Building the bridge of national trust

Building the bridge of national trust

Building the bridge of national trust

Building the bridge of national trust

THE ROAD TO A MIDDLE CLASS IN SIERRA LEONE

submitted on June 14, 2009 1:18 PM EST
Name:
donald cole
Email Address:
donald6236@att.net
Comment:
hi mohamed,i read your whole article.i must first of all tell you that it was well written.if fact i was just asking your brother about you on saturday 06/13/09 @ a cook-out.please continue to do what you are doing.good job. i will keep in touch. peace, sincerely, donald

COMMENT ON ARTICLE-THE NEW PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE

The new path to public servicewritten by Fenthi, July 12, 2009
There are some of us that are almost getting tired of these theoretical outlays of Sierra Leone's shortcomings.Sierra Leone will never develop or significantly improve on its present poor standing in development with the help of appeals alone. A country where corruption is almost becoming a religion, especially in the civil service, and for that matter in all works of life, can not just make it in the pace of time we would have wished for our country. Some bit of a radical leadership is really needed. The anti- corruption commission should be given more teeth, should be supported by a well paid, two to thee tier system of an anti corruption inteligence sevice that can lead to the implimentation of clearly visible purnishments as deterrents. This is what the Government of Flt. Lt. J.J. Rollings instituted during the PNDC and NDC days in Ghana, the result of which is one of the reasons why President Obama decided to select Ghana for his first Sub-saharan african visit as USA president. Our opposition should learn that after loosing an election, constructive opposition and cooperation with the ruling government in achieving clearly set goals towards achieving national development is what is necessary and not a total determination to make fruitful governance difficult and almost impossible through defamation, blackmail and sabotage.This is not the stable democracy the US President mentioned in Accra. A President Obama will definitely never select an african country for his next visit, where all these characteristics are prevailent.

THE NEW PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE

THE NEW PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE
Written by Mohamed C. Bah Guest Writer Friday, 10 July 2009 15:01



In this era of the twitter generation,we need a new political formula,a good nationalistic orientation and fundamentally a different approach to the way we govern and how we solve national problems in Sierra Leone. Enough to citizens or elected officers who believe that contributing to the socio-economic developments of our society is to destroy existing progress or blocking the good works of other patriotic citizens for political necessities. Enough to the hate culture, where those who genuinely work to promote the welfare of our nation are targeted and destroyed. A new line should be drawn on the sand that there are differences between those who faithfully serve the people and those who frivolously engage in warrant less infighting at government level which leads only to the bridge of nowhere.
Do we really believe that the self-defeating concept of “individualism” would ever reform our health and educational institutions or build roads and take us to the path of self-sufficiency? Why is that many of us do not support brilliant initiatives and ideas that are not our makings or choose to contribute in our own little ways for the good of Sierra Leone? When are we going to develop the culture of team work and pro-activism over the impulsive thinking of always looking at what is wrong? Infact,when we look at what everyone seek to accomplish,we can see clearly that the easiest and convenient way to succeed is to solve our problems together.
SEARCH AND DESTROY
Enough to the politics of “search and destroy” the numerous half-completed donor funded projects that always display the mind set of some of the “old political mavericks” who deceived the people by their calculated actions of institutional mismanagements. Enough to the troubled political brinkmanship of an older generations of politicians,who time and again have defrauded the people by selfishly promoting their own personal agendas. Enough to the poor “maintenance culture”, where public properties are not regularly maintain and protected to keep its values, structural integrity and architectural beauty. Enough to the politics of “divide and conquer”,where the same people are separated into tribes and regions, class and status, friends and enemies.
The citizens of Sierra Leone have been given many reasons not to believe in the ability of government to deliver public services and improve their fragile living conditions. As a matter of fact,life for the average Sierra Leonean have worsen over the past decades with little signs of improvements. And campaign promises have been broken by one political party after another. Is politics in Sierra Leone a spectacular sport or a life time opportunity to transform a nation from the dungeon of poverty into a haven of human prosperity? Is public service a noble profession called the absolute“service to mankind?”
Indeed,slow progress have been the political play books of our national parties ever since we raised our flag of freedom. It is the pulse of our political life in Sierra Leone today. If you are doing the same thing over and over with no measured results and what you are doing is causing “more pain and no gain”,i think it is time to stop the repetitive cycle of deception. It is time to charter a new course and pursue a new concept of good governance while putting “county first” over the “what-is-in-for-me” mentality. Rightly so: The institutions of government is not a wall street investment center, where the motive of operation is profit driven and the overriding goal is wealth creation. Government is for the people, by the people and of the people. Public office is a sacred platform, where good citizens serve their people with honor and distinction, where the core principles of changing the lives of ordinary citizens becomes the enduring legacy. Thus,the new political game-changer must be a public service ideology that gears towards improving the socio-economic well being of Sierra Leoneans and not working for the self-interest of parties, regions, friends and families.
DREAM VS REALITY
Like most Sierra Leoneans, I wonder that day when will our country utilized its minerals and natural wealth to pay for national development programs. I wonder when will Sierra Leone dismantle the “life-support machine” of multi-donor dollars and formulate,develop and independently fund national priority projects. I imagine a Sierra Leone, solvent with surplus mineral revenues to fund completely a full electricity or water supply projects. I think of a young nation,where every Sierra Leoneans enjoys a quality and decent education ,one that broaden their imagination and expand their capacity of nation building.
Indeed,i pray for a Sierra Leone where the sick have an opportunity to avoid premature death sentence,where access to quality health care and preventive medicine are available to every one. I dream of a modern super high ways and railroad system that connects towns and cities, where good commerce and tourism flourish to every corner of Sierra Leonean society. I imagine a nation where its people don't have to live in a constant strain of inadequate water supply system, when its is even surrounded with abundant water resources. Like most Sierra Leoneans,I dream of a nation, where job opportunity defines the new middle class structure and where the median income of Sierra Leoneans exceeds all of sub Sahara Africa.
THE CHALLENGES
While, I am hopeful of a Sierra Leone that will be the fastest growing nation in Africa,i believe that the common enemy that impedes our national progress are our negative thought process, our misguided intentions, our character of poor statesmanship and our inability to build a team of good public servants around the common purpose of nation building. Thus, a call to public service is an urgent reality, one that every patriotic-loving Sierra Leonean must consider and be willing to do. It starts with our communities, our towns, our cities and eventually our country. It begins when we answer the question of what President John F. Kennedy posed many years ago: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” This attitude of public service must be the new thinking and behavior, especially among our youth population,who by design are the future leaders of tomorrow.
I have long wonder how can we be endowed with vast mineral and natural resources but yet considered very poor on the UN human indexes? How can we have so many citizens who go to bed hungry every day,millions of children who have never been vaccinated against diseases and heart attack victims whose chances of survival are at the mercy of destiny. How can we live in a nation and a culture that does not always value the physically disabled or mental impaired?
We should not be ashame to identify our challenges and predicaments as long as we are willing to act in good faith to solving them together. And we must not ignore the fact that our government is doing its best and some how making some modest gains in other areas of national developments. But the work is far from over and it takes all the political leaders including our citizens to do their parts in building a better Sierra Leone.
George Admittedly,a Ghanaian economist clearly defined the two generations of leaders in Africa. In his lectures,he categorized the “hippo generation” and the “cheetah generation.” Interestingly, the hippo generation are the old ruling class who have enriched themselves from the nation's coffers,who sees Africa's problems as the root causes of colonialism and imperialism. The cheetah generation are the new breeds of Africans, who see salvation and solutions to Africa's problems through self-reliance approach,independent thinking and constructive political management. The cheetah generation also believe in accountability, democracy,a corrupt free and a transparent society, where justice is protected and valued.
PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE
And the question now:Do we have many cheetahs in Sierra Leone?Indeed, the latter should be the new path to public service in our beloved homeland. First,we must learn to work together for the common good of promoting the well being of our people. To just consider those who disagree with our political philosophy as “mortal enemies” disables the engine of progress and put us on the “reverse gear” of political confrontation and economic stagnation. And to just believe that effective opposition is to say “NO” without alternative solutions are disingenuous and counterproductive. We must be the guardians of justice and freedom through our patriotic works and compassionate relationship with our fellow citizens.
We must change the flamboyant “egoist-culture” of thinking that everything runs through our emotional hemisphere. Public service is never about the person but rather about what the person do for the public. We must not be emotionally misguided to believe that we are superior than others because of our class status or positions of wealth. We must not ignore the common facts that we share the same hope and fear, passion and determination to building a Sierra Leone of peace ad prosperity.
We must focus on human development initiatives,community empowerment programs, restructuring of our political systems, replacing Aid with trade, establishing a transparent financial system and breaking away from the cycle of poverty. These are the greatest challenges we face as a nation,not the egoistic warfare that rages like a “California wild fire” in our local communities, social organizations and even the hallways of our government. When we bring down one Sierra Leonean because of ethnic,gender or professional differences,Sierra Leone loses the opportunity of benefiting from the gifts and talents of its own citizens or nationals.
Furthermore,the character of honesty and integrity in public life should be the new “map quest” on our long political journey. Public service demands a high level of moral and ethical standards. Like any civil society, government represents the mandate of the people and operates under the constitutional laws of the land. The constitution defines the power and functions of each organs of government, rule of conducts and manner of operation,how justice is dispense and the right of citizens under the law.
For decades now, we have generally being a “non-conformist society” where we disobey the laws that are design to create fairness,orderliness and sanity. Often, we have created so many short cuts and undermined the moral standing of the law by either buying our way out of our transgressions or promoting the pseudo-social doctrines of tribalism and nepotism for political expediency. We cannot build national unity,inspire a generation of Sierra Leoneans and create a lawful society, if we break the laws or allow others to become habitual law-breakers. No modern society have enjoyed shared progress with a system and people who recklessly do not value, respect and obey the laws that keeps them functional and cohesive.

CONCLUSION
Finally,the question of nationalism and patriotism lies at the cross road between the path of public service and those who wear the “wolf garments” of destroying the future of Sierra Leone. Imagine a Sierra Leone where ever citizen gives her the most cherishing love by investing their talents and capitals, contributing in building dams, roads, schools and bridges through the tax revenue system. Imagine a government that manage and distribute its revenues to public service sectors in a transparent and accountable environment,where our justice system takes a strong stand against corruption and the state of lawlessness. Imagine, citizens who take pride in their community and nation by obeying the laws,performing their civic duties and paying taxes. Imagine, politicians who value the legacy they will leave behind over the vanity and material wealth their public offices brings. What an end to a successful journey we could have reached since the dawn of April 27, 1961.
Indeed,Sierra Leone needs a new moral vision,a major political change in how public service is viewed as a profession. It is not about access to fame and fortune,but the opportunity to share the gift of human love, the power to change the future of a generation and the self-fulfillment such lofty mission brings to the soul of mankind. If Sierra Leone is serious about making giant progress in this era of the Internet,we must unconditionally love our country and love the people of Sierra Leone. Then, graciously take the majestic part of public service that leads us to the monumental palace of accomplishments and achievements for the people. For now,it is true that the old system has not work.

Posted by Daniel Lavin, RPCV, on 9 June 2009 at 17h21
I’ve been traveling and working in Sierra Leone since 1988. My original experiences in places like Freetown, Makeni and Bo were to see ex-pats and NGO workers and a few wealthy Sierra Leoneans enjoying restaurants and services, with the bulk of the citizens only observing. In the last few years, something amazing has happend. I went into a restaurant in Freetown, walking in to the room to see every table taken by local people. This wasn’t a special occassion. They were simply having lunch and were heading back to work. They were dressed professionally, and very comfortable in this new world. With my eyes open, I started noticing the changes around me. Expectations and reality have changed in Sierra Leone.
See the work we are doing at http://cipsierraleone.blogspot.com

The road to a middle class in Sierra Leone
- Monday 8 June 2009.
By Mohamed C. Bah, EX-President Sierra Leone Community Atlanta, USA.
"Anyone who has struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor." Said a famous African-American writer James Baldwin. The road to a middle class demography in Sierra Leone is an inevitable journey that must be taken if our democratic nation is to transcend from the colossal mountain of poverty into the high beautiful plains of human prosperity. If Sierra Leone is to take a unique and bold approach against poverty,not the poverty reduction programs that is just a “program-in-theory”,the urgency to building a strong middle class society must be the new thinking in this age of global competition.
CYCLE OF POVERTY
After 48 years since independence,the faces of poverty have been a disturbing landmark on the socio-economic lives of millions of our people. This abhorrent and undesirable way of life have bought an untold suffering on the mental,physical and social well being of Sierra Leoneans. Today,many of our fellow citizens are grossly neglected,under-served and poorly represented in their common pursuit to seeking a better future for themselves and their families. Many are unable to fulfill what Robert Kennedy once said “i dream of the things that never were and ask why not.”
While, there are hopeful signs that Sierra Leone is emerging and growing to meet the broader aspirations of the people,it is just a revealing truth that poverty is so deeply entrenched and more visible in our society today. That,as good as,the government is working to influence changes,more needs to be done to radically transform Sierra Leone from a poorly managed and corrupt society into a viable,vibrant and progressive nation. Sierra Leone cannot afford to live another 48 years of the same cruel,unnecessary and unjust human suffering.
CONCEPT OF MIDDLE CLASS
To understand the concept of a middle class society,it is profoundly significant to see how modern economies such as the USA, Europe, Canada and other developed nations are structured, how the operates and how this demographic group have created the source of wealth,increased government revenues and stimulated the economies of these countries. Without a strong middle class, the financial engine of any nation will never gather the speed of national progress nor the traveling distance to alleviating this shameful condition of poverty.
The concept of a middle class is fundamentally rooted in the foundation of peace and prosperity through education,medicine,technology and economic investments. It is where countries like Sierra Leone becomes the hub for economic and political developments,where the democratic institutions of transparency and justice are protected and valued and where good governance are manifested in governments ability to increase its tax revenues,triples it accumulated foreign reserves through mineral revenues and increase its human capital. Thus, a new middle class culture with greater socio-economic latitude must be the new wind of change that should be blowing across our promising nation.
THE BENCHMARKS
The philosopher, Confucius succinctly describe wealth disparity in this way: “In a country well governed,poverty is something to be ashamed of and in a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.” Any government without a middle class “agenda” that does not find a strategic path way to building the educational capacity and economic independence for its people are bound to widen the gap between the few greedy rich and the depressively poor population.
Indeed,such is the confluence of events in Sierra Leone today; a nation paralyzed by greed and corruption,a politics driven by fear over hope and a system that rewards the “anything goes mentality.” The few public servants,who have amassed tainted wealth from the vaults of our nation’s treasury are artificially some of the so-called “middle class” group. And the most vulnerable among us are the poor who seem to constantly wonder when will their long journey of poverty ends. While the privilege "few" have built mansions along the coastal lines,the common citizens are disproportionately subjected to poor housing conditions,little or no food to eat and no hope for the future.
The burden of poverty is a moral issue and the overwhelming need to tackling this man-made disaster must be politically, socially and spiritually compelling. Realistically, the bench marks to determine a middle class category are: income level, tax ratio,educational standards,belief in the “bourgeoisie” values such as housing or property ownership,strong purchasing power,stock market investments,small business establishment and job security such as professional doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
DISCRETIONARY INCOME
In February 2009, according to the Economist magazine, it is believe that over half the world’s population now belongs to the middle class, as a result of rapid growth in emerging countries. It characterized the middle class as having a reasonable amount of discretionary income, so that they do not live from hand to mouth as the poor do, and defined it as beginning at the point where people have roughly a third of their income left for discretionary spending after paying for basic food and shelter.
Subsequently,this allows people to buy consumer goods, improve their health care, and provide for their children’s education. Most of the emerging group consists of people who are middle-class by the standards of the developing world but not the rich one, since their money incomes do not match developed countries level, but the percentage of it which is discretionary does.
The Economist predicted that the surge across the poverty line should continue for a couple of decades and the global middle class will grow enormously between now and 2030. This may have profound social consequences, since the middle classes which emerged in Europe and America tend to be much better informed and politically active than the poorer classes. This must be the future,Sierra Leone, should work towards in a collective and significant way.
ROAD TO A MIDDLE CLASS
Does the road to a middle class society runs through the heartland of Sierra Leone?From an analytical perspective,poverty is a perception, a thinking and a state of mind. For Sierra Leone to begin the journey to a middle class society,we need to change the culture of sabotaging good works,the obsession of working against national progress and the deceptive physcology of “wishing-you-will-fail” syndrome. Collectively, we must create a just and equitable Sierra Leone for everyone. Government must understand the magnitude and serious obligations bestow on them to promoting the welfare of its citizens. And public service must not be consumed by the politics of confrontation and division or the mindset of everybody is my enemy if you don’t believe in my party or belong to my so-called “party club.”Sierra Leoneans must understand that only through taken personal responsibility of our destiny and working with our government,can we move our country from a state of poverty and into a land of abundant wealth and collective prosperity.
Indeed,real meaningful progress comes from an inclusive leadership,one that embraces a team of diverse backgrounds and the participation of principled citizens who shared common objective of a prosperous Sierra Leone. History reminds us that a nation and its leaders are remembered for their positive impact on people and society,not their personal fortunes or the emotional and professional challenges they faced with those whom they fundamentally disagree with.
EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY
More importantly,we must import technology,expand our basic infrastructures,reduce health care disparity and create income for our people through job markets and small business ownership. The need to restructure and revamp our education system is long over due. Government must invest in education by allocating substantial funding to accommodate the the growth of new technology and labor skills required to be competitive in today’s global market. Merely reading the history of “the “Songhai empire” or knowing the “molecules of the universe”,as important as they may be, are insufficient to creating a supply and demand work force in Sierra Leone.
We must reform existing universities and build new colleges of engineering,computer information,allied science and medicine in Sierra Leone. These learning institutions must be modernize and streamline to train highly qualified professionals,who are ready to join the community of the middle class family. It is a shame to have more Sierra Leonean doctors practicing medicine in Chicago (USA) than in the homeland.
CONCLUSION
Furthermore, we cannot grow a middle class when our towns and cities are without access to electricity,water supply,poor feeder roads,inadequate financial infrastructures and weak business protection laws. Vietnam had a history of a long brutal war and massive poverty rates some decades ago,but now enjoys a modernized electricity,good commerce,better infrastructures and increasing foreign investments. They have made themselves the “little giant of Asia.” with their source of exports and transparent democratic institutions.
However,despite the poverty and the lack of governing resources we face today,i still see a more hopeful and promising future for Sierra Leone. The road to a middle class is just miles away from within reach if only we have the political will and determination to bring about the changes we wish to see. I am convinced that our nation will rise to meet the challenges and the new opportunities of the 21st century. And with great optimism, Sierra Leone will soon take the lead of becoming the “new economic giant” of sub Sahara Africa, thereby building a peaceful and more prosperous future for every Sierra Leonean and the rest of Africa.

Holding our Government Accountable
- Wednesday 6 May 2009.
By Mohamed C. Bah - Ex-President Sierra Leone Community, Atlanta, GA.
The government Budget and Statement of Economic/Financial policies for the financial year 2009 delivered by the former Minister of Finance and Economic Development,Mr. David O. Carew last November in the chamber of parliament offers a grim reminder of our nation’s troubling economy,poor financial infrastructures,under-performing ministries,some public institutions and the inadequate fiscal/budgetary remedies to make them corruption-free,transparent and financially viable. I do, however, agree that the global rise in food and fuel prices undermined government’s effort in preserving macroeconomic stability,controlling higher inflationary rates and building a strong foreign reserves for the country.
Impressively, it was refreshing to note that the Executive Board of the IMF gave Sierra Leone a favorable ratings in terms of its overall performance in implementing some prudent fiscal and monetary policies
towards the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). This review means, government is showing some good intention to enhance the growth prospect of the economy and improve the socio-economic well-being of our people. Even so, the need for broader and consistent reforms in budgetary planning,public procurements system,public accounting and expenditure tracking,internal and external audit systems with a strong anti-corruption actions remains to be seen on an implementationary level.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION
I found it very ironic that Sierra Leone is moving forward with the commitment to integrate with the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) and the 2005 Banjul action plan for the introduction of a common currency by December 1, 2009.As ambitious such regional efforts are, we need first of all to rebuild our weak economy, focus on adequately delivering public services,industrialize our work force to create jobs and grow a market oriented economy. Then, we can sit on these “regionalization conferences” and take an active role. Like the African Union (AU) and other African Regional groups, the failures of its member nations to pay their dues have always rendered these institutions bankrupt only to rely on international funding. Thus,a regional integrated market, free tariff system and new trade policies among West African nations, should be the “baby steps” approach to the realization of a common currency.
DOMESTIC REVENUES
On the other hand, according to the budgetary report by the Minister of finance,Mr. David O. Carew,Sierra Leone’s national revenue including grants for the financial year 2009 is projected at Le 1.2 trillion. Conversely,total expenditures and net lending is projected at Le 1.49 trillion (21.9% of GDP).It is numerically clear, from an economic standard,that Sierra Leone is spending more money than it can generate. The most disturbing components of the expenditure units are: the cost of financing domestic borrowing (Le 127.6 billion),interest payments on international loans (Le12.9 billion),Ministries and Developmental Agencies (MDA)’s procurement expenditures (not specified), non-salary and capital expenditures(Le 460.2 billion). These huge expenditures significantly shrinks the national revenue, while cost cutting strategies are never applied to save money on national priorities like energy,mining, infrastructures and Fisheries. Additionally,the national budget deficit, including grants is projected at Le 236.8 billion(3.5% GDP).
Unfortunately,Sierra Leone’s budget deficit would not be reduced or eliminated by trimming wasteful spending or borrowing from our national savings or foreign reserves,it would be finance largely by foreign loans and grants amounting to Le 150 billion(2.2% GDP).Indeed,our nation is heavily burden an dependent on donor money instead of maximizing on our revenue generating sectors like mining.agriculture,fisheries and forestry. Like income taxes,customs and excises,road user chargers and other new tax system,we can increase our revenue potentials without “robbing Peter to pay Paul”.
UNDER-PERFORMING INSTITUTIONS
Indeed,most Sierra Leoneans will find it mind-troubling to believe that mining revenues last year, was Le 8.9 billion, MDA’s was Le 7.6 billion, income taxes was Le7.5 billion,Custom and excise taxes was Le 13.6 billions and just to name a few. Let me briefly profile some of the few public enterprises responsible for the delivery of public utility services including electricity, water,transportation and port services that are under-performing agencies. At the end of August 2008,total revenue collected by National Power Authority (NPA) amounted to Le 87.6 billion while total expenditure was Le 90.7 billion resulting in a net operating loss of Le3.1 billion. The Sierra Leone Port Authority (SLPA) made a loss of Le1.14 billion in 2007 but subsequently made an operating profit of Le 2.1 billion in the first half of 2008.The Sierra Leone State Lottery made a loss of Le136.9 million while the Sierra Leone Postal Services incurred a loss of Le 34.1 million and Sierra Leone Airport Authority had a shortfall of Le3.6 billion in 2008.
PROMISING AGENCIES
However, Guma Valley made a projected profit of Le 1.4 billion in 2008,National Insurance Trust increased it gains to Le 780 million,Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation(SLRTC) estimated profit was Le 604.9 million. Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) made a profit of Le 4.4 billions while Sierra Leone Commercial Bank earned a profit of Le7.1 billion with a 21% growth in customer deposits.
Despite the good news in some of these public institutions,the biggest challenges affecting our national revenues and budgetary implementation is the culture of CORRUPTION. Many government ministries are not following the basic guidelines of the procurement system by engaging in contractual obligations without the Ministry of Finance’s approvals. There are problems of budgetary planning and monitoring,inexperience accounting practices,poor financial management system,lack of public expenditure tracking,no accounting and reporting,no internal and external audit to obtain data explanations with an analysis of activities or transactions.
For example,when the auditor General was directed to audit, Ministries, and Developmental Agencies of the large sums of claims owed to private contractors from 2005 to 2007 in the amount of Le 85.4 billion, her submitted report concluded that only Le 53 billion was deem eligible for payment. A discrepancy of
Le 32.4 was calculated as money that could not be verified or accounted for by every accounting
principles and standards.
BUDGET ALLOCATION
I was deeply worried about government budget allocation to priority sectors such as education,health and agriculture which did not receive an increase funding level as top categories. Energy and Water Supply, Infrastructure and Transportation are necessary priorities, but the budget funding are inadequate and did not meet the scale of their public demands nor the cost of operational services. Inevitably, these agencies are liable to under perform and becomes a hallmarks of another “ failed government institutions”.
If the key objectives of the 2009 budget of Sierra Leone are to pursue a prudent fiscal and proactive monetary policies,to accelerate economic growth by investing in agriculture and infrastructures and improve the delivery of basic public services,then government needs to know how to better manage it finances without living from paycheck to paycheck from the international multi-donors. The welfare of Sierra Leoneans would not improve by carbon copy policies and programs that are never seriously implemented with measurable results. Poverty can be reduced by sound fiscal policies,transparent financial institutions that keep tracking of its activities, a government that build a national savings account or foreign reserves more than the $211.4 million it has in 2008 and the “love-for-country mentality” by public servants,who understands that the people’s money is not a personal checking account.
CONCLUSION
Until,our national leaders accept the responsibility that: we the people “must hold them accountable”to making Sierra Leone as good as its promises. That everyday,no Sierra Leonean should have to go to bed hungry or live in a nation where their potentials may never be realize or an unborn child who may never walk on the face of this earth because of a deficient maternal delivery system or a struggling family who may never hold their grand children because of a low life expectancy rate and a promising people who unwillingly do not belief in the greatness of its nation, because of the acute shortages of legacy-builders. Until,those who are privilege to dictating the future of our nation knows that history would not be kind to them if they do nothing to improve the socio-economic well-being of the people,Sierra Leone will continue to grow a balloon deficit that will affect the functioning of public institutions and the government as a whole .
If our goal as citizens of Sierra Leone is to help our government by becoming “conscious objectors” and leading the way by telling the truth-Sierra Leone must reinvent itself from what President Barak Obama called a “ change from top to bottom”.Only when we become true to how we spend the people’s money,true to how we share their struggles,true to how we stand to change their lives and true to why we choose to serve them, we may be -those that occupies the throne of power- committing a grave mistake of depriving a nation and its citizens into enjoying what one of the architect of the American Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson philosophically described as mankind’s gift from God that we are endowed: “ with certain inalienable rights,that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
What do you think about this article? Go to my blog: http://newsierraleone.blogspot.com.
Blog on other articles: Is Sierra Leone an ethno centric nation? Is Sierra Leone winning or losing the war on corruption?What legacy are we building for the new generation, Sierra Leone needs trade not aid......etc E-mail:mcbah4440@yahoo.com.
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What legacy are we building for the young generation ?
Contributed by Mohamed.C.Bah : Guest Writer : Ex-President Sierra Leone Community, Atlanta, GA
Friday, 20 February 2009
Legacy is a historic footprints of our long standing public works. It is a log book that records the personal journey we took
on life's highway and how we amazingly traveled to reach to the destination of serving others for the common good of
citizenship and love for our country. In the process of building our legacy, we may encounter the challenges of "selfless
love", the agony and burden that comes with it but at the same time, discover the passion and self- fulfillment of doing
good.
Others, through our works, may be inspired and motivated to relentlessly pursue our dreams by promoting the vision of a
better society, where people live together in the pursuit of peace and happiness.. The importance of legacy is not only
the tremendous and contagious effect it may have on the conscience of people, but the power it has on dictating the
course of history and raising the mantra of public service to the highest standard. Legacy, invariably,is a watchdog
against people who may seek political office to enrich themselves at the expense of public and government resources.
Indeed, when the desire to put the interest of the citizens are front and center,legacy becomes the driving force and the
ultimate political will to achieve basic human progress for Sierra Leoneans.
By and Large, where ever there is a legacy oriented society, a track record of national developments are inevitably
bound to take place on a maximum scale. Not only will succeeding generation benefit, but a "DNA" of a social and
political thread lines are establish in a distinctive pattern to show why we must advance the common well being of our
people. The United States, Europe, China and other developed nations are the melting pots of many legacy makers,
whose contributions of ingenuity and excellence followed the human trail of progress that subsequently made their
people the most prosperous in the world.
LEGACY BUILDERS
Do legacy build the person or do the person build the legacy?Generally, public service to the people of Sierra Leone
have been a failed phenomenon in terms of the overall impact of the general welfare and living condition of our people.
As good as the institution of government has been from ushering political independence to the creation of some small
basic infrastructures to the representation of our country as a sovereign entity,our governmental echelon have divided us
into a Northern and Southern hemisphere, incubated a culture of tribal discrimination, politicize the appointments of
public servants,presided over a non- transparent judicial system and alienated the masses into a gloomy future of
hopelessness. The inaction to fight against poverty have not only created human suffering, but have manifested a wide
spread culture of corruption.
The challenging question is: have public service in Sierra Leone model itself on the concept of raising the legacy bar so
high for the young generation that they have no choice but to be performance- driven or do many of our fellow citizens
still see "politics" as a road to wealth creation?Since the birth of our nation, over forty seven years ago, our new
generation have been grossly deprived and denied the opportunity to emulate those before them because of the
increasing shortages of "legacy builders" in Sierra Leone.
However,I am not alluding to the short history of our past presidents and national heroes alone, but a serious case study
and detail understanding of their works. Their accomplishments as well as their failures have not being incorporated,
studied and adapted into the main political frame work of today nor have our new generation absorbed the values and
purpose of public responsibilities. Service to our people have been relegated to a state of "plutocracy" and the nobility
associated with it have increasingly disappeared since the end of the Sir Milton Margai era.
Realistically,we have not recycle the polluted legacy of corruption and ineptitude into a new energy of building a political
climate, where the future of our people transcends our personal ambitions and loyalty. We have not applied the lessons
of promoting a legacy base on political and economic prosperity for our young generation. We have not even attempted
to learn from the mistakes of the past and exemplify a new way to change our society. If we have, to those who may
disagree, why do we still have a political structure that depends on "donor Aid'?Why do we have a system that has not
consistently deliver to the people?How effective have we been able to reduce corruption and mismanagements?Have we
being able to utilize and adequately manage our human and natural resources to advance the betterment of Sierra
Leoneans?
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Indeed, do we think that we can fight against corruption just by appointing an anti-corruption commission?When the living
standards of our police forces, civil servants and government officers are not improved,when their pay rates are not
adjusted to the current cost of living and paid regularly, when working conditions are deplorable and the resources to
perform their jobs are inadequate, when there are no ethical and policy compliance guide lines, the anti-corruption
commission or any apparatus of government entity, would always be a toothless bully dog that barks but does not bite.
The anti-corruption commission or any other investigative body would not be able to serve as legacy builders, nor the
effective enforcers of the law and neither the flag bearers of justice to the people.
HUMAN INDEX
I understand that some, who do not believe in divergent views, would question my writings, maybe, as too negatives and
unworthy. What they may fail to realize is that we can only find solutions by first of all, identifying and knowing the root
causes of our national problems. That small gains made,as encouraging as they may be, does not warrant a "no-criticism
approach' to our elected officers/governments. I am not asking for statistics of how the ratio of human index have
improved in Sierra Leone compared to the past years. Our dependency on the world financial institutions and the UN
poverty programs are not the long term and permanent solutions to our economic and political predicaments. We cannot
defined "progress" by what these institutions described and what relatively the poverty program we are classification into.
We can create our own dimension and standards by how much we have up lifted our people from the entrenched cycle
of poverty.
Since,our nation became independent,what tangible progress have we made on a substantial scale to alleviate poverty,
develop a quality and affordable health system,improve and expand our public infrastructures,provide a better
educational system,create jobs for millions of our people and making government a trusted partner in nation building. By,
honestly, answering a Yes or No to these questions, we can definitely measure the level of growth and progress we have
significantly made without any artificial standards. Even though, we have seen some few "national development"
initiatives, more needed to be done to keep up with the pace of population explosion and the global rising cost of living.
The philosopher, William Ellery Canning, beckoned us to practice "self-culture" a behavior of self- determination to help
ourselves rather than rely on others. Today,we are heavily addicted to the dependency of Aid or financial support from
the outside world. We have failed to design, develop and spearhead a home grown initiatives and public policies to
shape the destiny of our country. The late Sir Milton Margai was the only Prime Minister who practice William Canning's
doctrine of self-determination, by fighting for Sierra Leone's political independence. Since then, we have lost the battle of
economic independence from the West and the people of Sierra Leone are paying the price of human hardship every
single day and night. We have fallen further and further behind the industrialized world due to a decade old civil war that
was evil and unnecessary,poor governance from previous regimes,rampant corruption and the lack of pragmatic
leadership. Former President Siaka Stevens, with his legacy of corruption, seem to be the only President whose
infrastructural developments are still the old land marks of progress in Sierra Leone.
A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
Abraham Lincoln one said: “Public service is a noble profession”.Unfortunately, in Sierra Leone, the legacy
of our past political dynasties have been built around falsehood and empty promises. In retrospect, we have not build a
legacy driven politics that would shiver the spines and impact the souls of the young generation to do great things for our
nation. Rather, we have taken away the nobility and prestige associated with the value of serving others. Sierra
Leoneans have been immersed into perceiving public service as a "mining field” and a catalyst to wealth building.
Many are overshadowed by the old adage of the "do-as-the Romans-do" mentality. And evidently,only few public
servants, business leaders and other working professionals are making a giant stride towards building a legacy of good
works to our fellow citizens.
Sierra Leone could be the "New York" and "Berlin" of Africa if our political philosophy hangs on a legacy driven culture.
That Sierra Leone would become a center of economic development where the democratic institution of judicial
transparency, investment in education health and technology would take an impressive foot hold, if we model our
governing methods on the premise of working for the common good of everyone, including our grand children. Our
struggling citizens would not have to live in darkness,poor housing, inadequate health care and the lack of hope for the
future.
A LIBRARY OF LEGACY
Can a good legacy trigger more followers? Are we leaving something for the young generation? Today, Sierra Leone
cannot boost of even a small or modest Presidential Library, where our future generation can study and emulate both
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their accomplishments and failures. If we documented and archived the works (good and bad) of these notable leaders,
we can understand how to proceed in a strategic way to solving repeated problems and challenges that have affected
our people for four decades now. Our young people would be motivated to take a new approach and better insight on
how to steer our nations to the mighty shores of prosperity..
I must,however, commend President Koroma for recognizing the rights of former President Kabba to live and move freely
in Sierra Leone. The significance of such good will gestures demonstrated a new political civility that past Presidents
could still be assets to the future of the country. Jimmy Carter, for instance, was not an effective President while in office,
but when he left, he made an indelible impact around the world.
From a patriotic stand point, i am promoting the concept of a "legacy culture" in our political system-one that influence us
to perform our sacred obligation and commitment to our people whenever we are trusted and privilege to represent them.
We cannot educate a generation of new leaders if we don't have role models in our country. When government does not
work, the welfare and livelihood of our fellow citizens are in peril. The future of our young generation are sadly reduced to
a world of inadequacy and disparity. The only way they can believe in serving a greater cause is: we must reinvent a new
political dimension which is to leave a master piece legacy trail for them to follow.
Until, we begin to confront our fears and guilts that we are doing less or nothing to change the future of our nation,that
we are on the cross road between promoting the principles of a legacy culture or working for our self-interest and political
ambitions. Until we become sensitive to addressing the plight of the suffering masses and knowing that we cannot build a
legacy by flooding government with cronies and party loyalists, that we cannot operate government through work shops
and conferences;that we just cannot wait for donor-money to run the machinery of government. There can be “no
legacy” in an environment where those in power do not show compassion and selfless love to those who are
voiceless and powerless.
CONCLUSION
However,our fledgling democracy under President Koroma are showing some signs that they are willing to learn and
respond to some formidable challenges. The implementation of the performance contracts and regular reviews with
ministers about their goals are steps in the right direction. The signing into law of the anti-corruption bill and President
Koroma's declaration of his personal asset are high marks of a promising future. The improvement in power provision,
free press and the overhaul of various ministerial responsibilities demonstrates that President Koroma may be a legacy
conscious public servant.
On the other hand, our present government seem to be struggling in tackling multiple challenges. Inexperience, the lack
of resources, lack of direction and sometimes poor judgment have created a road block to sustainable developments.
Other problems like the rocketing food and fuel prices are global problems and beyond the government control.
According to the Chatham House Report, a royal institute of international affairs from London,the shortage of skilled
administrators, a product of the decayed educational system and the destructive impact of the growing drug trafficking of
Columbia and other drug cartels, who are seeking to use Sierra Leone and other West African nations as an access
route to Europe pose a serious problem to our country. Sierra Leone still have a large unemployed youth population,
poorly paid military,police and civil services. An average Sierra Leone lives on one dollar a day.
But for the benefit of the doubts, more time is needed to assess President Koroma's new government.. As citizens, we
can contribute in many ways to support the development of Sierra Lone where ever the political spectrum we may find
ourselves. Historically, it is valuable to note that our nations have few past and present leaders, who left or are leaving a
golden foot prints on the hall ways of their political careers.
That our new generation do not have enough 'role models” to inspire them to do great things for our beloved
nation. Obviously, the big question of what legacy are we building and leaving for our youths would continue to linger and
hunt us for many generation to come.
Send your comment about this article to mcbah4440@yahoo.com
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Sierra Leone needs trade, not aid
- Monday 29 December 2008.
By Mohamed C. BahPresident -Sierra Leone community Association-Atlanta, GA.
The political climate in Sierra Leone today as it has been in many generation before is that reform or the new agenda for change means borrowing more money from the World Bank and other International financial institutions to pay for nation building projects and public services.I am generally, not faulting or blaming our present government for requesting donor assistance at this challenging times, because they are finacially cash strapped and have no choice.The underlining problem is that Sierra Leone fundamentally needs a new direction when it comes to our dependency on donor money or foreign Aid.
Many Sierra Leoneans share a greater understanding that our emerging democracy, like other developing countries,do not have the resources, financial structures and expertise to radically depart from our addiction to foreign Aid.It is also true that a decade of instability, poor governance and the lack of strategic alternative to foreign aid have kept the prospect of a donor-free Sierra Leone far from possible. That government institutions which brings in revenues needs a serious overhaul, broader transparency with an effective accountability before potential revenues can be properly streamlined to internally support public projects.
How about doing business differently where our economy is not driven by donor dollars but rather by an export oriented market, a robust manufacturing industries link to our very natural resources with a modernized and transparent financial infrastructure.I believe, we as a country and people, can do miracles, if we seek to build a future where economic prosperity transcend poverty and where progress overcome corruption and ineptitude.
TRADE NOT AIDThe issue of donor/foreign Aid are classified into two categories:one is how effective has our government managed these resources for the overall good of its citizens and secondly what plans do we have to gradually wean ourselves from the dependency of the so-called donor money?As true as it has been that international financial support have helped us some how in the past, the horrible monster of AID money have caused a major devastation to our political landscape due to mismanagemts and where economically our government function or work only through the infusion of donor money.The perception we inherently get over the past three decades is that we are reduced to a "beggar nation" and more importantly our democratic decisions as a nations are tied down or influence by how these donors/financial institutions wants us to operates our government institutions.
Indeed, no nation have grown their economies through Aid.Donor money have caused more death to the future of Africa than the epidemic disease of AIDS.Sierra Leone, like other African nations, have many times,poorly managed these resources, raised the debt to the ceiling and weakened our international credibility.Aid has brought misery, enriched corrupt public servants and eroded trust in government.It is time to do away with donor money and introduce a TRADE system.I am describing trade with our neighboring countries and the developed world not the photo-opt trade conferences that produce just hand shakes, but trade that establish the movement of goods and services which economically benefits participating nations.I mean a demand and supply system where trading countries maximize their potential earnings and double their national revenues.
NO QUICK FIXI am advocating for a greater reliance on trade and a market oriented economy as oppose to the old tricks of the Western World’s false pretense of finding solutions to Africa’s failing economy in the name of making profit for investors and shareholders of their financial institutions (World Bank).This brings me me to the center piece of my analysis: Sierra Leone needs Trade not Aid.First, as a country, let us agree that Aid is a quick-fix that comes with a lot of challenges and obligations.It has failed to work because it does not address long term solutions.We must replaced it with a common sense solution.If we change our mind set and move to new political height with a strategic planning of accumulating foreign reserves like the Chinese,Indians,Botswanans,Ghanaians and other nations.If we seek to create an account surplus with the revenues we get from our natural minerals/resources and move forward to purchasing treasury bonds,equity and other investment assets at international level,we can certainly replaced AID with Trade.If we make our existing or soon-to-be trading partners a more vital source of revenue creations, millions of our people will benefit form such profitable ventures.
THE CHINE AND INDIAN TRENDIndeed, those who share a do-nothing approach and think we are not ready to throw our dependency on donor money should ask Sir Milton Margai of Sierra Leone, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Shekou Toure of Guinea how and why were they successful in gaining independence form British and French colonial rule.The road to economic independence lies through the gate way of a strong TRADE and financial investments on the international market.Government workshops and blue print plans that describes the guide line to poverty reductions or the UN Millennium goal are just as good as the implementation effort and our ability to accomplished them.What Sierra Leone, predominantly, lack from a constructive stand point, is a strategy for change, the management capacity and the structural discipline to follow through on our national development agendas.As Liberian President Sir Leaf Johnson puts it: "the problem in Africa is not the lack of resources, but a poorly managed systems."
Today, China and India constitute an unprecedented stories of economic development.They are quickly reaching the heavy weight status in the global economy.Two factors that are helping them-Manufacturing and TRADE.They do not rely on Aid but global trade.Europe, Japan, India, U.K. Brazil, Mexico, Turkey and Argentina are among the top 15 nations that have the world highest GDP.
While China and India are both large economies, the parallel i want to make is that they too have poverty, some political turmoil and even an under performing economy in the past.However, the reforming of their financial systems, growth in the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors, their huge trade surplus and the accumulation of foreign reserves have made them the "new emerging economic powers".It is a wide illusion to believe that we can develop our nation through AID and not using our human capitals and reform policies to follow the economic trend of an advanced market economy.
On the other hand, it is true that we are partly to be blame, because we do ask for these donor supports and used them for the wrong reasons.Sierra Leone, Like other African governments, care less to read the "fine prints", terms. conditions and particularly the high interest rates these loans carries.Apparently, due to lack of financial planning and the lack of proper oversight in managing these loans, the ability of the government to repay becomes daunting and systematically we wind up owing the world financial community.Indeed, widespread corruption and poverty have become a stumbling block to implementing loan guaranteed programs let alone AID money.That is why, i think our new leadership and government should gradually and sensibly eliminate donor money and begins to create a market economy where TRADE is the new guiding star to our nation’s future.
SOURCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTHSierra Leone is a small economy that can be developed if we focus on two elements:Human capital and Trade.How about identifying the following sectors:Agriculture,Mining, Marine resources, Timber and Foresty.These are good trading categories.Like Botswana, we can make mining 55% of our national revenue, Agriculture 25% Marine resources 10%, Timber and Foresty 10%.The question is where can we have the capital and ingenuity to build a manufacturing nation.If we managed our mining revenues properly with a corruption-free practice and sound fiscal discipline, we can easily fund or pay for public projects and services without relying on Loans, Aid or Donor dollars.
Government focus must be on revenue creation and accumulation of surplus for national savings.These new economic behaviors, if implemented will significantly reduce the need for "out side donors".We just cannot become consumers alone expecting to create jobs and economic growth for our people.Rather, we must create income through trade and other commercial opportunities.
Indeed,what we lack is not the ideas to find a solution to our economic problems.The problem is when and how can we build a financial system, like other developed nations,that would bring prosperity and break away the cycle of poverty and deprivation we have witnessed for so long.We are never eager to take a new approach in a alleviating our human suffering,but many of us are always interested about what opportunities are available for me and my family.We must begin to realize that access to new possibilities and the attitude of doing things differently(change) can open the door to many good things for our beloved nation.
I am sure our present goverrnment is seeking opprotunties to replace the neo-colonialization of donor money with a market and trading economy.First,we must agree together with one voice that Sierra Leone needs trade and not Aid. If political independence came with a struggle and pragmatic leadership, economic independence must take a similar course, this time, fought with "idealism, innovation and 21st century fresh thinking".
If you wish to send a comment about this article e-mail MC Bah @ mcbah4440@yahoo.com

Is Sierra Leone an Ethno-Centric Nation?

Guest Writer - Mohamed C Bah, Atlanta, USA 12 March, 2009Mohamed C. Bah, USA
Is Sierra Leone an Ethno-Centric Nation?
"High we exalt thee, realm of the free; Great is the love we have for thee": From these exalting words of our national anthem, being a Sierra Leonean is a precious gift. It is as Dr. Brian Stanley described: "the consciousness of being part of a nation and subscribing to its cherished values, aspires the best that is in human nature- a generous service and astounding self-sacrifice for your country." The ideology that each nation constitutes a natural political community whose members should all live together under the authority of "their own" independent, gives us an opportunity to cherish our country and "so may we serve thee ever alone." Nationalism is a belief that one's nation and its interests are of primary importance which supersedes everything.
Frankly, as Sierra Leoneans, do we really "raise up our hearts and our voices on high." where the "hills and the valleys echo our cry," for the love of our country or do we just see Sierra Leone as a backyard of our childhood memories. Without a sense of belonging to a particular people, we feel rootless, unsure of who we are, and would never be able to give back to our country. Many of us today, increasingly, are not passing the citizenship test when its comes to how we feel about our country; what contributions are we making and how much are we proud of who we are as citizens of a land that "Ever we seek to honor thy name" and a future where "we pray that no harm on thy children may fall."
Good Citizenship
Instead of fulfilling the promises of the "knowledge and truth of our forefathers" and "mighty the nation whom they led" we have been pathologically an ethno-centric nation, generally devoid of the spirit of nationalism. For decades, we have being polarized by the disturbing legacy of ethno-centrism. Many of our fellow citizens have not been able, as they perform their public and private duties to "show forth the good that is ever in thee" because we as a nation are not "firmly united and ever we stand" when it comes to putting on our majestic national crown over our tribal hats. A lot of our good citizens have been victimized and discriminated by the balkanization of a tribal system that have denied them the right to serving their people and country.
Common Destiny
We have generally witnessed an entrenched lack of nationalistic instinct when it comes to our co-existence as the same people, who share a similar geography, culture, history and common destiny. An ugly chapter of a repetitive pattern of tribal and regional dominance on the machinery of our socio-political landscape have not shown the moral imperative of the "mighty they made thee, so too may we"'s expectation threshold. We have not made any considerable progress, since independence, when it comes to how much we have overcome the institutionalized problem of the T-word. That what unites us as Sierra Leoneans are far greater than what divides us. That the strength of our diversity has been used in opposite directions to diminish the need to come together and see each other as Sierra Leoneans first. We have failed to look at what makes us the same- one people (Sierra Leoneans) and have exploited our differences in an attempt to create a false sense of personal and political security.
Nationalism
Our decade old conflicts have been traced and rooted to the marginalization of the voice of the majority by the kind of "Hutu-Tutsi" syndrome. Like racism, we have not confronted and dealt with "tribalism" in all aspect of our national lives, nor do we see it as a threat to national unity. If, we are to be a nation, who believed in the credence and symbol of our national principles-"unity, freedom and justice" a call to nationalism must be a new weapon against the biggest obstacles that impedes progress in Sierra Leone -the twin evils of: TRIBALISM and CORRUPTION.
Indeed, we can shoved nationalism aside, play the usual game by recycling one government after another and build a fortress of cronies and tribal giants in our political empire, but we can be rest assured that we cannot solve nothing that way. We can hide by the constitutional pretense that every President have the "prerogative" to choose whomsoever to his cabinet/government structures, but unless we become true to the cradle of our national values, our public hall ways or offices will always be filled with one faces of our fellow citizens. Unavoidably, this will lead to a dangerous path, where the peace and blessing of our nation would not flourish to every corner of our society.
We must re-dedicate our allegiances to nation building not affiliation to groups, regions, tribes or religion. Our attitude to solving our national problems must be broad, pragmatic and inclusive with the constructive participation of every ethnicity, working professionals and the abandoned youths of today. Our overriding loyalty as Dr. King rightly said: "must become ecumenical rather than sectional". We should no longer allow the demography of our political structure to be dominated by one group or comprises of one tribal echelon of Sierra Leoneans. Rather, we must have the nameless faces of our fellow citizens, who are qualified and competent to represents our nation's interest without regards to their geographical and ethnic backgrounds.
Too bad to say, that our history is cluttered with the same old self-defeating path of tribal patronage. The consciousness of being part of a nation and subscribing to its cherished values must always be characterized by our passion and love for Sierra Leone. Thus, we must not be guilty of becoming a nation less tolerant to our diversity and more comfortable to the ever rising tide of tribalism and nepotism. Rather, we must "pledge our devotion, our strength and our might" to "thy cause to defend and to stand for thy right."- Sierra Leone.
Self-Pride
Consciously enough, how many of us, today carry our national flag in our place of residence, automobiles or proudly wear our national colors (green, white and blue) during our historic Independence Day celebrations or national events. Are we proud to tell non-Sierra Leoneans who we are or do some of us hide our national identity for personal reasons? Many of our fellow citizens at home are far less nationalistic because of the failure of government to deliver the essential human services and exalt the importance of citizenship. They have been defeated by the heavy burden of poverty and have been made to believe that their country offers them no hope. How can they love Sierra Leone when, at no-fault of their own, cannot lift themselves out of the economic misery they find themselves. No better and affordable school systems, struggling families trying to eat, few good and accessible hospital to care for them, poor sanitation and water supply system, inadequate housing and rationed electricity.
Conclusion
However, even in the face of despair and the looming economic challenges that confronts our government and people, I still see a promising and more hopeful future for Sierra Leone. When conscious efforts are made to control our socio-political nightmares through bold and courageous leadership, educational advancements and good nationalistic behaviors, we can faithfully serve our country with great loyalty and distinction. And the only way we can work for unity, freedom and justice is to have a shared value where nationalism transcends our common problems, where real hope filled the voided hearts of our struggling citizens, and where true human principles overcomes our deep seated fears for one another. Only then can we replace the poverty that have fostered a culture of blame instead of taking personal responsibility, a culture of hate instead of harmony and the culture of dependency instead of self-sufficiency-these serious problems that have destroyed so many generations for so long. Only then can we become a nation ready to sing loud and clear the national song of the: "Land that we love, our Sierra Leone."
Mohamed C. Bah Guest Writer and Ex-President, Sierra Leone Community, Atlanta-USA

IS Sierra Leone winning or losing the war on corruption?

Is Sierra Leone Winning or Losing the War on Corruption?

Guest Writer: Mohamed C. Bah10 April, 2009Mohamed C. Bah, Guest Writer,Ex-President Sierra Leone Community, Atlanta, USA
Is Sierra Leone Winning or Losing the War on Corruption?
As our nation prepares to celebrate it 48th independence anniversary, the most daunting challenges confronting Sierra Leone today is how can we define a new independent thinking of fighting poverty and diseases, improving the basic livelihood of our fellow citizens and forming peaceful alliances within our society to promote national progress. For more than four decades, we have not comprehensively sought the path to sustainable economic growth that is akin to the kind of political independence we fought for and have so rightfully earned in the community of nations. Sierra Leone, as a young nation, needs more visionary and gifted leaders from all professional and political circles, where the social and moral evils that impedes progress are distanced from our desire to pursue a cohesive politics that brings diverse views and people together, teach Sierra Leoneans to love one another instead of fear and isolation. Furthermore, our anniversary of freedom must be celebrated by promoting a culture driven mentality of fighting a new political war against one of the oldest anti-social behavior, (corruption) which have ruined so many lives and stagnated a promising nation from moving forward into the shores of prosperity.
If political independence is to be realized, corruption should be reclassified as a very serious threat that continues to weaken the economic and human developments of our country. This problem really threatens the stability of our national survival. We must fight corruption, both morally and politically, with a grounded thinking and serious anti-corruption effort through ambitious goals: such as new economic independent strategies and legal legislation to regulate such anti-political behavior. Together, with a no-nonsense leadership, we can redraw the war zone and unleash our grounded offensives to defeat the enemy commonly known as "CORRUPTION." If we do not have an anti-poverty agenda with a track record of progress equally doing the role of investigating areas of inadequacy and poverty-stricken cities, towns, villages and preventing diseases ,infant mortality, low educational standards, poor infrastructures, and other human services, the celebration of our independence would be just a window dressing, an abstract thinking and believing that we are free but actually more dependent on the very nations we sought our freedom and liberty from.
The Evil Face of Corruption
Indeed, the potential of a little girl or boy in Sierra Leone may never be realized if corruption takes a front seat on our government structure. If public servants deplete government revenues by "misusing" or "misappropriating" funds/resources, our national income will continue to be significantly reduced, foreign investments discouraged, sustainable national development and infrastructural projects will seriously be compromised with no completion. If we do not combat corruption as a common threat, our independence from Britain will be a mental hallucination rather than a true definition of self-rule or self determination. Thus, we must see corruption not as a political party problem or a regional problem, but as a national problem that needs a collective solution from every Sierra Leonean. I think, we must reorganize and take a new independent approach to confronting this complex problem.
Realistically, the Anti-corruption Act, 2008 is a very compelling corruption-fighting tool that has the legal hallmarks and political merits in addressing an aging national problem. Retrospectively, it was deliberately enacted to "plug a hole in the Anti-Corruption Act, of 2000." That the previous act did not go far enough in its provisions, especially when viewed on the United National Convention Against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption both of which Sierra Leone have ratified. That this new legislation gives broader powers to the commission to arrest, prosecute and convict corrupt public officers. I commend the Attorney General and his legal staff for crafting a fine piece of legislation with the blessing and approval of Parliament.
Corrupt Acquisition of Wealth
However, the anti-corruption Act, 2008, if properly implemented without prejudice will profoundly close the door to a shameful chapter in our nation's history. Nonetheless, this giant legislative effort is only one leg on the stool and cannot by itself solve this widespread epidemic that has destroyed the moral foundation of our nation. If we do not learn to work together in good faith and practice the principles of "integrity in public life", let us be rest assured that we have a darker and dangerous future ahead. That in our self-serving human failures we will have nothing to pass on to the next generation but a nation suffering from the reality of "moral bankruptcy". If we glorify the "corrupt acquisition of wealth" or the "misappropriation of public funds or property" as a reason to serve in government, we are predicting and creating a a future that is devoid of compassion and human progress Whatever the political equation we belongs to, corruption is a national problem and it is time to end it as we know it. We must go further in targeting the root causes of why it exists in our society. Until poverty, greed and the lack of patriotism are dismantle and defeated, this 800 pound gorilla will continue to be an unwanted guest in our midst.
The legal instruments of the anti-corruption Act, 2008, indeed, are not the only prerequisite to a corruption-fighting solutions, corruption is a symptom of a socio-political malaise that have slowly permeated our society for generations. Unless, we balance the goal of preventing corruption by addressing the primary causes, we will never be able to enforce the consequences of such political nightmare. If we fight against the agents that breeds this anti-social practices by disinfecting the cesspool of our political structure with the strong philosophy of "no-matter- what,-just-do-the-right-thing" kind of attitude, then millions of our fellow citizens today would not go to bed hungry or lack the basic opportunity to live their dreams.
The Solution
For Sierra Leone as a case study, poverty and human greed are the enablers to this growing complex problem. There must be a two-prong approach to improving human capitals, providing essential services, increasing pay rate to reflect global inflations to our public servants and correspondingly implementing Part IV and Part V of the Anti-corruption Act, 2008 whenever there are infringed upon or grossly violated. It is not either one or the other, it is both: Poverty Prevention and Corruption Fighting Mechanism. Indeed, Sierra Leone ranked 150 out of the 180 countries listed on the corruption perception index by Transparency International (an international global advocacy group that fight against corruption). According to an ongoing research at the Word Bank, more than USD 1 trillion is paid in bribes each year; a comprehensive estimate of worldwide corruption would well exceed USD 1.5 trillion annually. The research also revealed that "the countries that tackle corruption and improve their rule of law can increase their national incomes by as much as four times in the long run and child mortality can fall by as much as 75 percent." Another research by IMF showed decreased investment patterns by almost 5 percent in countries infested by corruption.
I firmly believe that one of the most fitting ways we can celebrate our independence anniversary is to reaffirm a new commitment to fighting corruption with an ambitious mind set that this monstrous enemy will not have the oxygen to breathe and survive in our nation. Thus, the government of Sierra Leone should focus on the following corruption fighting-solutions:
• Promotion of good governance at all levels of government• Political will from those who govern to discourage corrupt practices• Criminalization of corrupt officers through prosecution and conviction• Comprehensive legislation to expand the power of the anti-corruption when legally needed.• Promote leadership like Zero-tolerance and setting examples through asset declaration• Review and strengthening of the judiciary system to dispense impartial justice• Review and reform of government procurement system to control theft/misappropriations of funds• Strengthen public financial management system to track potential fraud/theft• Code of conducts and ethics to govern the performance of pubic officers• Educational strategy to bring awareness to the problem• Partnership with stakeholders as a national anti-corruption strategy• Civil society and the public role of reporting corrupt behaviors• Broader management and implementation authority for a national anti-corruption strategy
Conclusion
As we continue to give our public leaders the trust and privilege of serving our great nation, we hold them to a higher standard of Integrity in Public Life to fully comply with Part VIII section 119 that: "(1) Every public officer shall within three months of becoming a public officer deposit with the Commission a sworn declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and thereafter not later than 31st March in each succeeding year that he is a public officer, he shall deposit further declarations of his income, assets and liabilities and also while leaving office."
Thus, it is most patriotic to rightfully ask the question as we celebrate our 48th independent anniversary: Is Sierra Leone winning or losing the war on Corruption?