaborative model, which you’ll need to be prepared to answer.
One objection is that collaboration sounds time-consuming, costly and hard. Those who have odd plans to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor don’t want to slow down to listen to others; they have figured out their negative plans, and having to integrate their efforts with those of partners will create average or no result to their odd plans. That’s why they’re highly enthusiastic about fueling the flames of discord in the county and political setups against each other; rather than truly serving the people. What a shame!

These solitary efforts are responsible for the problems we are currently facing in Sierra Leone. Solitary efforts always have a higher likelihood of failure and having others challenge your assumptions is often a productive exercise. Many of our politicians, academics and business people in Sierra Leone worry they will lose their authority, independence and recognition if they work with others collaboratively… Until they actually experience successful collaboration and discover the benefit it can bring.

PARLIAMENTARY APPROPRIATION SUBCOMMITTEE FIVE ROUNDS UP BUDGET SCRUTINY HEARINGS IN FREETOWN

By
SLL
-
Parliament of Sierra Leone

By Emperor Bailor Jalloh in Freetown

The deriving legal mandate from Section 112 of Sierra Leone Constitution Act No. 6, 1991 and Standing Orders ( SO) 63 /64 of Standing Orders ( Revised) of the Sierra Leone Parliament, the Parliamentary Appropriation Subcommittee Five (5) / Group Five ( 5) under the Committee of Supply of the Sierra Leone Parliament has rounded up days of budgetary allocation expenditure scrutiny hearings for the financial year 2021 as the third legal procedure before Parliamentary approval of the Appropriation Act,2022 Bill / 2022 National Budget from November 30 to December 8, 2021, in the Library and State Hall of Parliament, Tower Hill in Freetown, the first capital city of Sierra Leone.

Group Five which was chaired by Hon. Nenneh Lebbie and deputised by Hon. Sahr Juana was able to scrutinise the Cabinet Secretariat, Medical and Dental Council, National Assets and Government’s Property Commission, Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, Koinadugu District Council, Accountant General Department, and Sierra Leone Standards Bureau to know how they expended their 2021 national budget allocation and also to know their institutional challenges and way forward.
In their opening statements of each hearing, Hon. Nenneh Lebbie and her deputy Hon. Sahr Juana repeatedly told their witnesses ( Government officials) before them that the budgetary allocation expenditure scrutiny was not witch-hunting but to know how they expended the Tax Payers’ Money / the People’s Money and also to know their challenges and way forward all to be captured in their Committee reports to Parliament.

Group Five Members :
1. Hon. Nenneh Lebbie – Chairperson
2. Hon. Sahr Juana- deputy Chairman
3. Hon. Amara Haja
4. Hon. Ibrahim Aziz Bangura
5. Hon. Momoh Bockarie
6. Hon. Moigua Peter Musa
7. Hon. Wuyatta Bernadette Songa
8. Hon. Yamba Koroma
9. Hon. Mohamed Bangura
10. Hon. Isaac Tarawallie
11. Hon. P.C. Bai Shebora Sheba Gbereh III
12. Hon. Abdulai Daniel Sesay ( Dr.)

STANDING ORDERS
Financial Provisions
S.O. 63 Presentation, First Reading and Second Reading of Appropriation Bill-
(1) There shall be submitted to Parliament by the Minister of Finance before the beginning of the fiscal year to which it refers a budget which shall include the documents delineated in subsection 23 of the Government Budgeting and Accountability Act, ( Act No. 3 of 2005).

S.O. 64 Committee of Supply
(1) There shall be a Committee of the Whole House to be called Committee of Supply. The deliberations of the committee shall be in public.
(2) Without prejudice to the mandate of the Finance Committee in these Orders, the Estimates shall upon presentation to the House stand referred to the Committee of Supply and the Appropriation Bill upon being read a second time shall stand committed to that Committee.
(3) To enhance the effectiveness of the scrutiny of Heads of Expenditure by the whole House, the Committee of Supply shall, pursuant to subsection (6) of Section 112 of the Constitution, incorporate scrutiny by a number of Appropriation Subcommittees formed out of organising the Membership of Parliament into groups.

Section 112 (1) Subject to the provisions of section 107 of this Constitution, the Minister for the time being responsible for finance shall cause to be prepared and laid before Parliament in each financial year estimates of the revenues and expenditures of Sierra Leone for the next following financial year.
(6) Parliament shall prescribe the procedure for the presentation of Appropriation Bills.

Conclusively, the Parliamentary Appropriation Subcommittee Five/ Group Five of Sierra Leone Parliament which derived its legal mandate from the aforementioned legal provisions has rounded up days of budget scrutiny in Freetown.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Launches Socio-economic Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities, Calls for Barrier-free Environment

By
SLL
-
President Maada Bio

Youyi Building Car Park, Freetown, Thursday 9 December 2021 – His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has launched the Socio-economic Empowerment Project for Persons living with Disabilities, PwDs, unveiled the accessibility audit report and called for a barrier-free environment for the vulnerable.

Speaking on behalf of the PwDs, Mr Eku Scotland, said disability issues across the country were of serious concern because affected persons were the most vulnerable and marginalised in their localities, adding that the livelihood project would reduce poverty and inequality.

“This project will generate employment among poor households by moving poor households into sustainable economic stability. The organisation has established skills training centers across the country but more needed to be done to help PWDs realise their potentials in society,” he said.

“On behalf of persons with impairment, I want to use this opportunity to thank you and your government for the package for PWD. Had it not been for your intervention, livelihood would have been difficult for us during the lockdowns of the Coronavirus,” he concluded.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr Babatunde Ahonsi, commended the government, especially the Ministry of Social Welfare and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities for their commitment to addressing disability inclusion issues and for organising the event.

He noted that most persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone tend to be unseen, unheard, uncounted and unrepresented and that they faced discrimination and barriers in many spheres and stages of life, adding that in their day-to-day lives persons with disabilities were often excluded from access to the physical environment, information and social networks.

The UN chief disclosed that the launch of the livelihood project was part of the United Nations Development Programme’s support to the Ministry of Social Welfare with life skills and start-up kits for economic empowerment and for combatting street begging among persons with disabilities, adding that they had also provided start-up kits like rickshaws, black smithery, tailoring and bead making items for the economic empowerment of PwDs.

“His Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, the UN in Sierra Leone targets economically excluded and vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, through an integrated approach that focuses on fostering an enabling legal, policy and social environment for effective service delivery,” he assured.

Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dassama, said it was important for authorities to listen to the concerns of people living with disabilities because they were the most neglected, and thanked the leadership of President Bio for his concerns with the PwDs since he assumed office in 2018.

In his statement, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio said the launch of the livelihood project was a sign of his government’s preparedness to address street begging among persons with disabilities and to improve the country’s human rights credentials by empowering vulnerable groups in the country.

He added that the launch of the accessibility audit report would also encourage stakeholders to support the government in building a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities, saying that the Persons with Disability Act 2011 provided for a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.

“As part of the process of reducing vulnerability and tackling the menace of street begging among persons with disabilities, the Ministry of Social Welfare is working on this economic empowerment programme with the aim of building the capacity of persons with disabilities through skills training, provision of start-up kits, provision of reintegration package, provision of social safety net in the form of cash transfer among others to end street begging among persons with disabilities.

“The skills will include welding, tailoring, hairdressing, information and communication technology, carving, beadwork, gara tie-dying and tricycle riding,” he noted.

President Julius Maada Bio thanked international and local partners for their support, saying that his government was determined to end all forms of stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities.

He cited the relevance of the radical inclusion in the Free Quality School Education, special needs teachers and learners and the provision of assistive devices and learning materials so that nobody would be denied access to education.

“This livelihood project will support persons with disabilities for economic empowerment and self-reliance. On that note, let me use this opportunity to launch the Socio-economic Empowerment for Persons with Disability. I thank you all,” he concluded.

For More Enquiries:
State House Media and Communications Unit
info@statehouse.gov.sl

INEQUALITY IN SIERRA LEONE: Implications for the Sustainable Development Goals?

By
SLL
-
Sustainable Development Goals

by Mahmud Tim Kargbo

In its preamble, the pending Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the successor to the Millennium Development Goals- states that it represents humanity’s crystallising of its “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.” This plan of action, as is now well known, contains 17 different goals, ranging from poverty reduction and food security to the management of natural resources and building effective institutions – all simultaneously in the pursuit of being sustainable. The breadth and depth of the goals and over 150 associated targets reflect the complexity of forces at play in our understanding of human progress and development in Sierra Leone.

Nowhere are these relationships more evident than in the one between economic development and income inequality. Indeed, in Sierra Leone where on average the SDGs are arguably most pertinent- this inequality and economic development nexus are particularly important to understand especially as our authorities and their international denialists continue to bang the drums of self praises on what they considered as achievements on the Millennium Development Goals and see their unwillingness to evenly circulate national wealth.

Goal 10 in the proposed Sustainable Development Goals states: ” Reduce inequality within and among countries,” with its key relevant target: “By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.” Importantly, income growth is not the only important measure for this goal. The roles of fiscal, wage and social protection policies are noted as key contributors to this goal of increased inequality. The World Bank’s notion of inequality of “opportunities” is also recognised as critical.

In the pursuit of reducing inequality in Sierra Leone (setting aside inequality of opportunities for the purpose of this blog) on the assumption of reaching the 7 per cent economic growth target in Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals, we must remember the three vital results from the relevant developing countries literature relevant for our understanding of growth, poverty, and inequality dynamics in Sierra Leone, especially how President Bio’s government in the last three years is able to provide wealth only for the selected few at the expense of the suffering majority in Sierra Leone.

First, economic growth accompanied by a rise in income inequality will reduce the growth poverty-elasticity ( defined as the sensitivity of poverty reduction to a rise in economic growth) of a country. Put simply, income inequality is the thief of the poverty-reducing effect of growth. Hence, economies that yield to a highly unequal growth path will produce no or lower income-poverty reduction outcomes as Sierra Leone is currently experiencing.

Second, higher initial levels of income inequality will reduce the impact that economic growth has on poverty. In the jargon of economics, the higher initial levels of income inequality, the lower the growth-poverty elasticity of an economy is likely to be.

Third, income inequality growth elasticities are inertial over time, suggesting that it takes a much longer period of time to reduce income inequality amid growth when compared to reducing poverty. Especially in Sierra Leone where the political commitments to this cause by the majority in social positions of trust is only lip service.

Sierra Leone faces particular challenges when it comes to tackling growth and inequality together, but the following will help us realise it:

The first of this is to pursue a growth trajectory that is far more intensive in the use of low wage employment. A more labour intensive manufacturing centred growth trajectory is thus essential for a more inclusive growth agenda. Data shows that for all of Sierra Leone, manufacturing as a share of GDP has in fact declined in the period 2018-2021.
Ultimately, the fact that manufacturing has contracted during one of the continent most sustained periods of economic growth must serve as a threat to a more inequality reducing growth trajectory for the country. Especially when people in social positions of trust are allowed to sleep away with corrupt acts.

Second, the Sierra Leone growth boom has been predominantly resource-driven. However, resource-dependent economies present a number of potential channels through which inequality may increase, such as the political capture of rents; ineffective and unprogressive tax systems (NRA) and the overly complicated ownership structures of the global extractive industry companies. The capital intensive of the resource sector also means that its growth contribution will not realise huge employment (and potentially inequality reducing) gains. At a minimum then, ensuring that corruption and governance transgressions are eradicated in the Sierra Leone economy together with a more carefully constructed tax regime will ensure that gains from resources are more evenly distributed.

Third, in the midst of commodity booms, the Sierra Leone government should be efficiently and effectively considering well targeted antipoverty and anti-inequality cash transfer programmes based on no partisan or regional grounds. Such resource-based social transfer funds can be a key intervention in the pursuit of a more inclusive growth trajectory.

Finally, it is obvious that the long-run solution to reduce income inequality in Sierra Leone (much in the spirit of Piketty’s r>g notion) is through improving both the supply and quality of graduates coming through the schooling and higher education system. In many ways then Goal 8 and Goal 10 are inextricably linked. Current evidence suggests that, apart from what’s described as very few performance outcomes on all standardised test scores, progression is a huge challenge. As the current education system in Sierra Leone deserves more to meet the test of time.

Surprisingly our President still has room for none performers!

IMPOVERISHMENT OF THE MASSES IN SIERRA LEONE STARTS WHEN THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE ISN’T PLURALISTIC

By
SLL
-
Sierra Leone Political System

by Mahmud Tim Kargbo

Fundamental to any consideration of citizen engagement in policymaking and the design of public services is the recognition that the citizens in a democracy have both rights and duties, and that democratic governance provides opportunities for citizens to participate actively in shaping their country. Such participation is effected in multiple ways and at various levels; from informal local and community settings, through incorporated entities, NGOs and peak bodies, to such key institutions as legislatures, the courts and the public service.

I am torn because I believe at one level no political outcome defines us. Sierra Leone, for all its profound flaws and hypocrisies throughout our history, is equally marked by its ability to self-correct and to potentially open its doors to the greatest talent from within to experiment, build and engage in Sierra Leone in deeply positive ways. One trip to Kroo Bay, Tombo, Kanikay, Bommeh or Muwharf or meeting with the massively poor people anywhere in the country tells me where the future lies. How I love re-watching Law and Order episodes with you guys in social positions of trust because it is a reminder of the depth of our system and rule of law with the imperfect goal of protecting justice.

At the same time, we have unleashed something significant this day in getting a democratically elected government whose excesses must be checked at every step. We have signalled to the world much that not only is disconcerting but trivialises the very things upon which other nations have garnered respect. We have, for the first time in my lifetime, a set of majority rulers that talk about “self-interest using the pretext of political party loyalty ” instead of “national interest” and there is no rallying of our sense of what we also share in common as a culture in striving for positive things nationally. How I hope that the political speeches of our rulers are something they meant, but their actions have been clear to date otherwise. Among our jobs is to be fearless in calling out the excesses we know their behaviour has led to additional massive poverty in the lives of the already suffering majority in so many parts of the country and throughout history.

The current increase of essential commodities under the watch of the current government without the participation of the citizens is to a large extent a direct way of isolating nationals in having their own say on issues that will affect their lives. Ironically, the government said it is primarily concerned with how the development of public policy might benefit from thoroughgoing engagement with citizens and other groups. From their actions, it draws genuine doubts on the recent public policy literature and on commentary and case studies, to describe the cultural and procedural changes that might be needed if the government is to realise its vision of collaborative, democratically-legitimised policymaking and service design

Democracy in Sierra Leone legally is said to be socially and culturally distinctive, developing traditions, conventions and structures that reflect the values and habits of the citizens. In his philosophical context, political scientist Graham Maddox has expressed the ‘idea of the democratic polity suited to the realities of the modern world’ in the following terms:
First, democracy should rest on a constitutional order, by which the power of any particular government of the day is limited to appropriate spheres of action.

Second, it should have a ‘responsible’ executive which, though limited to appropriate spheres of action and to a definite term of office, is nevertheless sufficiently strong to fulfil all the functions of government and to help adjust the social order to the needs of the time.

Third, the executive government should be counterbalanced by a constitutional opposition, to probe, question and help the community control the power of government.

Fourth, all its political institutions, such as the legislature, the government and bureaucracy, the courts and all the statutory bodies of the ‘public sector’, should conduct their procedures according to the traditional ideals of democracy—in particular, justice, liberty, equality and community.

And fifth, the whole political structure should rest on a pluralistic, participatory society, which maintains a vigorous group life.

These five features together cover the main themes of modern democratic literature. For us to judge the current Sierra Leone Bio led government as ‘democratic’, right-minded nationals suggest here that all five features must be found together, as a kind of ‘syndrome’ to apply to any political system

Within the broad scope of such a democracy, public policy constantly evolves to manage social, economic and environmental affairs, to respond to the needs, preferences and desires of citizens, and to steer or nudge them in directions that are regarded as conducive to the nation’s general wellbeing. It is a complex and fluid endeavour that is really meant for true leaders not the majority of our current pretenders. The majority of our current politicians in Sierra Leone must understand that we shape our country through public policy. This public policy is made not only by politicians but by thousands of public servants and the tens of thousands of women and men who petition the President, Parliamentarians and Ministers for not living up to their state obligations, who join interest groups, who demonstrate in the streets, comment through the media or represent unions, corporations and community movements. All have a stake in public policy. The entire community is affected by public policy and our current government officials need to quickly understand this simple, but straightforward fact.

In countries where those occupying social positions of trust are true servants not masters like ours, the theory and practice of public administration are increasingly concerned with placing the citizen at the centre of policymakers’ considerations, not just as a target, but also as an agent. To that end, public servants are being exhorted to collaborate, not merely consult; to reach out, not merely respond. This means engaging with people who are increasingly well-educated, attuned to their rights as citizens and voters, who have ready access to information and broad exposure to the voices of opinion leaders, experts and advocates.

This is not to deny the challenges of engaging with the marginalised or disaffected citizens and groups—a thorough consideration of which is beyond the scope of this article. The purpose here is to acknowledge the growing expectations of citizens to be more effectively involved in policymaking and service design, and to explore the responsibilities and capacities of our current politicians to initiate and facilitate such engagement to alleviate further suffering in the lives of the suffering majority who they’ve already made extremely poor due to their poor leadership qualities.

Given that the language of choice and customisation permeates the consumer world of goods and services that citizens inhabit, such expectations increasingly frame their view about the content and delivery of public services. They want to have a say in how solutions are developed and services delivered beyond the general preferences they express when endorsing a party’s platform and electing Presidential and Parliamentary representatives to pursue their interests and concerns through the executive and legislature.

The hard, but uncomfortable truth is, the hike in prices of essential commodities under the present Bio led government, continue to prevent the poor that form the bulk of Sierra Leone’s population from accessing such essential commodities. This means the Bio led government completely failed to examine the implications of citizen-centric ideals for the processes and structures of government agencies, for the attributes, skill sets and dispositions of public servants, and for the corruption culture of the majority in social positions of trust. It further failed to consider other jurisdictions’ experiences with citizen-focused approaches, it failed to take a closer look at the notion of ‘co-production’ as an exemplary exercise in citizen engagement in policymaking and the design and delivery of services

It’s imperative for the government of Bio, in turn, to recognise that they need more direct participation by citizens in order to govern well— to ensure stability, to facilitate people’s wellbeing and to manage environmental, health, security and energy issues into the future. The government should realise that they must harness the ideas, knowledge, wisdom and skills of the non-government sector—business, academia, the professions, and the voluntary organisation’s not only their praise singing journalists, non-governmental organisations, but even those that truly stand for the rights of the people. Failure to engage will waste resources and curtail opportunities.

BIO’s GOVERNMENT OVER BLOATED WAGE BILL: AN ECONOMIC FEN AND POLITICAL BIND

By
SLL
-
President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone

By Mahmud Tim Kargbo

The current Bio-led SLPP government in Sierra Leone has allowed political patronage to find its way into our public service thus ‘partializing’ the sector, an embarrassing reality. Before Bio came to power on 4th April 2018, he promised a small and effective government. On that premise, the general public expected the administration to effect the famous rightsizing and downsizing policy as promised during his campaign before he assumed governance. The policy was precipitated by the fact that the public service has been overstocked by its predecessor in comparison to the nation’s revenue envelope. Obviously, political patronage resulting from years of civil upheaval, interim arrangements, and bad governance was the culprit.

If it was implemented by the Bio-led SLPP government, the measure would have drastically cleared the government payroll of employees with duplicate and sometimes triplicate functions and other alleged ghost names. Following what was supposed to be the arguably successful implementation of the measure, civil servants would have begun to witness a gradual increment in their wages in addition to its timely arrival as opposed to what’s going on currently. However, the size of the public service began to grow again. Without any doubt, Mr Bio had to pay his quota of political patronage. By the close of 2018, the government’s wage bill had increased by more than Le 74.8 billion (US $7,731,266.15) to a whooping Le 235.2 billion (the US $24,310,077.52) compared to 2017 from around Le 160.4 billion ($21,386,666.67) (Source: Government supplementary budget 2018), because the rightsizing and downsizing measures weren’t effected. Alleged ghosts increased on government payroll and functions became duplicated. Today, he can hardly manage to keep the gradual increment and the timely arrival of salaries.

In the Bio led government 2022 budget, the Minister of Finance reiterated to members of parliament of the shared colossal amount of the wage bill from Le 235.2 billion in September 2019 to Le 2.88 trillion (US $24,827,586.21) and it is expected to increase to Le 3.75 trillion (US $32,327,586.21).

It’s important to note that after the inauguration of President Bio’s Administration, the government began to pay in due, its quota of political patronage. Several persons were employed, apparently, as a payback for their services during the campaign or in fulfilment of the promise that they would be absorbed into the civil service. Given the mass employment of partisans and well-wishers into the civil service, the wage bill ballooned. Unfortunately, the country’s resource envelope is shrinking as opposed to the Koroma’s era. In actuality, the shrinking of the resource envelop began in the last three years of Koroma’s regime. The over-bloated wage bill and the shrinking resource envelope has thus posed an economic quagmire and a political dilemma for the current government and the people.
The government is gradually backpedaling into the abyss of salary delay while the economic situation gets tougher. Worst of all, under-performance is at its peak and productivity is responding to the Law of Diminishing Marginal Productivity of Labour.

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Productivity of Labour is an economic principle, which postulates that if one input in the production of a commodity is increased while all other inputs are held fixed, a point will eventually be reached when the same input would yield progressively smaller output, which further leads to inefficiency and less productivity. It is no argument that government offices have been mostly occupied by young and old people who supported and campaigned for the president to be elected as a payback for their contribution to his election; a phenomenon that is not only peculiar to the Bio Administration. Because of mass employments, we now have an underwhelming workforce due to the duplication of functions and the effect of the law of diminishing returns of productivity. Offices that once could take five employees and perform effectively now have ten with practically no work to do.

The government needs to move and find a panacea for this economic imbroglio. The people are clamouring for a solution and the government is obligated to provide one. Howbeit, the government is torn between continuing to pay its political patronage quota and allowing the economy to slide into further shambles or disavow the payment of said quota and possibly lose political allegiance and support but ensure increased productivity and viable economic growth.

Compared to most countries in Africa, Sierra Leone’s civil service is one of the largest employers and it is no doubt that our governance system’s absorption of many more persons into the already densely populated civil service is an attempt to further burden the already constrained government wage bill. The recorded upsurge of US $11,172,186.21 to the wage bill of FY 2020/21 leaves us in a space of uncertainty as to what we should expect in the FY 2021/2022 budget. Factors that spur growth and development in any nation is enhanced human resource development; so, it is no doubt that a government’s investment in human resource development would spur growth towards the right trajectory in terms of the development of a country.

Managing public service will lead us to determine whether the current number of employees in the public sector is needed. The effort will ensure that we have answers as to what are the requisite input needed for productive output. With those answers in mind, the hard decision must be made to redundant those excess posts. The occupants of those positions must be enrolled in capacity-building programmes. As indicated by Michael P. Todaro in his book “Economic Development 11th Edition”, Health and Education are fundamental to any nation’s development and that increased income cannot be regarded as a sufficient condition for development. Many development experts also share Todaro’s assertion of education spurring the development of a country. Thus, the effort of building human resource capacity is important.

Some of the redundant employees should be trained in other countries at the expense of the government and bilateral partners through a competitive and transparent recruitment process. Others should be placed in localised professional programmes (i.e., TVET Programs: MVTC, LOIC, and BWI) to build their capacity. These measures would afford the government the ability to run effectively and efficiently as well as build the necessary human resource capacity required for national growth. During the time of this process, the efficient government will have created additional opportunities that will require the expertise of the newly trained. Some of those trained will also be able to find a path in the private sector that can serve as an effective cushion for the government. It is high time the government realises that, employing the youth into government to get income is only sufficient for the short run as it doesn’t guarantee sustainability as many of the young people are not fully prepared for the job market or are not prepared at all. Sierra Leone needs these people more than a regime needs them.

Additionally, the government must move to build and support an active private sector that in turn supports the government. The over bloating of the wage bill will be inevitable until we see a vibrant private sector. A private sector that is controlled by Sierra Leoneans can rise to the height necessary for creating a strong and vibrant private sector that is capacitated enough to support the government’s programmes and policies. The government needs to listen to the plights of the private sector, support and subsidise them. Nevertheless, the private sector must be held to the highest standard of accountability. It is only with such accountability that they will strive to grow and become vibrant.

A vibrant private sector, a productive and efficient public sector, a cost-effective wage bill are the brainchild of an educated, healthy and professional citizenry, no doubt.

President Xi Jinping Made New Commitments at FOCAC conference to the Promotion of China-Africa Cooperation

By
SLL
-
President Xi Jinping Made New Commitments at FOCAC conference to the Promotion of China-Africa Cooperation.

On 29 November 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech titled Uphold the Tradition of Always Standing Together And Jointly Build a China-Africa Community With a Shared Future in the New Era via video link at the Opening Ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

President Xi stated that the key to a close China-Africa relationship and a deep bond of friendship lies in the everlasting spirit, which features sincere friendship, equality, win-win for mutual benefit, common development, fairness, justice, progress with the times, openness and inclusiveness.

President Xi Jinping Made New Commitments at FOCAC conference to the Promotion of China-Africa Cooperation.

 

He expressed sincere appreciation to the many African friends who had supported the restoration of China’s lawful seat in the United Nations, and pledged that China will never forget the profound friendship of African countries. President Xi reiterated that China will remain guided by the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests and work with African friends to promote China-Africa friendship and cooperation.

In the speech, President Xi made four proposals on promoting China-Africa development and nine programs on deepening China-Africa practical cooperation, a reflection of China’s sincerity and firm support to Africa in the fight against COVID-19 and achieving social economic progress. The four proposals are fighting COVID-19 with solidarity, deepening

practical cooperation, promoting green development, upholding equity and justice. The nine programs include the medical and health program, the poverty reduction and agricultural development program, the trade promotion program, the investment promotion program, the digital innovation program, the green development program, the capacity building program, the cultural and people-to-people exchange program, the peace and security program.

President Xi announced that China will provide another one billion doses of vaccines to Africa, including 600 million doses as donation and 400 million doses to be provided through such means as joint production by Chinese companies and relevant African countries. In addition, China will undertake 10 medical and health projects for African countries, and send 1,500 medical personnel and public health experts to Africa.

President Xi declared that China will undertake 10 poverty reduction and agricultural projects for Africa, and send 500 agricultural experts to Africa. China will set up a number of China-Africa joint centers for modern agrotechnology exchange, demonstration and training in China, encourage Chinese institutions and companies to build in Africa demonstration villages for China-Africa cooperation on agricultural development and poverty reduction, and support the Alliance of Chinese Companies in Africa for Corporate Social Responsibilities in launching the initiative of “100 Companies in 1,000 Villages”.

President Xi promised that China will open “green lanes” for African agricultural exports to

China, speed up the inspection and quarantine procedures, and further increase the scope of products enjoying zero-tariff treatment for the least developed countries(LDCs) having diplomatic relations with China, in a bid to reach 300 billion US dollars in total imports from Africa in the next three years. China will provide 10 billion US dollars of trade finance to support African export, and build in China a pioneering zone for in-depth China-Africa trade and economic cooperation and a China-Africa industrial park for Belt and Road cooperation. China will undertake 10 connectivity projects for Africa, form an expert group on economic cooperation with the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and give continued support to the development of the AfCFTA.

President Xi committed that China will encourage its businesses to invest no less than 10 billion US dollars in Africa in the next three years, and will establish a platform for China-Africa private investment promotion. China will undertake 10 industrialization and employment promotion projects for Africa, provide credit facilities of 10 billion US dollars to African financial institutions, support the development of African SMEs on a priority basis, and establish a China-Africa cross-border RMB center. China will exempt African LDCs from debt incurred in the form of interest-free Chinese government loans due by the end of 2021. China is ready to channel to African countries 10 billion US dollars from its share of the IMF’s new allocation of Special Drawing Rights.

President Xi further announced that China will undertake 10 digital economy projects for Africa, set up centers for China-Africa cooperation on satellite remote-sensing application, and support the development of China-Africa joint laboratories, partner institutes, and scientific and technological innovation cooperation bases. China will work with African countries to expand Silk Road e-commerce cooperation, hold online shopping festivals featuring quality African products and tourism e-commerce promotion activities, and launch a campaign to market 100 African stores and 1,000 African products on e-commerce platforms.

President Xi said that China will undertake 10 green development, environmental protection and climate action projects for Africa, support the development of the “Great Green Wall”, and build in Africa centers of excellence on low-carbon development and climate change adaptation.

President Xi pledged that China will help build or upgrade 10 schools in Africa, and invite 10,000 high-level African professionals to seminars and workshops. We will implement “Future of Africa —- a project for China-Africa cooperation on vocational education”, and start an employment “through train” scheme for African students in China. China will continue to work with African countries to set up “Luban Workshops”, and encourage Chinese companies in Africa to create at least 800,000 local jobs.

President Xi stated that China will support making all African countries having diplomatic ties with China approved destinations for Chinese tourist groups. We will hold African film festivals in China and Chinese film festival sin Africa, as well as a China-Africa youth services forum, and a China-Africa women’s forum.

President Xi proclaimed that China will undertake 10 peace and security projects for Africa, continue to deliver military assistance to the AU, support African countries’ efforts to independently maintain regional security and fight terrorism, and conduct joint exercises and on-site training between Chinese and African peacekeeping troops and cooperation on small arms and light weapons control.

Please see the following link for the full text of president Xi’s speech:
https://www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/202111/t20211129_10458609.html

PARLIAMENT COMMITS 2022 NATIONAL BUDGET TO SECOND READING

By
SLL
-
Sierra Leone Coat of Arms

By Emperor Bailor Jalloh in Freetown

As a normal Parliamentary procedure, after the introduction and first reading of the Appropriation Bill by the Minister of Finance every year, Sierra Leone Parliament has on Friday, November 19, 2021, in the Chamber of Parliament, Tower Hill, Freetown committed the bill entitled “The Appropriation Act, 2022” to Second Reading stage through a motion moved by the Leader of Government Business of the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Hon. Mathew Shar Nyuma and seconded by his deputy Hon. Bashiru Silikie after the introduction and first reading of Government Budget and Statement of Economic and Financial Policies for the Financial Year 2022 by the country’s Minister of Finance Dr Dennis K. Vandi on November 19, 2021.
The Theme of the Le 9.94 trillion 2022 National Budget is “ Building Resilience for Inclusive Green Recovery “.

The Appropriation Act, 2022 is an Act to authorize expenditure from the Consolidated Fund for the Services of Sierra Leone and related Matters in tandem with section 112 and subsection (6) of Sierra Leone Constitution Act No. 6 1991.

Financial Provisions in the Standing Orders ( Revised) of the Sierra Leone Parliament 2006
Standing Orders ( SO) 63:- Presentation, First Reading and Second Reading of Appropriation Bill

(1) There shall be submitted to Parliament by the Minister of Finance before the beginning of the fiscal year to which it refers a budget which shall include the documents delineated in subsection 23 of the Government Budgeting and Accountability Act, ( Act No. 3 of 2005).

(2) All proceedings upon the Appropriation Bill subsequent to its first reading, which takes the form of the Budget Speech, shall be subject to the provisions of the remaining paragraphs of this Order and of the next five succeeding Orders.

(3) After the Bill has been read the first time, it shall be put down for Second Reading not less than two clear days thereafter and five days shall be allotted for the Second Reading of the Bill. The debate shall be confined to the financial and economic state of Sierra Leone and the general principles of Government policy and administration as indicated by the Bill and its Estimates…

(4) For the purpose of this S.O. No 65 (Allotment of Time in Committee of Supply) an allotted day shall be any day on which the consideration of the Appropriation Bill, whether by the House or in the Committee of Supply, stands as the first Public Business for that day, and on such a day no other Public Business may be taken.

S.O. 64 Committee of Supply
(1) There shall be a Committee of the Whole House to be called the Committee of Supply. The deliberations of the Committee shall be in public.

(2) Without prejudice to the mandate of the Finance Committee in these Orders, the Estimates shall upon presentation to the House stand referred to the Committee of Supply and the Appropriation Bill upon being read a second time shall stand committed to that Committee.

(3) To enhance the effectiveness of the scrutiny of Heads of Expenditure by the whole House, the Committee of Supply shall, pursuant to subsection (6) of Section 112 of the Constitution, incorporate scrutiny by a number of Appropriation Subcommittees formed out organising the Membership of Parliament into groups.

S.O. 65. Allotment of Time in Committee of Supply
(1) There shall be allotted a maximum of five days for discussion of the Appropriate Bill in Committee of Supply.

Section 112. (1):- Authorisation of expenditure from Consolidated Fund
Subject to the provisions of section 107 of this Constitution, the Minister for the time being responsible for finance shall cause to be prepared and laid before Parliament in each financial year estimates of the revenues and expenditures of Sierra Leone for the next following financial year.

(2) The Head of the expenditure –

a. of the estimates shall be included in a Bill to be known as Appropriation Bill which shall be introduced into Parliament to provide for the issue from the Consolidated Fund of the sums of money necessary to meet that expenditure and the appropriation of those sums for the purpose specified therein; and
b. of the Consolidated Fund payments shall be laid before Parliament for the information of the Members thereof.

Section (6) Parliament shall prescribe the procedure for the presentation of Appropriation Bills.

VI . The 2022 Budget

151. “Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the total revenue and grant for the financial year 2022 is projected at Le 9.94 trillion. This includes domestic revenues of 7.64 trillion ( 15.1 per cent of GDP) and grants of Le 2.3 trillion. Of the grants, budget support to be provided by the World Bank will amount to Le 783.0 billion and project grants, Le 1.32 trillion. The budget for 2022 is fully financed with no financing gap. Principal loan repayments will amount to Le 740 billion in 2022. “

152. “Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the continued recovery in economic activities and strict implementation of the revenue policy and administrative measures already described will improve domestic revenue collection in 2022. Of the total projected domestic revenue, Income Taxes will contribute Le 2.71 trillion; Goods and Services Tax ( GST) Le 1.46 trillion; Import Duties Le 950.1 billion; Excise duty on Petroleum Products Le 706 billion; Mining Revenues Le 316 billion; Royalty on Fisheries Le 142.0 billion; parastatals dividends, Le 125.4 billion; TSAs Le 413.1 billion; Other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies Le 144.8 billion; and Road User Charges Le 226.0 billion. “

Expenditure Priorities, Projections and Allocations

153. “Mr . Speaker, Honourable Members, as indicated earlier, the expenditure priorities of Government remain Human Capital Development, economic diversification including agriculture and food security; infrastructure development; combating climate change and promoting good governance as articulated in the Medium -Term National Development Plan ( 2019 – 2023 ). The continued implementation of the programmes and projects embedded in these sectors will support the resilient recovery of the economy in 2022. Hence, the composition and allocation of Government expenditure for the 2022 financial year reflect these priority areas “.

154. “ Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, total expenditure and net lending for 2022, including arrears pay down, is projected at Le 11.81 trillion ( 23.3 percent of GDP) compared to LE 10.97 trillion for 2021. Of this, recurrent expenditures will amount to Le 8.17 trillion ( 16.1 percent of GDP). Capital expenditures will amount to Le 3.64 trillion ( 7.7 percent of GDP), of which domestic financed capital expenditures will amount to Le 1.19 trillion. Foreign financed capital expenditures are projected at Le 2.45 trillion. An amount of Le 100 billion is allocated for the payment of Pre- April 2018 arrears “.

Wages and Salaries

155. “ Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the Government wage bill for 2022 is projected at Le 3.90 trillion ( 7.7 percent of GDP), compared to Le 3.75 trillion in 2021. This increase in the nominal wage bill reflects Government’s commitment to award a salary increase of 25 percent to all the security forces over a three-year period, that started in 2021. Employees of tertiary educational institutions, including Universities, Polytechnics and Government Technical Institutes will also receive a further pay rise of 25 percent. The increase in the wage bill will also cover the recruitment of 1, 200 teachers; 1,000 health workers; 1,000 police officers; 200 correctional officers; and 85 firefighters as well as 500 academic and administrative staff for tertiary educational institutions especially the newly established universities”.

Conclusively, Second Reading / Parliamentary debate is the second stage of Appropriation Bill as prescribe by law.

ODDLY SORCEROUS : GLOBAL MCC INDEX LIES, DAMN LIES, AND STATISTICS

By
SLL
-
MCC

by Mahmud Tim Kargbo

Mark Twain, the 100th anniversary of whose death transpired months back, was never known to be soft-spoken about his opinions. He popularised the phrase, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics,” caustically opining the view that numbers can be used to disassemble the truth. While the Millennium Challenge Corporation Index classic snarkiness fanfare of progress on some democratic indicators failed to allow our government to partake in the Summit for Democracy – United States Department of State (https://www.state.gov/participant-list-the-summit-for-democracy/) may elicit frustrated delight from rationally minded people everywhere in the globe; their story is only half-formed. As statistics can be a tool for ill-intentioned academics to perpetuate falsehoods. That’s why a society well educated in statistics is the best defence against this kind of intellectual trickery. Today we’ll look at a recent case in which statistics were not used honestly, and how to guard against them in the future.

Past, current poverty, political, social, and economic inequalities between groups in Sierra Leone predispose to conflict; and the lack of genuine policies by the current regime to effectively tackle them is increasing the risk to our democracy. These are definitive causes that are threatening democracy in Sierra Leone. These fact has been replicated by studies over and over, and, thanks to thorough research done by scores of reputable organisations (http://www.oecd.org/dac/states-of-fragility-2018-9789264302075-en.htm), the alarming rate of youth unemployment, high rate of hunger, the politicisation of independent institutions, promotion of witch-hunting tactics under the guise of fighting corruption, favouritism, regional rhetorics, actions meant to widen the division gap and poor leadership to address these challenges are all serious threats to our democracy. Duesberg was once a bright young researcher at UC-Berkeley (I would jibe the Golden Bear, but what follows is too grave). Duesberg published non-peer-reviewed articles throughout the 1980s and ’90s expressing concerns that it will be dishonest to determine the democratic efficiency of a nation without taking into consideration the above-mentioned factors.

If we continue with the current model, the already costly corruption, massive poverty in the lives of the suffering majority and their national implications will increase. We are seeing an increase in the recurrence, longevity and diffusion of corruption, the incidence and severity of massive poverty for the suffering majority, degradation of the environment, depletion of our natural resources, selective actions in addressing crimes, volatility in communities previously characterised as stable, financial crises, high rate of youth unemployment, increase in crime rate and various forms of inequality. These trends are interconnected.

In our constitution and scores of international development programmes, we are signatories to, where our mandate directs us to respond to crises and support long-term democratic stability and progress, it is our experience that sustainable development is tied to the advancement of genuine democratic values to gain lasting peace and stability.

By cherry-picking a few cases, MCC Index attempts to sow doubt by implying that a few cases in their favour should be valued equally to the millions of cases to the contrary. Another dastardly manoeuvre MCC Index uses is to analyse a correlation between the extent of domestic and international democracy using alleged reports of international hired journalists, level of social safety and security, degree of militarisation and formulate the conclusion that the pattern of the majority in Sierra Leone to keep on smiling whilst suffering means progress in the areas they raised in their report. Presenting a causal link from simple correlations is another trick that can be used to imply a conclusion that simply isn’t true.

While MCC Index “research” can be quickly dismantled, it is cited by present regime propagandist of President Bio for scientific proof that their current actions are not affecting the democratic stands of Sierra Leone, which is causing an enormous national delay by the regime in responding to the many legitimate calls to address the present political tension in the contraption.

With lives on the line, it makes no difference whether Sierra Leone’s international denialists’ (Millennium Challenge Corporation) faulty science resulted from incompetence, unprofessional attitude towards Sierra Leoneans or malice. It is imperative to scrutinise every aspect of any data you are presented with: who funded it, how big the sample size was, whether they are analysing all information and if they are using valid statistical methods. Only then should you accept it as fact, and a strong background in statistics will greatly help you in this pursuit.

A century onward, perhaps Mark Twain’s adage is half correct; that statistics can be used by ne’er-do-wells, but they are also the last line of defence against lies and damned lies. The sentiment that numbers can’t lie is simply misguided, and the mathematical know-how to distinguish when someone is trying to lie to you with numbers is as much if not more important as the intellectual know-how to distinguish when someone is lying to you with words. Scrutinise every number, every figure and every error bar as closely as you would a word, a claim or a statement. When used properly, statistical analysis is the best resource we have to winnow truth from uncertainty through the scientific method. In the coming decades, each of you will have the power to change the world in your field, and I can only hope that you use the power of statistics for good and for truth. For the few of you who don’t, the rest of us will be watching.

If you still don’t think you need a firm grasp on statistics to be an informed citizen, Millennium Challenge Corporation Index has a fence for you to whitewash.

BIO’S SLPP FACING ECONOMIC GUT-CHECK WITH GROWING VOTERS’ ANGST

By
SLL
-

by Mahmud Tim Kargbo

The Bio led SLPP government will argue for months about what led to the legitimate loud cries of “electricity plus bread and butter” by the people of Kono when the President visited them on Friday — whether it was their messaging, the behaviour of the majority of their choice of people occupying social positions of trust towards the suffering majority or the president himself. But there was consensus that the first step is to get something immediately done on economic issues.

A few days after an embarrassing loss for the main APC opposition party in the Kono by-election and a dispiritingly tight race in Kabala that gave victory to the main APC opposition party, SLPP from President Bio to moderate and progressive Members of Parliament cast passage of his infrastructure for the Kono people with social spending package as a panacea for further losses.

For nearly four years, the centerpiece of Bio’s social contract agenda with his people has been stalled because of massive greed by the majority occupying social positions of trust, alleged corruption, infighting among SLPP members and the government refusing to listen to voices of reasoning. But party activists and strategists say that SLPP has to take action on so-called bread-and-butter issues, like inflation and job creation if they don’t want a repeat of what happened in Kono across the country in the campaign for the coming 2023 General Elections.

“If things don’t change, then 2023 is going to be a very, very difficult election for SLPP,” said Emmanuel Sandy, an SLPP pollster. “The good news is, there’s a year and few months to change how voters view their own personal situation.”

Bio, speaking to key party players across the country after the people of Kono legitimate cries, now believe more than before that his government needs to up its game to meet the test of times as this would ease voters’ anxiety and help them coalesce around his Sierra Leone People’s Party in the 2023 general elections, which will decide control of both State House and Parliament.

“People are upset and uncertain about a lot of things, from youth unemployment to electricity, to bread and butter for the suffering majority, to job creations, to alleged corruption, to a whole range of things — and the cost of a litre of fuel. And so if Bio can effectively address these challenges within the shortest time possible, he’s in a position where you’re going to see a lot of those things ameliorated, quickly and swiftly if he ignores most of his trusted lieutenants. So that has to be done,” a European African expert said.

Speaking to me on condition of anonymity, a key player of the ruling SLPP, that also served as a member of one of the prominent civil society organisations in Sierra Leone, said the Bio led SLPP government must immediately address its key campaign promise of “bread and butter” for the suffering majority, address the issue of electricity and create jobs for the highly unemployed youth by allowing other nationals that have the right connections to play their own role in tackling the challenges of the country’s economy to give voters something they can rally around in the coming 2023 General Elections.

“The loud and necessary cries of the Kono people are a warning for all SLPP stakeholders,” he said in a statement. “ In Kabala, while most stakeholders spent time-fighting each other, APC was focused on mobilising their base and peeling away voters from the Bio ruling SLPP basing their campaigned on the unaddressed bread and butter for the suffering majority and the increase in prices of other essential commodities.”

Speaking to the moderates in the Bio led SLPP government, they almost harbour the same message.

“The years of in-fighting and sausage-making must come to an end,” “We must come together to do the historic things we promised in our manifesto and then make sure the issue of bread and butter, electricity, create jobs, build indigenous young entrepreneurs, and help working families afford the essentials.”

The hard, but uncomfortable truth here is APC stakeholders will seize on the genuine loud demands of the Kono people as proof that Sierra Leoneans are no longer buying the unfulfilled promises of the SLPP government.

“The Bio led SLPP should listen to the voters. Drop this reckless spending spree and propaganda. And stop trying to ram through a socialist transformation that the Sierra Leonean people never asked for,” a former Bio sympathizer said last Friday.

Bio’s approval rating has been plummeting — especially among independents — based on concerns about alleged corruption, injustice, lawlessness and inflation, exacerbated by supply-chain problems from the coronavirus pandemic and failure to enact his economic agenda, in addition to other priorities, like democratic institution reforms.

But the Bio led SLPP has also insufficiently communicated its accomplishments to voters, a key SLPP Representative, a Kenema based, said in an interview with me.

“SLPP failed at messaging. We allowed the opposition parties to frame the issues of the country. And we at the Legislative level stopped talking about the fact that we passed a very good Covid Relief bill to strengthen our indigenous entrepreneurs to genuinely do their parts in assisting the government to make essential commodities affordable for all nationals in these trying times. We allowed the narrative to say that we’re not getting anything done,” he said.

In Kono and other parts of the country, APC stakeholders interspersed tribal and regional-war issues such as critical favouritism theory in government money set aside to assist indigenous entrepreneurs to salvage the pandemic challenges in essential commodities for the general good, with poor electricity and high prices of essential commodities, among other topics.

“I do not see this as a win for the SLPP in the coming general elections,” SLPP pollster and strategist said of Friday’s open frustration displayed by the Kono people in the eyes of President Bio “. “I see this as a loss for the SLPP.”

The President’s proposals were generally good kitchen-table issues, but he didn’t utilise them for the general good of the suffering majority, said stakeholders of the SLPP.

SLPP strategist said the President embarrassment in Kono showed that it wasn’t necessarily the candidates, but the national political issues are tense because the majority continue to suffer in a number of odd ways more than three years since Bio took over governance.

To counter that in 2023, the SLPP stakeholder also said President Bio must address some of the broader problems upsetting voters by reducing corruption, fighting inflation and passing concrete proposals like encouraging other nationals that have what it take to tackle the intractable problems of poverty in the lives of the majority so that they can cite them when campaigning.

“The loud cries of the people in Kono are very popular and have a direct impact on the lives of millions of Sierra Leoneans,” he said. “We need them to feel that and know that it was us that did it.”

“We have to just produce results for them to change their standard of living and give them a little more breathing room,” Bio reportedly said Friday night after the Kono people legitimate demands. “People want us to get things done.”

1...222324...40Page 23 of 40
Freetown
broken clouds
25.8 ° C
25.8 °
25.8 °
94 %
2.1kmh
75 %
Thu
28 °
Fri
29 °
Sat
28 °
Sun
29 °
Mon
26 °
0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe