ABUSE OF POWER AT KERRY TOWN: CAN AIG PATRICK A.T. JOHNSON BE CONTAINED?

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April 21, 2023

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ABUSE OF POWER AT KERRY TOWN: CAN AIG PATRICK A.T. JOHNSON BE CONTAINED?

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By Mahmud Tim Kargbo
First published 24th November 2020.

Almost everyone who talked to the Fambuleh family of Kerry Town, the town’s head man (Misbao Kamara), the town’s youth chairman (Saidu Kamara), and other residents of Kerry Town were appalled by the alleged display of organised police harassment and intimidation. While the Local Unit Commander and the Operations Officer at the Waterloo Post Office police station attempted to explain or defend the police actions, the evidence of grave abuse of power was so strong that defense to right-minded nationals was rendered implausible.

The actions of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Patrick A.T. Johnson, at Gbade, Kerry Town, had the earmarks of classic police abuse: lethal weapons at Kerry Town, unlawful detentions, and other intimidating tactics used by members of the Sierra Leone Police against defenseless civilians in a matter in which AIG Patrick A.T. Johnson allegedly grabbed land from the Fambuleh family, an event infused with pain and oppression, and carried out with an attitude of impunity. For some, the event echoed many similar events in the past. Responding to the King incident, a senior police officer declared that “the problem of abuse of power in Sierra Leone policing is real.” For many others living in Kerry Town, it was a first-time eye-opener, a window into a world of official violence that could not be squared with our cultural and political norms under a “New Direction” government.

Allegations of police abuse in their quintessential form: several heavily armed police officers often broke into Kerry Town without a judicial warrant, ransacked houses, and terrorised Kerry Town occupants, making derogatory slurs as they proceeded in their intimidating tactics with an intention to ensure the Fambuleh family backed off from what they say is their private land. Villagers said that sometimes arrests are made until it pleases AIG Patrick A.T. Johnson before they release the detainees. Many believe these allegations by the people of Kerry Town against AIG Patrick A.T. Johnson state a cause of action under Sierra Leone’s laws. We must legally counter such a blatant abuse of power without state approval or authorisation undertaken by a senior police officer in a private matter.

Unfortunately, Kerry Town residents have not realised their expectations. Going two years and many legal battles, the abuses by AIG Patrick A.T. Johnson against the Fambuleh family and Kerry Town residents continue unabated. Arrests and detentions of Kerry Town youth and the daily controversial presence of police in the land from Waterloo Post Office Police Station focused attention once again on the problem of police abuse and showed the continuing existence of the practices and policies that cause it. AIG Patrick A.T. Johnson claimed he was the rightful owner of the land and that he inherited it from his father. However, Kerry Town stakeholders said they’ve never seen AIG Patrick Johnson or any of his claimed relatives at Kerry Town. They continued, “One Abu Sillah Bangura brought Johnson into this whole land issue in 2019 to make money at the expense of ethics.”

An essential question that emerges from this abuse of power action by AIG Patrick A. T. Johnson is whether the institution, program, and principles we have developed to empower the police in Sierra Leone are also adequate for controlling the police. We must also ask whether, in our society, which relies substantially on the courts to regulate and control governmental behaviour, the legal response to police abuse is sufficiently sensitive to the institutional nature of the problem.

Enforcing proper restraints on police power is an essential thing for our society under President Bio’s government. Our society cannot harbour both a fear of governmental abuse and a tolerance of repressive measures, the latter reflecting a belief that police excesses are necessary to combat crime. The pervasiveness of violence, the lack of social cohesiveness, and sharp disparities in privilege, wealth, and power supply fertile ground for crime and social unrest. Frustration with disorder and crime leads to a public acceptance of extra-constitutional police practices. Because police abuse is most often directed against those without political power or social status, they dismiss and ignore their complaints.

Acceptance of a certain level of police abuse is a predictable majoritarian response to crime, upheaval, and threats to the status quo. The true test of our society’s commitment to constitutional constraints is how the government and the courts respond to these systemic deviations from constitutional norms. If we examine current police conduct in light of this test, the response of the government and the courts has been insufficient. We have manifested an indifference to documented abuses, and we have fostered official violence through social, political, and legal structures. reinforce patterns of unlawfulness. We know much about the principles of no accountability and organisational control, yet we often cannot apply these basic precepts to law enforcement officials.

AIG PATRICK A. T. JOHNSON, ABRUPT POLICE CRACKDOWN TO SURVEY KERRY TOWN LAND

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Mahmud Tim Kargbo

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April 21, 2023

SLL Audio News

AIG PATRICK A. T. JOHNSON, ABRUPT POLICE CRACKDOWN TO SURVEY KERRY TOWN LAND

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First Published on November 28, 2020.

By Mahmud Tim Kargbo.

Kerry Town Headman (Misbao Kamara) said dozens of Sierra Leone Police officers from the Waterloo Post Office, Police Station, charged into a group of youth standing near an intersection in Gbadi, Kerry Town, and arrested several of them, in a chaotic scene that stunned other onlookers. Saidu Kamara, Kerry Town Youth Chairman, said they were protesting to resist AIG Patrick A. T. Johnson from surveying the land they alleged he grabbed from the Fahnbulleh Family. As the group was protesting, officers confronted them. Pictures of the police action circulated widely, prompting sharp criticism from elected officials, activists, and on social media that the officers had used unnecessary force in a purely civil matter. Residents at Kerry Town said several youths that appeared to be filming the officers were arrested or chased into the bush.

Speaking to me on condition of anonymity, a source at Waterloo Post Office, Police Station, said that officers were responding to a “large disorderly group obstructing AIG Patrick A. T. Johnson from surveying the land in question.” The source added that people were often taken into custody, but they’ve never taken statements from them or charged them in court. The source confirmed that officers at the said police station often responded to the Kerry Town land issue after receiving noisy complaints from their boss. However, the source refused to say who this boss is. Other stakeholders said the police did not appear to be provoked before they rushed into the protesting youth. They said protesters did not appear to be lawless, and they did see people tripping and falling as they scrambled to get away from the area. “ln addition to the disproportionate response, it was totally unprovoked,” they said. They concluded, “The bottom line is that bystanders and peaceful protesters at Gbandi, Kerry Town, protesting against AIG Patrick A.T. Johnson from surveying their personal land which he now grabbed, were charged at by police and thrown to the ground in a really disturbing escalation of force by law enforcement.”

As a matter of public policy and constitutional law, one would expect that the conduct of AIG Patrick A.T. Johnson would be subject to strong condemnation. Indeed, a pictorial portrayal of the event at Gbadi, Kerry Town, would probably inspire reactions similar to those generated in other democratic dispensations when police are abusing the rights of their nationals. Yet, in Sierra Leone’s real world of civil rights litigation and police administration, are we still expecting to find just the opposite under the “New Direction” government of President Bio? A good deal of the misconduct may not be remediable in the courts and, as an internal administrative matter, little if any evaluative or disciplinary action would be taken against AIG Patrick A. T. Johnson and other officers in the Kerry Town abuse of power. In fact, as we will see, their actions were a predictable result of police policies and legal doctrine that subordinate individual rights to police power.

It is unlikely that the Sierra Leone Police command officials would critically look into the Kerry Town abuse by one of their senior officers. It is also unlikely that the “Force for Good” would take remedial action against one of their senior officers. The failure of the Sierra Leone Police Force to evaluate practices such as the “use of intimidation and harassment” by one of their very senior officers against civilians undermines individual officer accountability by providing implicit departmental approval of these questionable practices.

The department’s failure to investigate allegations of abuse, or to impose appropriate punishment, would lead the reasonable police officer to assume that even repeated violations of citizens’ rights would be condoned within the department. The failure to hold AIG Patrick A. T. Johnson and other officers at the Kerry Town abuse accountable for their prior misconduct is a direct link to the abuse of the Fahnbulleh family. The deleterious consequences of the department’s failure to monitor and discipline these officers run far wider than the encouragement it might give them to continue to abuse civilians. The message that violence and abusive conduct will be ignored is also sent to every other officer on the force.

SLPP 2018 Manifesto: A Promise to Transform the Agricultural Sector in Sierra Leone

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SLL

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April 18, 2023

SLPP 2018 Manifesto: A Promise to Transform the Agricultural Sector in Sierra Leone

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SLPP 2018 Manifesto: A Promise to Transform the Agricultural Sector in Sierra Leone

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SLPP 2018 Manifesto: A Promise to Transform the Agricultural Sector in Sierra Leone

By the Sierra Leone Live Team

The agricultural sector, which makes up most of the country’s employment and accounts for about half of its GDP, is the foundation of Sierra Leone’s economy. The SLPP laid out its strategy to transform it in its 2018 manifesto. Sierra Leone Live will look into whether the SLPP has kept its promises and accomplished the objectives outlined in its manifesto as the June 24, 2023 elections draw near.

With its vast lands, varied agro-ecologies, high agro-biodiversity, plentiful rainfall, and many rivers, Sierra Leone has an ideal agricultural climate that may support the production of food for both domestic use and export. Small-scale subsistence farming and other biophysical and socioeconomic limitations that restrict food production and self-sufficiency are the sector’s prominent features.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 49.8% of households in Sierra Leone did not have enough food to sustain a healthy and active lifestyle. With 38.5 percent of the population underweight, the nation is third in the world for hunger.

A strong food security strategy, easy access to financing, poor land management, insufficient value addition, poor roads, a lack of market information, limited human capacity, and low investment in agriculture were among the major issues the SLPP manifesto cited as facing the agricultural industry. The National Sustainable Agricultural Development Plan (NSADP) of the APC administration could not adequately address these problems.

The SLPP sought to transform the agricultural industry as part of the New Direction set forth in the manifesto by producing food in a sustainable and diverse manner, creating gainful jobs, and preserving the natural resource base. Increasing agricultural investment, raising food and cash crop production, enhancing livestock production, and improving irrigation, water management, land management, governance, and research were among the top priorities.

The SLPP had plans to boost domestic finance initiatives, work with mining companies, encourage local banks to lend to the private sector for agricultural objectives, review land tenure rules, and raise budgetary allocation to agriculture to 10% in accordance with the Maputo Accord.

The manifesto provided several recommendations for enhancing food and cash crop production, including the establishment of a seed bank system, the adoption of commercial farming that is mechanized, the diversification of crop production, a review of the input and output market systems, and the rehabilitation of feeder roads.

The SLPP recommended revitalizing research stations, reopening veterinary clinics, assisting hatcheries, encouraging maize production for feed, and constructing pilot areas for intensive cattle production in order to increase livestock production.

The manifesto also included recommendations for better governance, agriculture sector research, and management of water and land. The creation of fertile Inland Valley Swamps (IVS) and waterways, the expansion of agro-climatological activities and water resources, the creation of a national soil conservation program, and the strengthening of agricultural stakeholders’ capacities were among the key projects.

It will be critical to evaluate whether the SLPP has been successful in putting these policies into practice and whether they have improved the agricultural sector as Sierra Leone Live looks into the party’s performance. Has Sierra Leone’s food security, self-sufficiency, and the number of malnourished people decreased because of the SLPP’s efforts? Has the government improved infrastructure, like roads and veterinary facilities, boosted investment in the field, and extended research? Have new laws and rules been passed to safeguard landowners and promote international investment in agriculture?

Sierra Leone Live will examine the SLPP’s achievements in the agriculture sector in further detail during the following weeks. Our aim is to offer an unbiased assessment of the party’s performance so that Sierra Leoneans can vote on June 24, 2023, having made an informed decision.

Stay tuned for our upcoming analysis.

Assessing SLPP’s Progress in Strengthening Democratic Institutions

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SLL

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April 15, 2023

Assessing SLPP's Progress in Strengthening Democratic Institutions

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Assessing SLPP's Progress in Strengthening Democratic Institutions

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Assessing SLPP’s Progress in Strengthening Democratic Institutions

By the Sierra Leone Live Team

In the 2018 SLPP Manifesto, Part IV focuses on “Improving Governance – Strengthening Democratic Institutions.” As we approach the June 24, 2023 elections, Sierra Leone Live will investigate whether the SLPP has achieved its aims as set forth in its manifesto.

The manifesto acknowledges that at the end of the Civil War, the SLPP established several democratic institutions, including the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC), the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Independent Media Commission (IMC), and the National Commission for Democracy (NCD). However, it notes that these institutions have been weakened due to government interference and patronage.

The challenges faced by these institutions include a lack of competent human capital, politicization that undermines their operational focus and independence, and the failure to create new vital national institutions to support the deepening of Sierra Leone’s democratic culture. For instance, the Independent Media Commission and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) have been criticized for failing to fulfil their mandates as neutral and objective entities, resulting in a loss of public trust and confidence.

To address these issues, the SLPP outlined a “New Direction” in its manifesto, which includes the following specific actions:

Review laws and policies guiding the functioning of democratic institutions to restore their autonomy and independence.
Increase the role of non-state actors in the management of democratic institutions.
Enhance the transparency of the operations of democratic institutions.
Develop the capacities of democratic institutions through adequate funding, qualified and competent human resources, and efficient and effective systems and procedures.
Support the budgetary needs of democratic institutions without seeking to control their operations.

In the coming weeks, Sierra Leone Live will investigate the SLPP’s progress in implementing these measures, providing a comprehensive assessment of the party’s achievements and shortcomings in strengthening democratic institutions. This evaluation will cover:

Reforms and policy changes implemented to restore the autonomy and independence of democratic institutions.
The extent of non-state actor involvement in managing democratic institutions and the impact of this involvement.
Transparency improvements in the operations of democratic institutions, and the resulting increase in public trust and confidence.
Capacity building efforts, including funding, human resources, and procedural enhancements in democratic institutions.
Changes in the financial support provided to democratic institutions without compromising their autonomy.

By examining these areas, Sierra Leone Live aims to offer an unbiased and in-depth analysis of the SLPP’s performance in improving governance and strengthening democratic institutions. This investigation will provide valuable insights for the electorate, enabling them to make informed decisions at the ballot box on June 24, 2023.

As Sierra Leone continues to navigate the complexities of democracy, the success of the SLPP in reinforcing these institutions will play a critical role in shaping the nation’s political landscape and fostering a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance system.

SLPP’s Progress on Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Development in Sierra Leone

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SLL

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April 15, 2023

SLPP's Progress on Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Development in Sierra Leone. Increasing Access to Water Supply and Improved Sanitation

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SLPP's Progress on Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Development in Sierra Leone

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SLPP’s Progress on Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Development in Sierra Leone

By the Sierra Leone Live Team.

Sierra Leone Live is dedicated to investigating the SLPP’s performance in fulfilling its manifesto promises as the June 24, 2023 elections approach. This article focuses on Part V of the 2018 SLPP Manifesto, “Developing Infrastructure: Increasing Access to Water Supply and Improved Sanitation.” We will examine the SLPP’s goals and objectives in this area and report on whether they have delivered on their promises.

According to UNICEF and WHO, having access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation is a fundamental human right. These organizations have determined that improving water and sanitation access promotes good health, reduces mortality rates, and lowers teenage pregnancy and school dropout rates. Despite being endowed with substantial rainfall and numerous rivers, Sierra Leone’s population faces challenges accessing clean water and sanitation facilities.

According to the manifesto, only 43% of the population has access to safe drinking water (86% in urban areas and 26% in rural areas), while only 13% have access to improved sanitation (24% in urban areas and 6% in rural areas). Pipe-borne water supply is largely limited to Freetown, with rural areas relying on contaminated surface water.

The SLPP’s manifesto highlights several challenges to water supply and sanitation infrastructure, including inadequate water in dams, poor distribution networks, institutional arrangements, deforestation, maintenance issues, and poor coordination between various MDAs. To address these issues, the manifesto outlines specific policy actions for urban and rural water supply and sanitation.

For urban water supply, the SLPP aims to construct a new water reservoir for Freetown, rehabilitate the water distribution network, introduce flow meters, speed up institutional and regulatory reforms, and strengthen the maintenance culture and capacity of the Guma Valley Water Company. For rural water supply, the SLPP plans to construct boreholes, gravity water systems, and solar water pumping schemes; develop local councils’ capacity, and improve coordination between international agencies and NGOs.

In terms of urban sanitation, the SLPP proposes carrying out a study to develop a central sewage system, enforcing the change from pit latrines to pour flush or full flush in cities, reintroducing special cleaning days, expanding public-private partnerships in garbage collection, introducing recycling and incinerator facilities, and implementing a rainwater drainage system. For rural sanitation, the manifesto suggests establishing a rural sanitary inspectorate, implementing a National Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) program, and developing communities’ capacities to construct latrines in rural areas.

Sierra Leone Live will investigate the extent to which the SLPP has achieved these goals and objectives in water and sanitation infrastructure development. We will conduct an unbiased SLPP’s Progress on Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Development and assessment of its performance, examining the progress made, challenges faced, and future prospects for improving access to clean water and sanitation for the people of Sierra Leone. As the June 24, 2023, elections draw closer, we will report on whether the SLPP has delivered on its manifesto promises and provided the necessary infrastructure improvements to ensure a better quality of life for Sierra Leoneans. Follow this link to visit the Ministry of Water Resources website.

Investigating the SLPP’s Fight Against Corruption and Quest for Accountability in Sierra Leone

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SLL

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April 14, 2023

Investigating the SLPP's Fight Against Corruption

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Investigating the SLPP's Fight Against Corruption and Quest for Accountability in Sierra Leone

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Investigating the SLPP’s Fight Against Corruption and Quest for Accountability in Sierra Leone

By the Sierra Leone Live Team.

As Sierra Leone approaches its June 24, 2023 elections, Sierra Leone Live takes a critical look at the Sierra Leone People’s Party’s (SLPP) 2018 Manifesto and investigates whether the party has achieved its goals, particularly in fighting corruption and improving accountability. In this analysis, we delve into Part IV of the manifesto, which deals with improving governance by fighting corruption and enhancing accountability.

Corruption has long plagued Sierra Leone, posing a significant challenge to national progress, development, stability, and security. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified corruption as one of the main causes of the civil war. Despite the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2000 by the SLPP government and its empowerment with independent prosecutorial powers in 2008, and further amendment in 2019, national development remains perennially constrained by corruption at various levels of administration.

The manifesto highlights the absence of political will in addressing corruption, exemplified by Parliament’s failure to scrutinize public accounts audits submitted by the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL). As a result, a culture of impunity for corrupt practices has been entrenched. The ACC has been stymied in acting on audit reports tabled before Parliament, for fear of incurring its displeasure.

The SLPP’s manifesto acknowledges the pervasiveness of corruption in Sierra Leone, including bribery, embezzlement, mismanagement, procurement irregularities, and conferring unlawful or wrongful advantages. These corrupt practices manifest in various forms, such as inflation of government contracts in return for kickbacks, bid rigging, collusive tenders for public contracts, examination malpractices, corporate fraud, falsification of accounts and certificates, stealing of public funds, and perversion of justice.

According to the manifesto, Sierra Leone faces several challenges in combating corruption. These include limited integrated approaches in public funds and services management, lack of progress in the structure of incentives, methods of evaluation, recruitment procedures, and human resource management. Corruption remains rife despite amendments to the anti-corruption law. Government ministers who were found guilty of corruption charges and fined have returned to active public service, often perceived as “sacred cows” of the President and his party.

The SLPP’s “New Direction” strategy aims to treat corruption not only as a governance issue but as a national security threat. It outlines several measures to combat corruption, such as reviewing the ACC Act, strengthening the ACC’s investigative and prosecutorial mandate, developing value systems, implementing a robust merit and reward system, categorizing corruption based on its economic costs, ensuring the full implementation of ASSL’s annual audit recommendations, committing to the Access to Information Act, and enhancing inter-agency cooperation.

Sierra Leone Live is currently investigating the SLPP’s Fight Against Corruption and whether the SLPP has been successful in implementing these measures and if they have had a significant impact on reducing corruption and improving accountability in the country. This investigation will examine the actions taken by the SLPP government since 2018, assess the effectiveness of these actions, and determine if the SLPP has achieved its goals as outlined in its manifesto.

As part of this investigation, Sierra Leone Live will consult with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, development partners, and government officials, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the progress made in the fight against corruption and the improvement of accountability. This unbiased report will provide the public with an in-depth analysis of the SLPP’s performance on this critical issue and help inform voters as they prepare for the June 24, 2023 elections.

SLPP’s Pledge to Improve Governance: Has the Party Delivered?

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SLL

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April 14, 2023

SLPP's Pledge to Improve Governance: Delivered?

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SLPP's Pledge to Improve Governance: Has the Party Delivered?

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SLPP’s Pledge to Improve Governance: Has the Party Delivered?

By the Sierra Leone Live Team.

Part IV of the 2018 SLPP Manifesto emphasizes the party’s commitment to advancing the rule of law and promoting justice and human rights in order to enhance governance. Sierra Leone Live will look into whether the SLPP has accomplished the goals outlined in its manifesto as the country approaches the elections on June 24, 2023.

The judiciary in Sierra Leone received harsh criticism from the previous APC administration because of claims of executive branch constitutional violations and a sharp decline in public trust in the legal system. In order to restore public confidence and assure independence and impartiality, the SLPP’s New Direction sought to completely restructure the judicial system and the way justice was delivered.

Poor service delivery, limited access to justice, insufficient resource allocation, staffing shortages, and capacity restrictions are some of the major issues mentioned in the manifesto.

The SLPP’s proposed actions to address these challenges include:

A new justice and rule of law system for Sierra Leone in the twenty-first century is one solution put out by the SLPP, along with increased budgetary support for the judicial sector.
Introducing legislation that will strengthen the justice system’s independence and increase access to justice.
Educating paralegals to support the industry in rural areas where access to attorneys is scarce.
Enhancing and expanding the Legal Aid Program’s capacity to better serve persons in need of legal help.
Encouraging social interaction with the Sierra Leone Bar Association to improve the provision of justice.
Enhancing the Judicial Service Commission to operate an impartial judicial system effectively and bring it up to international standards.
Establishing a productive collaboration between the justice system and civil society.
The Law Reform Commission should be strengthened and given adequate funding.
Creating specialized human rights courts inside the legal system and enforcing a bail and sentencing policy based on human rights.
Asking the Commonwealth for technological support to improve the justice system.
Reviewing legal education and advocating for actions to create a reliable, impartial, and efficient system for regulating legal education and practice in Sierra Leone.
Separating the positions of Attorney-General from Minister of Justice.

Sierra Leone Live will look at how the SLPP is doing with these programs and projects as the elections get closer. The investigation will determine how effectively the party has improved governance, advanced the rule of law, pushed for justice, and protected human rights.

It is crucial to remember that assessing the SLPP’s success in this area requires considering all facets of the justice system, including institutions, legislation, and service delivery. The study must also consider the party’s working environment in terms of politics, society, and the economy.

The public will receive the facts they require to cast an informed vote in the coming weeks from Sierra Leone Live’s balanced report on the SLPP’s advancements in enhancing justice and governance.

The research will show if the SLPP has fulfilled its manifesto commitment to advance the rule of law, advance justice, and protect human rights in Sierra Leone by looking at the party’s accomplishments and faults.

Visit Enhancing Justice Delivery in Sierra Leone for more insights into Sierra Leone’s Justice Sector

SLPP’s Environmental Management Promises: Success or Failure?

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SLL

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April 13, 2023

SLPP's Environmental Management Promises -Climate Change

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SLPP's Environmental Management Promises: Success or Failure?

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SLPP’s Environmental Management Promises: Success or Failure?

By the Sierra Leone Live Team

The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) unveiled an expansive manifesto in 2018 that outlined their goals for enhancing the nation’s environmental management. Sierra Leone Live will look into whether the SLPP has succeeded in this respect as the June 24, 2023 elections draw near.

We now summarize the 2018 SLPP Manifesto’s section on environmental management.

Deforestation, biodiversity loss, climate change, poor sanitation and waste management, land degradation, soil nutrient depletion, and pollution from mining activities are just a few of the environmental problems Sierra Leone is dealing with.

Sustainable development, poverty reduction, health and education systems, and food security of the nation are all impacted by these problems. The Sustainable Development Goals are particularly at risk of climate change, which has a disproportionately negative impact on vulnerable groups like women and those living in fishing and farming communities.

The “New Direction” for environmental management outlined in the SLPP Manifesto focuses on four key areas:

Ecosystem Protection,
Environmental Governance,
Sustainably managing forest resources, and
Environmental Education.

Ecosystem Protection: The manifesto outlined plans to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots, as well as to ratify and uphold the terms of various environmental and climate change conventions. It also called for the completion of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) by major mining companies and industrial facilities. It also stressed the promotion of energy use and conservation and the importance of environmental issues in land allocation decision-making procedures.

Environmental Governance: The SLPP committed to reviewing the 2010 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act, amending many policies to include measures to mitigate land degradation, observing industrial compliance with environmental laws, and establishing independent agencies for meteorology and disaster management. A flood risk management strategy, a strategy and policy for combating climate change, and ensuring environmental sustainability across sectors were also among its objectives. The party also proposed A National Environment Fund and an environmental court.

Developing a National Program for Regenerating and Shared Management of Forest Cover and Related Products, Providing Alternatives to Wood and Biomass Products for Energy Sources, Operationalizing a Sustainable Financing Mechanism for Carbon Trade, and Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships for Forest Conservation are some commitments made by the SLPP to sustainably manage forest resources. They sought to strengthen the Forestry Division’s capabilities and update the 2015 Forestry and Wildlife Acts.

Environmental Education: The SLPP committed to stepping up its information and education efforts to discourage actions that hurt the environment and to support the inclusion of environmental education in curricula at schools, colleges, and universities.

A detailed photo of the effects of climate changei n Sierra Leone

As the elections get closer, Sierra Leone Live is committed to looking into how the SLPP is doing regarding keeping its environmental management promises. Our unbiased assessment will offer perceptions of the advancements accomplished as well as areas needing more focus.

Stay tuned for a thorough analysis of the SLPP’s performance in achieving the lofty objectives outlined in its 2018 manifesto.

Climate Change and Sierra Leone: Also Check Un.org

Evaluation of the SLPP’s ICT Infrastructure Development Progress as the Elections Approach

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SLL

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April 8, 2023

Evaluating SLPP's Progress in Developing ICT Infrastructure

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Evaluation of the SLPP's ICT Infrastructure Development Progress as the Elections Approach

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Evaluation of the SLPP’s ICT Infrastructure Development Progress as the Elections Approach

By the Sierra Leone Live Team.

The 2018 SLPP Manifesto acknowledged the significance of ICT (Information, Communications, and Technology) infrastructure development in Sierra Leone. The manifesto emphasized the critical role that ICT plays in enhancing human life, fostering economic growth, and boosting a nation’s competitiveness. As the elections on June 24, 2023 approach, Sierra Leone Live is committed to investigating whether the SLPP has accomplished its stated goals.

Despite having a monopoly in the sector, Sierratel, the state-owned telecommunications company, had performed poorly over the years, according to the manifesto’s analysis of the situation. The manifesto highlighted the rapid decline of landline telecommunications technology and the ascendance of mobile networks. With fiber optic cables in the country in 2013, the manifesto expected a substantial decrease in communication costs and continued expansion of the sector.

The manifesto identified several obstacles, such as political interference, ineffective regulation, and a lack of transparency in the telecommunications industry. The increasing demand of the younger generation for data bandwidth and real-time communication with their global peers was also identified as a challenge.

To address these challenges, the SLPP’s New Direction proposed several measures, including depoliticizing the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), liberalizing the sector, providing good regulation and an enabling business environment, establishing an Electronic Governance system, and expanding public access to ICT, especially for the rural poor. In addition, the manifesto emphasized the significance of science education, community radio stations, and ICT equipment availability incentives.

Sierra Leone Live will examine the following aspects as part of our investigation into the SLPP’s progress in developing ICT infrastructure:

NATCOM’s efficiency and independence: Has the SLPP successfully depoliticized NATCOM, allowing it to carry out its duties effectively and efficiently?
Sector liberalization and regulation: What steps have been taken to liberalize the telecommunications sector, and has the regulatory environment been improved to stimulate the growth of the sector?
Electronic Governance System: Has the SLPP implemented an Electronic Governance system to electronically manage government operations?
Public access to ICT: Have measures been taken to increase public access to ICT, especially in rural areas, and to provide computer training and facilities in public libraries, schools, and other educational institutions?
Community radio stations and ICT equipment availability: Has the SLPP encouraged the establishment of community radio stations and provided incentives for ICT equipment availability?
Science education and technical workforce development: What targeted policies have been implemented to promote science education in schools and colleges, and have they resulted in a growing pool of technical and scientific labour?
Broadband access and rural telecommunications: Has the SLPP enhanced broadband access throughout the nation and enhanced rural telecommunications, customer choice, and affordability?

In the coming weeks, Sierra Leone Live will publish a comprehensive and unbiased report on the SLPP’s performance in developing ICT infrastructure, shedding light on the party’s success in addressing the challenges outlined in its 2018 manifesto.

Assessing the SLPP’s Economic Transformation Promises as the Elections Near

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SLL

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April 6, 2023

Assessing the SLPP's Economic Transformation - Poor neighbourhood

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Assessing the SLPP's Economic Transformation Promises as the Elections Near

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Assessing the SLPP’s Economic Transformation Promises as the Elections Near.

By the Sierra Leone Live Team.

As the elections on June 24, 2023, in Sierra Leone approach, it is essential to evaluate the performance of the incumbent Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in fulfilling its campaign promises. Sierra Leone Live (SierraLeoneLive.com) will now focus on “Transforming the Economy” as stated on page 9 of Part II of the 2018 SLPP Manifesto. We are currently investigating the performance of the SLPP and will produce an unbiased report on whether the party has accomplished its stated objectives.

The 2018 SLPP Manifesto emphasized the significance of economic transformation, recognizing that both human and infrastructure development, as well as the strengthening of governance structures, require funding. The manifesto acknowledges Sierra Leone’s vast natural resources but emphasizes the country’s failure to prudently use these resources to develop its human capital and infrastructure. The 2014 Ebola epidemic revealed the country’s inadequate health infrastructure and emphasized the need for a robust economic transformation.

To determine whether the SLPP fulfilled its pledges, it is necessary to examine the specific economic policies and strategies implemented during the party’s tenure, as well as the results and strategies. Important factors to consider include:

Diversification of the economy: Has the SLPP been successful in reducing reliance on extractive industries and broadening the economic base to include agriculture, tourism, and other industries?
Investment in human capital: What policies and programs have been implemented to improve education, healthcare, and social services, and have they resulted in measurable improvements in the quality of life for the people of Sierra Leone?
Infrastructure development: Has the SLPP invested in the expansion and modernization of vital infrastructure, such as roads, ports, and energy facilities, to stimulate economic growth and enhance living conditions?
Strengthening governance structures: Have steps been taken to improve transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, which are essential for fostering economic growth and luring investment?
Fiscal management: How has the SLPP managed public finances, particularly in terms of revenue mobilization, expenditure control, and debt management, to ensure that resources are utilized efficiently and effectively for the population’s benefit?

As the elections are near, SierraLeoneLive.com will investigate these facets, comparing the SLPP’s performance to its manifesto pledges. This investigation will provide the electorate with a fact-based evaluation of the party’s accomplishments and shortcomings, allowing them to make informed voting decisions.

Noting that the evaluation of the SLPP’s performance in transforming the economy is a complex task involving multiple factors and requiring a nuanced understanding of the interdependence of economic and social policies is essential. In addition, it is crucial to acknowledge external factors, such as global economic trends and unanticipated crises, that may have impacted the party’s ability to fulfil its promises.

SierraLeoneLive.com will produce an impartial and comprehensive report on assessing the SLPP’s Economic Transformation in the coming weeks, shedding light on whether the party has fulfilled its promises to transform the economy for the betterment of the Sierra Leonean people.