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President Koroma takes one Giant Leap Forward to
Assert the Credibility and Integrity of the
Anti-Corruption Commission
23 July 2010
The success of the Anti-Corruption Commission in
winning the war on corruption in Sierra Leone,
which is estimated to be costing the nation Hundreds
of Millions of Dollars, now rests on those broad
shoulders of the newly appointed Czar - Lawyer
Joseph Kamara.
Should his track record and reputation at the
International Criminal Court (ICC) squares up to his
new role at the Anti-Corruption Commission, then Sierra Leone
should have much to celebrate.
But of course, should Lawyer Kamara allow himself and
his role to be politicised and marginalised, not
only will posterity judge him rather harshly,
his failure to deliver will be a massive blow to the
hopes and dreams of millions of poor people in the
country who go to bed hungry, because corrupt
officials continue to take bread away from their
plates.
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"Response to Innuendos Directed at
the Kadi Sesay Campaign in Respect of Certain
Publications"
The Elect Kadi Sesay Team
22 July 2010
Over the past three months, Kadi
Sesay has demonstrated a unique ability to attract
new voters to SLPP because of people’s growing
awareness of her sensitivity to the issues of our
time and her proven capability to provide a better
direction for the country.
We are therefore not distracted by
the publication but continue to keep our focus on
our core platform as the gateway to the hearts and
minds of Sierra Leoneans.
It is our position that the
current leadership contest in SLPP has produced many
extraordinary candidates many of whom would make a
great President if given the chance.
Our focus is to work with all
aspirants and Party members to give this country the
leadership it deserves. We strongly believe that at
such a time when our country continues to suffer in
silence, now is the time for the SLPP to come
together and rise above bigotry in readiness for
victory in 2012.
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The Need for a Comprehensive Public
Procurement Strategy aimed at Developing Sierra
Leone's Private Sector
19 July 2010
In 2009 the President said that ‘Procurement plans
and competitive bidding have been established in 43
Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in conformity
with the National Procurement Act of 2004.’
But those words have not been matched with action.
The private sector continues to be marginalised, as
foreign businesses strengthen their upper hand in
the award of public procurement contracts worth
almost $500 Million.
With the country’s GDP not expected to exceed growth
of 4.8% in 2010, critics are questioning the
government’s rationale in out-sourcing so much of
the country’s productive capacity to foreign owned
companies, when the people of Sierra Leone are being
asked to put up with financial austerity measures
that are seriously affecting their standards of
living.
Sierra Leone can do a lot more for itself in growing
its economy through the private sector, but this
will require a change in mind-set by those in power.
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RANDOM MUSING: A POINT OF VIEW
“Poverty – Field of Broken Dreams”
Raymond Dele Awoonor-Gordon
15 July 2010
Reports talk of considerable progress being made in
key areas of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, which
began in 2005 but all the economic theories of this
world are mere jargons to the illiterates, the
market women, traders and those whose lives do not
reflect this claim.
As far as I am concerned, the correction of past
shortcomings, though a welcome development is not an
achievement but a positive progression. That
progression now needs to translate into reality in
the lives of the generality of the people through
sustainable strategies and not more spin.
This age-long manipulation of the common psyche by
the political class is what has led many into
believing that any highlight of government’s
inadequacies or demand for the fulfilment of the
social contract with the people is an
anti-government vuvuzela.
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Much remains to be done – Mr. President!
A rejoinder (Courtesy of Bintumani On-line forum)
7 July 2010
Financial markets, especially stock markets, have
grown considerably in developed and developing
countries over the last two decades, and several
factors have aided in their growth.
Amongst them, are improved macro-economic
fundamentals, such as monetary stability and higher
economic growth.
General economic and specific capital market reforms,
including privatization of state-owned enterprises,
financial liberalization, and an improved
institutional framework for investors, have
encouraged capital markets development.
It is market forces that channel investments to
those who have the wherewithal and entrepreneurial
spirit and know-how to invest, not the invisible
hand of the government, like president Koroma is
doing.
It is the market that selects winners and losers -
not politicians, for parochial and selfish
interests.
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Much remains to be done - Mr. President!
4 July 2010
If the World Bank has got $4 Million to spare the
poor people of Sierra Leone, should that money not be
better spent funding the creation of a Fruit
Canning Co-operative Enterprise, involving young
farmers? This could directly create hundreds, if not
thousands of jobs.
It could also stimulate the formation of a viable
fruit farming, processing and packaging supply chain
that would meet the needs of export markets.
Indeed it could be argued that the need for a Youth
Commission in Sierra Leone today is superfluous to
requirement, given the current status, democratic
role and constitutional functions of the Civil
Society Movement and opposition political parties,
who collectively are invariably doing well in
challenging government policy and performance in
meeting the diverse aspirations of all groups in
society.
There are those that would advocate for the
formation of a Manpower Services Commission (MSC) in
partnership with the private sector, instead of a
Youth Commission.
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