The Patriotic Vanguard

Addis Ababa: President Ernest Koroma APRM Statement

2012-02-08T02:58:08Z

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR ERNEST BAI KOROMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERRA LEONE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE APRM COUNTRY REVIEW REPORT OF SIIERA LEONE AT THE 16TH SUMMIT OF THE COMMITTEE OF PARTICIAPTING HADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE AFRICAN PERR REVIEW MECHANISM (APR FORUM) , ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 28TH JANUARY 2012.

REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE

Mr. Chairman

Colleague Heads of State

Esteemed Members of the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons

Distinguished Dignitaries and Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. I bring you New Year's greetings, great wishes and many resolutions from the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone. I have also come here with a great sense of fulfilment and much delight to address this august assembly of colleague Heads of States and members of the African Peer Review Mechanism Panel of eminent persons.

2. My Government's commitment to the implementation of the APRM process in Sierra Leone has been unwavering since the assumption of the reins of government in 2007. Following the launch of the APRM process in September 2008, I went on to inaugurate the APRM National Governing Council (NGC). To ensure the autonomy, integrity and professionalism of this Council, its structure and mandate were tailored to make it technically competent, credible, free from political interference and an all-inclusive national exercise. My Government further provided budgetary support to the work of the NGC and Secretariat, which saw the successful and timely execution of the APRM national self-assessment process as well as the APRM Country Review Mission that visited Sierra Leone in May-June 2011.

3. Mr. Chairman, the Government of Sierra Leone appreciates the efforts of the African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons (APR-Panel) in producing the Country Review Report of the Republic of Sierra Leone (CRR) covering a wide range of governance issues. The report is timely and necessary in assessing the gains made by Government in its developmental pursuits, as well as in shedding light on the challenges it has encountered, in the post-conflict era. The recommendations proffered by the APR Panel would certainly provide the basis for an improved governance landscape in the country, which is now a major preoccupation of the Government.

4. Mr. Chairman, my Government notes with satisfaction the thoroughness, frankness and clarity of the observations, comments and recommendations of the APR Panel. As a Government, we have no intention to adopt a defensive posture but rather to look at the observations and recommendations critically and craft an appropriate roadmap for the implementation of the APRM National Programme of Action (NPOA). In that regard, we are encouraged by the observation of the APR Panel that the Country Self Assessment Report (CSAR) was completed within the shortest possible time and with the highest quality standards.

5. The Government of Sierra Leone would therefore like to register its profound gratitude to the entire APR Panel for their helpful insights which we believe would go a long way in moving our country forward. We are particularly grateful to the Chair of the APR Panel, Professor Mohammed-Saghir Babe and the Lead Panelist for the Sierra Leone Review Process, Barrister Akere Tabeng Muna. Our final appreciation goes to the entire Sierra Leone Country Review Mission Team and Members of the APRM Secretariat for their dedication and commitment to the APRM process in Sierra Leone in particular and Africa in general.

6. It would be useful to point out at the outset that a number of the developments that have taken place in Sierra Leone since the departure of the mission have actually addressed a lot of the concerns raised by the mission.

7. Mr. Chairman, the findings of Country Review Report have raised a number of very important issues and challenges in relation to governance in Sierra Leone. However, while cognizance has been taken of all of them, the constraints of time would not allow me to respond to each and every one of them in this Forum. Consequently, I have selected some of these issues for my response and I now have the pleasure of presenting them.

8. Mr. Chairman, between 1991 and 2002, the governance landscape of Sierra Leone was largely affected by a horrendous civil conflict that further undermined the smooth functioning of state institutions, destroyed infrastructure, led to economic and social dislocation, displaced a large proportion of the population, affected the capacity and professionalism of state security institutions, and tasked Government with a huge burden of reconstruction and rehabilitation costs. In that decade-long conflict, as in all other violent conflicts around the world, a common lesson was learnt that war is a business of immense loss, that even those who have come out of it with perceived victory have counted great losses in its aftermath. Mr. Chairman, for us in Sierra Leone, we have also learned in addition to the foregoing that never again shall we allow our existence as a nation to be threatened by violence.

9. Mr. Chairman, on the issue of paramount chieftaincy, it would be helpful to put the institution in a historical context for a better appreciation of the challenges it faces. The colonial policy of divide and rule gave enormous political power to traditional rulers, fostering a culture of impunity. 10. Today, with an increasingly enlightened citizenry, traditional rulers are more circumspect in the exercise of authority in their localities. Traditional Chiefs now regard themselves as partners in governance and are more inclined to engage their constituents on this level. The recently enacted Local Courts Act 2011 confirmed the role of Paramount Chiefs as arbitrators or mediators in the settlement of disputes. You would be pleased, colleague Heads of State, to know that we now have paramount chiefs with university qualifications, some with Masters degrees.

11. Mr. Chairman, while it may be accurate to suggest that the period 1968-1992 was characterized by poor governance, it was certainly not the genesis of the problem. The emergence of poor governance in Sierra Leone should be traced as far back as 1964. In 1965, the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) led regime of Sir Albert Margai passed the now infamous Public Order Act 1965 which is currently the subject of intense criticisms by the media for muzzling press freedom. 12. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate the effort of the Review Panel in refreshing our sub-conscious mind to our past which was characterized by poor governance as the basis of the decade-long war. We have since undertaken major transformational initiatives to redress that past. We have conducted three free, fair and peaceful multi-party elections and about to conduct the fourth one on the 17th of November 2012. We are working on passing the Freedom of Information Bill into an Act of Parliament. The debate on expunging the criminal libel aspect of the 1965 Public Order Act is on course. We have also empowered our National Electoral Commission and the Political Parties Registration Commission to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections as well as to enforce the electoral codes of conduct.

13. Additionally, Mr. Chairman, a project entitled Transparency Sierra Leone (TSL) is in the process of being implemented in the country. This is a Government initiative aimed at redefining the way Government communicates, and provides information to the public on what Government is doing; creating an unprecedented level of openness in government and a novel in West Africa. The initial project introducing the TSL brand is the Transparency Sierra Leone Portal. The portal will give Government the opportunity to improve the quality of public debate by enhancing citizens' access to Government information in registries, spanning the panoply of Government development projects. 14. My Government is making frantic efforts to address the inherited distortions in appointment to public office. Appointment to public office is today made on the basis of qualification, experience and merit rather than on ethno-regional considerations. Every ethnic group, region and gender is represented in my cabinet.

15. Mr. Chairman, on the issue of political and electoral violence, my Government has taken a firm stance against perpetrators of violence irrespective of their political affiliation. It is also noteworthy that several mechanisms have been established to ensure political tolerance among the various political parties. These include the All Political Parties Youth Association (APPYA), the All Political Parties Women's Association (APPWA) and the All Political Parties Association (APPA) and the Political Parties Registration Commission.

16. Mr. Chairman, the current 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone is now 20 years old and therefore in need of review and modernization. To this effect, as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations, I established the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation. The review and modernization of the Constitution is a key area of focus for the conference. This will give the people of Sierra Leone an opportunity to make suggestions and recommendations on constitutional government for the next 50 years.

17. Mr. Chairman, the judiciary of Sierra Leone is committed to fulfilling its vision of bringing quality justice to the people of Sierra Leone, without which there will be no lasting peace and the maintenance of the Rule of Law. The Judiciary is also in line with the government's agenda of improving the investment climate in Sierra Leone, attract investment and improve the socio-economic infrastructure of the country. In response to this, the judiciary has set up the Fast Track Commercial Court which became fully operational in May 2011. The court has three judges tasked with fast tracking commercial cases and clearing outstanding backlogs. The Judiciary's Training Institute is also fully functional and various training activities are on-going regularly.

18. Since the visit of the APRM Country Review Mission (APRM-CRM) in June 2011, the judiciary has recruited six additional judges, taking the strength of the bench from 18 then to 24, similarly five new magistrates have been recruited and the magisterial strength is now 23. This will improve the delays in trials and help clear the backlog of cases. The Legal Aid Bill has been finalized, and should be passed by Parliament soon.

19. Mr. Chairman, the Local Courts Act 2011 (Act No 10 of 2011) has been passed and was published on the 27th October 2011. The Act now reintegrates the Local Courts into the Legal System, bringing it under the Office of the Chief Justice from the Ministry of Local Government where it was before. The Act makes provision for structures that will promote and protect human rights and enhance rights enforcement in rural areas, including provision for more research on customary law by customary law officers with a view of restating the customary laws and making them accessible and consistent in application.

20. Mr. Chairman, in February 2008, the Government of Sierra Leone initiated a range of reform measures to transform the Public Service of Sierra Leone into a modern and efficient organization. A review of the Public Sector Reform Framework for 2008-2012 revealed that the functions of the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the ensuing years were envisaged to consist of “the development and application of policy frameworks as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of these policies in the public sector in ICT, Recruitment and Selection, Training Policy, Public Sector Pay and Performance Appraisal'. To effectively exercise these strategic roles, the PSC undertook an internal review of its functions and mandates so as to first of all reorganize and strengthen itself. Outcome from the above was the preparation of a Management and Functional Review followed by the preparation of a 3-year strategic Plan 2011-2013 which is now in progress. The Commission at the same time has put in place a system of competency based recruitment which involves written entrance examination at sub graduate and graduate entry levels, followed by some elements of in-tray exercises. The process of reform continues.

21. Mr. Chairman, it pleases me to inform this forum that mining in Sierra Leone is being guided by the new Minerals Act of 2009 and will be regulated by our robust Mining Regulations to be administered by the National Minerals Agency. As outlined in the Budget and Statement of Economic and Financial Policies for 2012, a key focus of Government will be on improving transparency and accountability in the management of mineral and petroleum revenues to ensure that Sierra Leoneans realize the full benefits of the mining sector. The National Minerals Agency, which will be established in 2012, is aimed at improving governance in the mining sector. As a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Government is taking measures to increase transparency in the mining sector. My government has also established an online repository located on the website of the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources that will contain details of all mining revenues to Government. The aim is to allow Sierra Leoneans to gain access to mining revenues information at all times.

22. My Government certainly acknowledges the need for reforms that will boost economic growth and thus reduce poverty. Accordingly, my Government continues to implement a number of structural and institutional reforms designed to improve the efficient functioning of the economy. Thus, in addition to macroeconomic stability, Government is implementing Public Financial Management Reforms, including budget formulation, expenditure management, revenue administration, public sector accounting, recording and reporting, prompt internal and external audit.

23. The global economic and financial crisis definitely had some impact on the economy in the form of reduced export performance and inward remittances in-flow, accelerated depreciation of the exchange rate and ultimately slower economic growth. However, my Government in collaboration with our development partners designed a macro response that was implemented in the third quarter of 2009. The short term counter-cyclical response consisted of a fiscal response and an accommodating monetary policy. Accordingly, the economy grew steadily, greater than the average for Sub-Saharan Africa. Economic growth rebounded in 2010 to 5.0 percent, also above the average for Sub-Saharan Africa of 4.9 percent reflecting in part on the huge investment in infrastructure and agriculture.

24. My Government's allocation to the social sectors has been growing significantly during the past four years despite the significant increase in capital expenditure to accommodate the infrastructure investment. However, as a Government we agree with the Country Review Mission regarding the adequate expansion of investment in social services. One of the key objectives of the 2012 budget is to continue to expand basic services in health, education and water. Total allocation to health and education in 2012 amounted to 6.8 percent and 8.5 percent of total budget respectively.

25. My Government continues to implement reforms to increase the role of the private sector in the economy. As a result, Sierra Leone is ranked among the top ten global reformers in the 2012 Doing Business Report published by the World Bank. Government Budget and Statement of Economic and Financial Policies for 2012 clearly indicates that the National Commission for Privatisation has completed the preparatory phase of reforms and divestiture of public enterprises and is now moving to the implementation phase.

26. Mr. Chairman, my Government agrees with the observation of the Country Review Mission in the area of broadening the tax base as an integral part of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) modernization plans. Government introduced the Goods and Services Tax in 2010, a form of Value Added Tax, which has proven to be a resounding success and has contributed towards the creation of fiscal space for Government spending.

27. Mr. Chairman, my Government critically recognises how important it is for Sierra Leone to undertake adequate measures to mobilise domestic revenue and gradually reduce donor dependency. In this regard, serious efforts have been made by my Government and some development partners to enable the National Revenue Authority make tremendous strides to improve its effectiveness in collecting revenue to meet government fiscal target. The Authority's revenue collection accounts for about 60 percent of government spending since 2009. This is the outcome of several reform measures on strengthening institutional capacity, integrating and expanding processes and operations and gradually shifting reliance on domestic revenue.

28. Mr. Chairman, there are on-going efforts to revise Sierra Leone's land legislation. In particular, the Provinces Land Act has been reviewed under the auspices of the Law Reform Commission. The work of the Law Reform Commission is being carried out in-tandem with the formulation of a new National Land Policy Document.

29. Government has over the years been making serious efforts to address the youth problem. In November 2009, Parliament enacted the “National Youth Commission Act” which laid the foundation for the establishment and operationalization of the National Youth Commission which major policy objective is to provide an enabling environment for:

creation of employment opportunities for the youth and develop medium and long term strategies

Initiate youth development programmes in collaboration with relevant governmental and non governmental bodies.

The National Youth Commission was formally launched on the 25th November 2011 with the special mandate to address Skills Training, Capacity Building and Empowerment for Sustainable Development. Accordingly, Skills Training and Capacity Building Centres are being supported by Government to ensure that youths are enrolled at these institutions to enable them acquire skills which will make them self reliant. Also, for the first time since Sierra Leone got independence in 1961, a separate Ministry called the Ministry of Youth Employment and Sports has been established to exclusively address youth problems.

30. Mr. Chairman, there is need to put the records straight with regards the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone. There has been no political interference in the work of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). This is evident in the high profile cases sent to court recently, a success that results from the strong anti-corruption Act that is now in place. This success in the fight against corruption has recently won the ACC international recognition.

31. Mr. Chairman, it is true that electricity supply was abysmal in the country before the commissioning of Bumbuna in 2009. Old thermal plants were broken down and had been out of use in all District headquarter towns. Electricity production continued to drop from an estimated 245 million kwh in 2005 to less than half this amount in 2007. My Government's intervention in a bid to address the growing energy crisis upon assumption of the reins of power in 2007 saw the putting in place of a number of short, medium and long-term measures. These include (i) a one-year emergency power generation scheme for the Western Area; (ii) completion of the Bumbuna hydro project; (iii) the Moroccan intervention to strengthen the transmission/distribution network; (iv) a 22.68 mw BADEA project; (v) a 10 mw JICA project ; and (vi) the envisaged BEKONGOR project. Furthermore, a rural electrification sub-project seeks to improve the utilization of educational, health, water and sanitation (WATSAN) facilities and community centres and enhance the viability of small agro enterprises by linking them with renewable solar power.

32. Mr. Chairman, it is deliberate that I have chosen to end my presentation with a note on women's empowerment. My Government is committed to implementing the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that women's representation in public office at decision-making levels be increased to 30%. I have now made several public pronouncements to this effect.

I thank you for your attention.

Review: Poetry collection ‘Over The Years' written by Dr. Louis Bankole Jones

Roland Bankole, Marke, Deputy Editor, Florida, USA. — 2012-02-08T02:35:14Z

Reviewed by: Roland Bankole Marke
Author/poet: Dr. Louis Bankole Jones
Poetry collection title: Over The Years
Publication date: September, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4653-6842-3
Publisher: Xlibris.com

I'm delighted, if not enchanted, when a Sierra Leonean ventures into the literary realm, and Dr. Louis Bankole Jones' maiden slim collection of poems: ‘Over The Years' is no exception.

The field remains open and encourages more writers/poets of diverse backgrounds, with fresh, luxuriant and inspirational voices with their valuable work to educate, inform and entertain readers especially those Sierra Leoneans yet to be acculturated into the culture of reading for information and entertainment. Our folks shouldn't be stuck solely in the pursuit of academic prowess or advancement. It's sad to be reminded that literacy in SL is deplorable, and the emergence of the nation's gruesome civil war hindered the advancement of education there. A nation that pays more lip service to education than its transformation as reformation would be stalled in the desert of underdevelopment and its attendant social problems. Dr. B. Jones (photo) points his homegrown radar toward a new vision and perspective as a medical doctor who received his medical training in other parts of the world, including his beloved heartland and homeland.

His poems stab empty theories armed with the cerebral cortex to penetrate the short comings of humanity. And he pivots at the confluence of spirituality and humanity to help prepare us for the necessary and inevitable celestial domain. He's endowed with the ability to explore the mind, body and soul connection. And he does so with clarity, vividness, intensity and raw emotions, seemingly boiling over with nostalgia and organic patriotism. His genuine fortitude indicts toxic ignorance, greed and lust for power, even by folks without the fire in their bellies to help change the lives and destiny of a destitute nation, nailed and crucified on the cross of poverty and backwardness. Aside from the motherland, he transports us to his exile days in neighboring Guinea, forced on him by tragic events in SL. His love of nature blossoms in the poem Valentine's Day, experienced in South Brunswick N.J. In the poem; The Lily's Turn, he compares the beauty and gift of nature with the gloom created by humanity.

Disbelieving beings, shocked and dumbfounded
At the madness of their fellow human fools
The lily flower smiles and says:
“Look at me how beautiful and calm I am
Amidst this terrible gloom.”

“When will you realize
This is not God's purpose
For humanity, nor for all creation?”

The enigma of hopelessness ongoing in this battered nation has infected the vulnerable as self-centered converts to abuse the DNA of good citizenry and leadership. Children and aged men and women are left to fend for themselves, as the connected and selected prosper, some by looting the national coffers. Who celebrate their sudden huge fortunes amid the abject poverty of the masses, who are condemned to eternal poverty. The poem on page 11: ‘Who Are They': reminds us of, and illuminates the ugly past. In the absence of legitimate and functional leadership, pandemonium of a rudderless nation eventually lands SL at the lowest ebb, if not the point of no return.

And who are they
Who eat the still-pulsating hearts
Of young virgins
And drink the blood
Of our freshly killed fathers and mothers?
Please tell us who are they
Who say they are fighting
To save us all?

And who are they
Who buy their blood-stained DIAMONDS
And sell them for guns, bombs and drugs
And who are they
Who speak on their behalf?

Dr. Jones' bare knuckled stance of pragmatism should not be mistaken as advocating anti-government bad blood, or over the top radicalism. He's speaking the truth that could save his motherland and himself: Only if our people and the leaders could listen to his passionate message. Recent reports of violence nationwide remind us that SL has not learned the lessons of its grim past.

‘Over The Years' is a stark reminder that this ailing nation need to chart a more peaceful and responsible path in conducting the business of politics, and its people coexisting amicably with those of a different political persuasion as various ethnic groups. Grenades are littered all over the country and they could go off at will without much deterrence. The writer in me is often asking the question boiling inside me. Is the Sierra Leonean blood cheaper than the value of its natural resources so easily carted away at rock bottom prices?

This poetry collection must be on the coffee table of every Sierra Leonean and African. Readers around the world too would benefit from its eye-popping events, revelations and illumination. I find this book interesting and enjoyable and a worthy investment. I look forward to more inspiring and artistic work coming from the promising pen of this Sierra Leonean patriot, Dr. Louis Bankole Jones.

Contact Dr. Louis Bankole Jones:
Tel: 908-720-1439
Email: louisbjones@aol.com

Has Sierra Leone Become An “Okadised” Society?

2012-02-08T01:57:24Z

By Alhassan Fouard Kanu, Guest Writer, Makeni, Northern Sierra Leone.

The Okada services (a taxi-like service that ferry people between localities), which is available countrywide especially in urban and peri-urban settings, is facilitating social intercourse between communities in Sierra Leone.

Such has enormous benefit for the wider public with regards to easy access to villages and towns, transportation of goods and enhancing the referral of patients between healthcare facilities.

The Okada services have provided gainful employment for the youths, thereby reducing pick-pocketing and armed robbery in cities across the country.

The down-side of the Okada services though, is its fuelling of drop-outs among school-going youths. Most of the youths, after the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) consider the Okada trade as a preferred professional destination. While some of the riders from poorer backgrounds use this trade to raise money to enable them to continue their education, others are being pushed by their parents into the trade to assist in running their poverty-stricken households, thereby truncating educational opportunities and consequently blighting not only the future of these youth riders but that of Sierra Leone.

Despite the Okada benefits in getting people quicker to their destinations and their ability to navigate traffic congestions, Okada has however contributed to the economic hardship in the country with dire consequences on the health of the population. The frequent accidents and growing rise of overweight/obesity and its co-morbidities (high blood pressure, arthritis etc) as result of the inactivity among city dwellers are serious public health concerns.

On a social and economic point of view, our wives would have to reduce monies meant to feed the families to pay for Okada services to the market. This means the amount and quality of food intake for the household are consequently reduced, leading to under-nutrition and/or malnutrition of household members, especially the children and pregnant/lactating women.

The majority of the country's breadwinners who cannot, by their salaries, make Le20,000 a day would have to pay for Okada services to get to work and their children to school, which exceeds their daily income. This accounts for the rise in corrupt practices in all places of work as corruption literally becomes a password to logging-in to daily survival. The “tin-tranga” snarls and grumbling around the country may, in addition to upstream factors, be connected to payments for Okada services, coupled with mobile phone charging and top-ups. This makes life easier (enhanced transportation and communication) but economically tougher, especially for the majority poor.

Of greatest concern, from a public health perspective, of the negative effects of the Okada to society is its amplification of teenage pregnancy. Anecdotal evidence has it that the rate at which our teenage girls are getting pregnant is growing exponentially; and girls as young as 13 years of age are victims. This has contributed to drop-out rates of girls from school.

A worrying observation was noted by this writer, who followed antenatal clinic (ANC) attendees last year in two government hospitals in the northern province where it was found out that, for every 10 antenatal clinic attendees, 6 are teenagers and of which 50% are Okada-related (where the man/boy responsible for the pregnancy is an Okada rider).

The relationship between Okada riders and teenage (especially school going girls) pregnancies can be linked to the rapid “Okadisation” of our society- the shift from traditional trekking to Okada riding between places. Sierra Leoneans no longer fancy walking which has enormous health benefits but are rapidly cultivating the practice of moving around by Okada. In the pre-Okada era, students trekked, for example, from Magburaka to Mathora government girls school (about 6 miles round trip), in the Tonkolili district. This is no more the practice in today's school going pupils, making it an economically challenging practice for their poor relatives. Most parents can't afford giving both lunch and Okada service fees on a daily basis to their children. In the absence of parental support, some of the girls have to enter into transactional sex with these riders to ferry them between their homes and schools as well as supplementing their ‘lunch' at school.

Also observed is the contagious effect of girls dating Okada riders. Girls admire their peers or siblings with Okada ‘boyfriends' who provide them a safe ride to and from the school premises. This sometimes leads a cohort of friends that have all been impregnated by Okada riders. For many girls, they consider these riders as “free spenders” as compared to older men. It could be true, considering the ages of most of these riders and the absence of parental responsibilities as seen in older men who are prudent in releasing the cash in sexual transactions.

It is therefore critical that public health measures aimed at tackling teenage pregnancies target this emerging and girls-wooing profession (Okada riding). This would also help in reducing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS in the country.

Anti-Corruption Commission Report On Income Electrix Contract

2012-02-05T00:16:08Z

Faulty Lines in a Flawed and Costly Contract 1 CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF THERMAL EQUIPMENT/POWER FOR IMMEDIATE AND MEDIUM TERM BY INCOME ELECTRIX LTD (IEL)

BACKGROUND

In fulfillment of the President's proclamation to provide electricity to the Western Area by 20th December 2007, two distinct procurement processes were initiated by both the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL). The World Bank undertook part funding of US$7 million for the provision of a 15MW of power equipment through an international competitive bidding, while Government of Sierra Leone committed US$25 million to the 15MW project and undertook the provision of an additional 25 MW of thermal power through a process which seemed to involve a combination of both competitive and sole sourcing procedures.

The procurement of the 15MW was deemed to have gone through the set criteria for standard procurement practices in accordance with the World Bank procedures. The contract is therefore said to have been awarded to the most responsive bidder, the Global Trading Group (GTG). In his address to Parliament on the 5th October 2007, His Excellency the President identified the challenge of inadequate electricity in Sierra Leone as a national priority deserving immediate attention. Therefore, the Presidential Energy Emergency Task Force (PEETF) was formed to institute emergency measures to restore the supply of electricity .The PEETF had the following membership: :

 Dr. Lancelot Ayo Lake - Chairman

 Prof. Jonas A.S Redwood-Sawyerr - Member

 Dr. Abdul Jalloh - Member

 Dr. Ramadan Dumbuya - Member

 Mr. Tani Pratt - Member

 Mr. Raymond A Bola Williams - Member

The terms of reference were as follows:

1. To prepare periodic reports identifying and suggesting ways to address key institutional, technical, economic and policy issues associated with the provision and maintenance of reliable electric power supply in Freetown and the Provinces;

2. Provide advice on the procurement process for emergency power;

3. Review existing energy sector policy and make recommendation for its adoption and

4. Define and facilitate measures for improving the energy sector performance which includes:

(a) (1) Cost reductions including fuel purchase management and excess staff capacity;

(2) Improving maintenance performance;

(3) Improving recovery rates via improvements in transmission distribution;

(4) Improving recovery rates on commercial operation;

(5) Provide advice on the process for restructuring NPA including management contract and privatization.

(b) Evaluate current proposals that fall outside of the current World Bank bidding process and formalize IPP.

In order to procure the additional emergency thermal power and as a fall back arrangement in the event the World Bank support delayed, the Presidential Energy Emergency Task Force then set up the Working Group#1 with the following membership:2

1 PEETF Working Group Terms of Reference

2 Working Group #1 Final Report on the Sole sourcing of Thermal Power for the Intermediate and Medium Term.

 Prof J. S.A. S. Redwood-Sawyer - Coordinator

 Abdul Jalloh -Coordinator

 Mr. Farid Alghali – National Public Procurement Authority

 Mr. Sahr L. Jusu – Ministry of Finance and Development and Economic Planning

 Mr. Abdul Mansaray – National Commission for Privatization (NCP)

 Mr. John Kabia - National Power Authority (NPA)

The Terms of Reference were as follows:

1. To review proposals submitted to the GoSL for the supply of emergency thermal equipment.

2. To make recommendations to Presidential Energy Emergency Task Force (PEETF) for the sole sourcing of thermal equipment, its installation, commissioning and operations. The contract for the supply of the 25MW was awarded to Income Electrix Limited on the 23rd November 2007 amidst alleged controversies as was evident in Messrs Tani Pratt and Professor Jonas A.S.Redwood-Sawyerr's letter of “Concerns on recent development in respect of decisions taken by the Task Force” and of non adherence to professional advice on financial and technical matters relating to the said contract as was also recommended in the PEETF Working Group#1's Final Report. This contract was co-signed by the Minister of Energy and Power and the General Manager of the National Power Authority (NPA).

METHODOLOGY

The Anti-Corruption Commission held series of discussions with officials of key institutions that were involved in one way or another in the process of awarding the said contract to Income Electrix Limited for the provision of an additional 25MW of thermal power to the Western Area. The list of people interviewed is attached as annex 1 to this report. The report examines the extent to which the procurement process was complied with and the processes and procedures involved in the award of the energy contract to Income Electrix Limited. In the conduct of this exercise the Commission was guided by its mandate as provided in the following sections: Subsection 1 of section 5 of the Anti-Corruption Act (2008) which states that: “the object for which the Commission is established is to investigate instances of alleged or suspected corruption referred to it by any person or authority or which has come to its attention, whether by complaint or otherwise and to take such steps as may be necessary for the eradication or suppression of corrupt practices”. Sub section (2)(a) and (b) of section 5 of the said Act provides that it shall be the functions of the Commission to examine the practices and procedures of Government ministries, departments and other public bodies, in order to secure a revision of those practices and procedures which, in the opinion of the Commissioner, may lead to corrupt practices, and to advise the heads of such ministries, departments and other public bodies thereon and to instruct, advise and assist any person or authority on ways in which corrupt practices may be reduced or eliminated.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS:

1. The Working Group completed and submitted their final report to the PEETF on the 20th November 2007.

2. The proposal submitted to the NPPA for ‘No Objection' which according to the Chief Executive Officer had no financial commitment from Government was given on the 6th of November 2007.3

3. Letter of Commitment, which the Minister of Finance and Development describes as a letter of comfort issued to Income Electrix Limited 6th of November 2007.

4. The World Bank contract to Global Trading Group was signed on 17th November, 2007 in which Income Electrix Limited participated and failed. 3 CEO, NPPA letter to the Permanent Secretary and Chairman of Procurement Committee, Min. of Energy and Power, 6th Nov.2007 and 12th December 200

5. The contract with Income Electrix Limited was signed on the 23rd November 2007, barely six days after they lost their first bid in the energy sector.

6. The Ministry of Finance was asked for a ‘No Objection' to the signing of the contract on the 29th of November 2007, five days after the contract had been signed.

7. The National Power Authority Board gave its approval to the contract between National Power Authority and Income Electrix Limited on 31st January 2008 – over 60 days after the contract was signed. This practice has very serious implications for corruption in public sector management.

THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND SOLE SOURCING PROCEDURE

The method of procurement requested by the PEETF for sole sourcing and the manner in which it was applied left a lot to be desired and seems to suggest that there was a premeditated plan to award the contract to Income Electrix Limited even before the biding process had commenced. A number of factors led us to this conclusion. For example, the Working Group#1's Final Report considered Income Electrix's “conditions as being very unfavourable to GoSL/NPA”, and therefore did not even recommend that further discussions be held with them. Inspite of this professional advice, Income Electrix was considered and eventually awarded the contract.

Sole-Sourcing or Competitive bidding?

The terms of reference prepared by the PEETF for the Working Group suggest that the sole sourcing procurement method should be adopted at all cost even when this is contrary to the procurement regulations. The provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2004 dealing with sole sourcing provide as follows: “46. (1) Public procurement by means of the sole-source procurement method is permitted only in the following circumstances:- (a) when only one supplier has the exclusive right to the manufacture of the goods, carry out the works, or perform the services to be procured and no suitable alternative is available; (b) for additional deliveries of goods by the original supplier which are intended either as parts replacement for existing goods, services or installations, or as the extension of existing goods, services or installations where a change of supplier would compel the procuring entity to procure equipment or services not meeting requirements of interchangeability with already existing equipment or services; (c) when additional works, which were not included in the initial contract have, through unforeseeable circumstances, become necessary and the separation of the additional works or services from the initial contract would be difficult for technical or economic reasons; (d) in cases of extreme urgency, provided the circumstances which gave rise to the urgency were neither foreseeable by the procuring entity nor the result of dilatory conduct on its part; (e) when the services require that a particular consultant be selected due to his unique qualifications, or when it is indispensable to continue with the same consultant. (2) Use of sole-source procurement on the grounds referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) of section (1) is subject to prior approval by the procurement committee.”

The Public Procurement Regulations 2006 dealing with sole sourcing provides as follows: “45. (1) A procuring entity may use the sole-source procurement method source where: Faulty Lines in a Flawed and Costly Contract 7 (a) only one supplier has the technical capability or capacity to fulfill the procurement requirement within the time required by the procuring entity or a particular supplier has exclusive rights in respect of the goods, works or services and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists; (b) for additional deliveries of goods by the original supplier which are intended either as parts replacement for existing goods, services or installations, or as the extension of existing goods, services or installations where a change of supplier would compel the procuring entity to procure equipment or services not meeting requirements of inter-changeability with already existing equipment or services; (c) when additional works, which were not included in the initial contract have, through unforeseeable circumstances, become necessary and the separation of the additional works or services from the initial contract would be difficult for technical or economic reasons; (d) in cases of extreme urgency, provided the circumstances which gave rise to the urgency were neither foreseeable by the procuring entity nor the result of dilatory conduct on its part; (e) when the services require that a particular consultant is selected due to his unique qualifications, or when it is indispensable to continue with the same consultant. (2) Procurement under the sole source procurement method shall be subject to prior approval by the Procurement Committee.” In examining the provisions of the Act and the Regulations in relation to this contract the Commission notes the following:

 The procurement should be direct and not based on an open competitive bidding. As the name suggests sole sourcing usual refers to one and only one source that possesses a unique product having singular characteristics or performance capability. In procurement terms, it is the award for supply of a

good or service that can only be purchased from one supplier because of its specialized or unique characteristics. This requirement was negated as proposals were requested from several companies and evaluated.

 The entity requesting the sole-sourcing of procurement should secure a specific waiver to sole source from a supplier without competition.4 However this was not the case with this contract as there was the Working Group sought and received responses from seven companies. These were Emieola Group (Sierra Leone)/Delamore and Owl Group, Matelec Group, Duncan Trem, Aggreko, Euroelettra Sistemi, Eurodiesel and Jacobsen Elektro.

 In the case of extreme urgency, the circumstances which gave rise to the urgency should not have been foreseeable by the procuring entity nor the result of dilatory conduct on its part. It is clear that even if the circumstances in this specific case were considered as a case of an extreme emergency, the circumstances were foreseeable. An unforeseen circumstance could occur when there is an abrupt disruption in the supply of electricity that was not envisaged.

 Only one supplier should have the technical capability or capacity to fulfill the procurement requirement within the time required by the procuring entity or a particular supplier has exclusive rights in respect of the goods, works or services and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists. This was not so in this case as there were other suppliers available based on proposals submitted.

The above arguments clearly explain how even the sole sourcing procedure purportedly adopted was a misnomer. It is clear from these arguments that the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2004 and the Public Procurement Regulations 2006 were either inapplicable or were not complied with in this case. Procurement or Investment?

The opinion expressed by the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) indicated that this contract was not under the purview of procurement but rather an investment transaction that should not have any financial implication for Government 4 Clause 6.5 Public Procurement Manual First Edition 2006 page 35 Faulty Lines in a Flawed and Costly Contract 9 or any Government agency because the suppliers are Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and are private investors. The guiding principle emphasized by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and Planning was that IPPs being private investors would not have recourse to the Government for any financial support or commitment. 5 Their establishment, production and sale of electricity should be financed by themselves as in the case of telecommunications service providers such as Celtel, Comium, Tigo and Africell. As was noted by the NPPA in its letter to the Secretary to the President dated 14th March 2008 IPPs being private investors and since there was no financial commitment on the part of Government, they did not fall under the purview of the Public Procurement Act 2004. However, since the reality was that there was a huge financial commitment on the part of Government, they clearly fell within the purview of the Act. Manipulation of the Procurement Process

The Commission is of the view that the inclusion of Income Electrix Limited amongst the recommended companies for the supply of thermal electricity was manipulated. The Working Group appointed by the PEETF recommended two companies who were deemed to have the technical and financial capacity to satisfy the requirements of the Government of Sierra Leone. These companies were Emieola Group and Matelec Group. According to the Final Report of the Working Group#1, Income Electrix Limited presented a proposal that had unfavorable financial implications for Government and as a result they were not recommended. However, in spite of these facts the Chairman of the PEETF, Dr. Lancelot Ayo Lake, in his letter of 20th November 2007 addressed to the Honorable Minister of Energy and Power for the attention of His Excellency the President went ahead and included Income Electrix Limited amongst the companies recommended by the Working Group. Further to this, two members of the PEETF, Messrs Tani Pratt and Prof Jonas A S Redwood Sawyer, wrote a strongly worded letter dated 30th November,2007 to the Chairman of the PEETF expressing grave concerns about certain anomalies relating to the signing of contracts without due consideration for the financial implications to Government. Even the supervising agency, the National Commission 5 Chief Executive Officer's Correspondence to the Secretary to the President, 14th March 2008 Faulty Lines in a Flawed and Costly Contract 10 for Privatization (NCP) was not informed of the signing of the contract with Income Electrix until February 2008.

Further still, the chronology of events leading to the eventual award of the contract to Income Electrix Limited portrays a determination by the PEETF to ensure that Income Electrix Limited gets the investment contract against all professional and technical advice. It must also be noted that Income Electrix Limited had failed a similar bid with the World Bank procurement process for the supply of the 15MW of thermal power for the same entity. The Commission's findings

Based on its investigations, the Commission has concluded as follows: 1. That competitive bidding was the procurement method used but that this was misrepresented by the use of the term sole source. That this misrepresentation was done so as to prevent full compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2004 and Public Procurement Regulation 2006.

2. Technical advice was disregarded and manipulated. This was clearly done in the case when the Working Group's recommendation to the PEETF that Income Electrix Limited's proposal had unfavorable financial implications for Government was ignored and their name was added to the list and they were ultimately awarded the contract.

3. There was a deliberate effort by the PEETF to award the contract to Income Electrix Limited as seen in the retrospective efforts undertaken to legitimize their action. Board approval and the consent of the National Commission for Privatisation was only sought after the contract had been signed. 4. There was misrepresentation of facts between the NPPA and the Ministry of Energy and Power (NPA) on the one hand, and the Ministry of Finance Faulty Lines in a Flawed and Costly Contract 11 and Economic Development on the other on the issue of non-financial implications to Government.

5. The proposals presented for review to the NPPA show that the Income Electrix Limited proposal as with other proposals does not require any financial commitment from the Government since the projects are Build Operate and Manage (BOM).6 The commitment on Government was later built into the contract at the time of the signing without any further reference to National Commission for Privatisation7 and the National

Public Procurement Authority or even the Board of the National Power Authority.

6. The presence of representatives of the National Commission for Privatization, the National Public Procurement Authority and the Ministry of Finance in the Working Group does not waive the fact that the consent of these institutions ought to have been sought before the contract was approved.

7. At a meeting in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) of both the Ministers of Energy and Power and MOFED, the submission made by the Minister of Energy and Power was that there was no financial implication to Government on the aforesaid proposals. However the contract carries enormous financial implications to the disadvantage of Government as against Income Electrix Limited as buttressed by the Finance Minister's response to the contract agreement submitted. 8 It is the opinion of the Commission that the Minister of Energy and Power, Haja Mrs. Hafsatu Kabba, played a key role in getting 6 CEO, NPPA- Correspondence for the attention of the President, Sole

Sourcing of Independent Power

Producers, 14th March 2008

7 In the National Privatisation Act No 12 of 2002, the Commission replaced the Minister of Energy and Power as the main power responsible for the management of the Authority and its object include to remove interference in the management of the NPA from the Ministry. The National Power Authority Act No. 3 of 1982 was amended to this effect. 8 Minutes of Meeting held between MOF and MEP National Commission for Privatization (NCP), comments on Income Electrix Electricity Generation Contract, 25th February 2008 the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to make a joint financial commitment on behalf of Government to Income Electrix Limited even before the signing of the contract. In addition, the Minister, despite the caution by the Minister of Finance and Development and Economic Planning about the huge financial implication to Government amounting to about US$ 65.5 M if this contract should go ahead, went ahead and signed the contract.

8. There was an apparent inconsistency as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development signed a letter of commitment on the 6th November 2007 with the Minister of Energy and Power to Income Electrix Limited stating that “the Government of Sierra Leone will guarantee the obligations of the National Power Authority (NPA) as stipulated in the final negotiated contract” even before the signing of the contract on the 23rd of November 2007. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development later highlighted weaknesses of the contract on the 14th of February 2008 in terms of the financial implications on Government. This seems to indicate that had the Ministry known the full financial implications of the contract they would not have signed the letter of commitment.

9. Also, whilst the letter of commitment to Income Electrix was being signed, another letter was sent on the same date of 6th of November 2007 by the Ministry of Energy and Power requesting a ‘No Objection' from the NPPA on two proposals, including Income Electrix which do not contain any financial commitment from the Government.

10. The process of awarding the contract to Income Electrix Limited by Ministry of Energy and Power against the recommendation of the Technical Committee clearly manifests the degree of interest and manipulation done in favour of the company. The complete nonadherence to procurement procedures and failure to take into account the financial burden of awarding the contract to Income Electrix, results

in huge financial loss to not only NPA but the Government, moreso Government will be obliged to meet huge costs for the entire plant whether it is operational or not. The real cost of the contract could reach US$100 million a year, when penalty charges are levied on unpaid amount due to Income Electrix Limited

11. The arbitrary decision of Dr. Lancelot Lake and the Minister of Energy and Power, Mrs. Haja Afsatu Kabbah, to overturn the professional recommendation of the Technical Committee resulted in Professor Redwood- Sawyerr and Mr. Tani Pratt writing a strongly-worded letter to complain about the same and it clearly manifests the gross abuse of executive authority resulting to loss of public funds.

12. Based on our investigation, even though the contract is for 25MW, up till now, only 10MW has been installed and commissioned on February 12, 2008. Of the 10 MW installed capacity, only about 2-3 MW has been working since commissioning date although the contract stipulates that Government/NPA should pay for 25MW capacity charges.

ONEROUS TERMS OF THE CONTRACT

The contract signed with Income Electrix Limited on the 23rd November 2007 contains a number of terms and conditions that are onerous to the Government of Sierra Leone. The analysis of some of the terms and conditions of the contract below clearly illustrates this. In order to illustrate this point even further it is necessary to compare the same with the Global Trading Group contract for which the World Bank carried out the procurement process.

In a letter to the Minister of Energy and Power written by the former Chairman of the NCP dated 25th February 2008, the following concerns were raised regarding the terms of the contract:

Clause1 - The contract is for the provision of 25MW of continuous power to be delivered at two sites designated by National Power Authority. Given the current state of National Power Authority transmission and distribution system, it may not have the capacity to evacuate such a big amount on top of the 15MW already committed through the Global Trading Group (GTG) contract. In the likely event that National Power Authority cannot utilise all the power provided by Income Electrix Limited the contract provides that National Power Authority will still incur the capacity charges (the flat charge for the rental of the generating plant). The GoSL is liable for any default in payments by National Power Authority to Income Electrix Limited. On the basis of Income Electrix Limited's own calculations, total payments owed to Income Electrix Limited over the term of the contract could amount to more than US$ 180 million. Clause 2.1.3

The date of commissioning the plant is defined as the date when the power station is connected to the National Power Authority system, not when it is actually operational. Normally under such contracts the commission date is when the plant has been tested and certified by the utility as being capable of providing the full contract amount. Clause 2.3 The contract is for a period of three years. If it is terminated for any reason, the capacity charge is payable for the entire period of the contract. This is estimated to amount to US$ 21.021 million. Clause 2.5 The capacity charge is levied “irrespective of the operational capacity of the plant” and is payable from “the day that the equipment (an undefined term) is delivered to Freetown Port.” Normally in such contracts the capacity charge is levied from the date the plant is commissioned and is only payable if the plant is fully operational. In the case of the Global Trading Group contracts, liquidated damages are payable to National Power Authority if the plant is not capable of delivering the required capacity and it is not commissioned on time. Clause 2.7 The Energy Charge (to cover the cost of maintenance, etc) is based on the actual energy consumed or the minimum daily off take, which is defined as th full contracted amount of electricity (that is the plant running at full capacity for 24 hours per day for the full contract period), whichever is greater.

This will amount to a minimum of US$9.5265 million over the term of the contract. Such a position is not unusual except that the minimum daily off take is normally set at quite a low level, nowhere near the full contracted amount. In the case of the Global Trading Group contract, there is no minimum daily off take so there is no energy charge levied unless power is being delivered. Clause 5.1.5 The cost of mobilization and installation of the two plants, which must be met by National Power Authority, is US$2.45 million. The corresponding figure for the 15MW GTG plant is US$538,862. Clause 5.1.6 The demobilization and removal charges, which must be met by National Power Authority, are US$2785, 000 “or the current market price”. The contract does not specify, but presumably it is whichever figure is higher. The corresponding figure for the Global Trading Group contract, which is a set amount, is US$420,580. Clause 5.1.8 The cost of site preparation, which must be met by National Power Authority, is US$179,000. There is no corresponding cost under the Global Trading Group contract where National Power Authority must just provide a suitable site. Clause 5.1.18

Metering is undertaken by the Income Electrix Limited alone. Normally such contracts provide for a set of check meters which are contracts provide for a set of check meters which are used to verify that the main meters are operating properly. This is the case in the Global Trading Group contract. Clause 6.8 All duties, taxes, fees and charges and “any legislative modification with financial implications on the contract shall be waived by NPA/GOSL”. This is a very sweeping and ill defined provision which could have serious financial consequences for the Government as it appears to provide a duty waiver on the importation of fuel. This sets a bad policy precedent (other people using diesel for electricity generation could ask for duty waiver) and the duty free fuel could easily be diverted to other uses. GTG was provided a waiver on import duties on plant and machinery only.

Clause 6.10 This clause provides that “supply of fuel has been separately charged and it is stipulated in table two”. Unfortunately table two, which appears to have been lifted directly from Income Electrix Limited's bid for the World Bank funded Emergency Plant, does not specify how the fuel charge will be calculated. The clause also specifies “the price of fuel is subject to fluctuation”. Again, neither the clause nor table two specifies how the fluctuations are to be taken into account in calculating the fuel charge. As the fuel charge is by far the largest cost component under the contract in the order of US$50 million per year, these are serious omissions. The GTG contract includes detailed provisions as to how the fuel charge will be calculated and, most importantly, relates the fuel charge not to any claim fuel usage but rather to the amount of fuel that should be used to generate the amount electricity delivered given the efficiency of the plant that was specified in GTG's bid.

That is, if the plant is running inefficiently the additional cost incurred are a charge to GTG not National Power Authority. Clause 7.9 National Power Authority is required to take “minimum energy….. Which is 100% load of the continuous power being supplied…..” On the fact of it this seems to mean that National Power Authority has an obligation to take, and therefore pay, all the cost of running the plant at full capacity. The cost of running the plant at full capacity (in excess of US$60 million per year) regardless of how much power is actually taken. However, paying for fuel which has not been used is clearly so outrageous that it is doubtful the Income Electrix Limited will try and interpret this clause that way. Most likely the clause will be taken to mean that all the other the charges (capacity, energy, etc.) must be paid in full regardless of the amount of the power actually taken.

Clause 7.10 This clause provides that “NPA shall provide logistics charges for fuel storage and transportation charges…” However, nowhere is it specified what these charges are and how they are to be calculated. Typically such charges are included in the energy charge. Clause 8.1 National Power Authority is required to “establish two confirmed irrevocable letters of credit for the full amount payable to Income Electrix Limited annually with a reputable international bank acceptable to Income Electrix Limited.”

According to Income Electrix Limited's calculations, this requires the establishment of two letters of credit by National Power Authority with a combine value in excess of US$60 million. Under the GTG contract, a single letter of credit to the value of US2 million was required to guarantee fuel payment. Clause 8.2.6 The penalty for late payment National Power Authority is LIBOR plus 7.3%. This is a very high penalty rate. The equivalent rate in the GTG contract is LIBOR plus 1.5%. However it is unclear how late payment by National Power Authority could occur as it would seem the Income Electrix Limited can meet all payment due to it by calls on the letters of credit describe above. Clause 8.3. The capacity charge is paid monthly in advance and the energy charge monthly in arrears. The fuel charge is paid monthly in advance but with two months being paid “at the inception of the contract…” (This is close to US$9 million for initial two months).

It is not clear exactly how the value of the advance fuel payment can be determined as the value varies depending on the fuel price and, depending on the interpretation of Clause 7.9 on the amount fuel used. Clause 8.4 In additional to the general guarantee provided by GOSL under Clause 1 and the letters of credit established by NPA under Clause 8.1, the government is required to issue a bank guarantee to Income Electrix Limited to ensure payment of any amount unpaid by National Power Authority and outstanding for more than 60 days. The value of this bank guarantee appears not to be specified. Clause 8.5 National Power Authority is guaranteed “a moratorium” for five months after commission on all charges due to Income Electrix Limited except fuel charges. It is not specified, but presumable all outstanding amounts become due at the end of five months.

Clause 11 National Power Authority is required to pay for insurance for Income Electrix Limited personnel and equipment. The estimated cost is US$250,000. This is a most unusual provision. Insurance is normally the responsibility of the owner and the operator of the equipment. This is the case of GTG contract. Clause 14.3 If the contract is terminated for any reason, National Power Authority must pay the capacity charge to Income Electrix Limited for the remainder of the contract. In total, the capacity charges are in excess of US$21 million.

This appears to apply regardless of which party terminates the contract. Although it is usual to have penalties for termination to cover loss of income, payment usually depends on the circumstances of the termination and which party invokes the termination. Payment of the entire reaming capacity charge is excessive as if the termination occurred early in the contract the plant could easily be shifted to another earned rental income. Clause 14.4-14.7 NPA is allowed to terminate the contract only in the case of a delay in commissioning the plant in excess of 12 weeks after the plant is delivered to the cite the case of force majeure. NPA has no general right to terminate the plant if for example the plant is no longer needed because of the commissioning of Bumbuna. Clause 19 Income Electrix Limited's obligations under the contract are dependent on NPA obtaining approval from its Board for the contract, confirmation that authorization to import all equipment has been obtained and the establishment of the two letters of credit required under Clause 8.1. It is not clear that all these conditions precedent have yet been met.

CONCLUSION

The Commission notes that one of the President's post-election priorities was to restore electricity supply to the country. The President has been quoted on a number of occasions including his inaugural address to parliament on 5th October 2007 as saying “Our priority in terms of development is energy. We believe it is only when you have energy that you will be able to unlock the other economic activities.”9 The Commission is also cognisant of the fact that the Minister of Energy and Power was under immense pressure to deliver power supply to Freetown by Christmas.

Despite this immense pressure, the Commission is of the view that the proper process ought to have been complied with. The World Bank procurement process which led to the award of the contract to Global Trading Group commenced almost around the same time as this process. If they were able to comply with the proper process and meet the deadline, it is our view that the same could also have been done in this case. Mis-procurement and the failure to comply with procurement laws and regulations immediately raises the red flag and suggests that corrupt practices have taken place. Although the Commission has not been able to find any evidence of the commission of an offence under the Anti-Corruption Act 2000 in this specific case, the Commission will remain seized of the matter and if there is any evidence of a breach of the provisions of the Act the necessary action will be taken by the Commission.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The following are recommended by the Commission:

 Government should seriously consider terminating the contract with immediate effect within the requisite legal framework to avoid further costs and embarrassment;

 In the alternative, the provisions of the contract must be thoroughly reviewed by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice with a view to advising Government on how the same ought to be avoided or at the very least renegotiated by Government for more favourable terms that will minimize the fiscal impact as well as the monetary burdens on the nation's economy.

 Substantially violating procurement procedures and awarding the contract without prior approval from legally authorised institutions, is in itself, grossly improper. Individuals who sign contracts on behalf of Government 9 http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news...

and without complying with the procurement laws and regulations must be held personally liable for whatever loss is incurred by Government.

 The rules and regulations according to the Public Procurement Act 2004 and the Public Procurement Regulations 2006 should be scrupulously followed at all times. Now that the NPPA and the Anti-Corruption Commission have organized a workshop for cabinet there can be no further excuse for a breach of the provisions of the law. Regular refresher courses must be conducted to ensure that Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior staff in all MDAs are kept abreast with the law.

 The Public Procurement Act 2004 must be amended to include a provision that will clearly spell out the consequence of mis-procurement or failure to comply with the provisions of the Act. The Commission is of the view that blatant disregard for the law must in certain instances invalidate the contract ab initio. Although the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act No 12 of 2008 does not apply to this contract, had it been in force at the time of the signing of this contract the provisions of subsection (2) (b) of Section 48 would have applied. This provides that “Any person whose functions concern the administration, custody, management, receipt or use of any part of the public revenue or public property commits an offence if he willfully or negligently fails to comply with any law or applicable procedures and guidelines relating to the procurement, allocation, sale or disposal of property, tendering of contracts, management of funds or incurring of expenditures;”

 The process of committing Government to contracts must be clearly spelt out and Ministers must comply with the same. The Government of Sierra Leone should come up with a white paper on the signing of contracts making it mandatory for all MDAs to secure the expressed approval in writing of the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice within the threshold of National and International Competitive Bidding. For example, it must be a requirement that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development must provide a signed certificate of approval before any contract that has any financial implications for Government is signed.

 The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, being the principal legal adviser to Government, must advice on the legal implications to Government on any contract before it is signed. The Ministry must be given the capacity to provide this advice or alternatively lawyers should be attached to all MDAs to provide legal assistance in the signing of contracts. This will help to forestall the signing of more onerous agreements like the contract with Income Electrix Limited.

 The role of the National Commission for Privatisation vis-à-vis the role of the Minister of Energy and Power in administering the National Power Authority must be clearly spelt out and all three institutions must strictly adhere to their respective roles as defined in the National Power Authority Act No. 3 of 1982 and National Privatisation Act No 12 of 2002.

 The Anti-Corruption Commission continues its investigations into the award of the contract to determine whether there was a breach of the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act 2000 which was the Act in force at the time this transaction took place.

People Interviewed

1. National Public Procurement Authority

Alfred H. Kandeh – Chief Executive Secretary

Farid Alghali – Legal Affairs Specialist

2. National Commission for Privatisation

Abu Bangura – Chairman, NCP

Bruce Carrie – Senior Advisor, NCP

Abdul Mansaray – Financial Analyst, NCP

3. Ministry of Finance and Economic Development

Sahr L Jusu- Head Public Debt Unit

 A draft copy of this report was sent to inter alia the Secretary to the President, Minister of Finance and Economic Development and Minister of

Energy and Power. Both responded in writing and their comments were taken into consideration.

Top photo: ACC boss Joseph Kamara.

Former Energy minister Afsatu Kabba (foreground).

30 Doctors Head for Sierra Leone from Saudi Arabia

Alhaji Jalloh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — 2012-02-04T04:47:59Z

A medical team of Physicians Across Continents (PAC) today, 1st February, 2012 left the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Sierra Leone to deliver free medical treatments to the poor and needy for a period of 10 days. The team is composed of health professionals from Saudi Arabia, America, Russia, Sweden, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Malaysia.

According to the head of the thirty- man delegation, Dr. Sa'ad Ali Al-Garni who is also a Consultant, Vascular Surgery at the King Faisal Specialists Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, the team is comprised of Blood Vessel Surgeons, General Surgeons, Pediatricians, Gynecologists, Anesthesiologists, Dentists etc. Giving a background about the Saudi based charitable organization; Dr Al-Garni said PAC was founded in 2004. He added that it's a humanitarian aid organization operating under the auspices of the Muslim World League and it helps to treat patients around the globe regardless of race, colour, religion and country.

For his part, Charge d' Affaires at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Riyadh, Eric B. Gamanga, the visit of the medics will boost President Koroma's Agenda for Change in the improvement of the health sector.

It could be recalled that on assumption of office in 2007, President Koroma listed health as one of his priority areas in his Agenda for Change. The president's vision is accessible, affordable and now, there is quality health care for all Sierra Leoneans, especially children under-five, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

This is the second visit of PAC to Sierra Leone. In December 2009, the late Deputy Health Minister, Mohamed Daudis Koroma was very instrumental in extending an invitation to 28 PAC members who paid a week-long official visit to Sierra Leone.

In a letter dated 10th December, 2009, addressed to the Secretary General of PAC, the late Deputy Health Chief requested the doctors to provide an oxygen machine, drugs and other essential medical supplies for the general populace.

President Koroma Arrives in Addis for AU Summit

2012-01-28T23:42:18Z

His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma is leading Sierra Leone's delegation to the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union which commenced 28th January 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President Koroma arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday 27th January, 2012 to attend the Summit which is of great importance to the continent.

This year's Summit is holding under the theme: “Boosting Intra-African Trade.”

Members of the President's delegation include: Her Excellency Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma, First Lady, Hon. Joseph Dauda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Minister of Information and Communication, Hon. Dr. Richard Konteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, Ambassador Andrew G. Bangali, Sierra Leone's Envoy to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Dr. Osman Gbla, Chair of the APRM National Governing Council.

Other members also include Ambassador Soulay Daramy, State Chief of Protocol, Mr. Brian Gilpin, Personal Assistant to the President, Mrs. Musu Matturi-Dao, Personal Assistant to the First Lady, Superintendent Reuben Shyllon, Aide De Camp to the President, Mr. Unisa Kamara, Director, Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Mustapha Kalokohm, Medical Practitioner, Mrs. Razia Bash-Kamara,Press Officer, Mr. Abdulai Tarawali-TV Camera Man/ Photographer and Mr. Ibrahim Sesay, Personal Security to the President.

Meanwhile, the Executive Council which is composed of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in the continent had considered and adopted the report of the Permanent Representatives' Committee (PRC), which will be presented to the Heads of State for Decisions and Declarations.

Hon. J.B.Dauda arrives in Ethiopia for Executive Council Meeting

Abdul Karim Koroma, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — 2012-01-27T04:11:13Z

Sierra Leone's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Joseph Bandabla Dauda (popularly known as Jam Body for Development) has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to join his colleague Ministers of External Affairs to attend the 20th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council which is currently holding from 26th -27th January 2012 at the headquarters of the African Union.

The Executive Council Meeting is paving the way for the African Union Heads of State Summit and this year's Summit is holding under the theme: “Boosting Intra-African Trade.”

The Summit officially kicked off on Monday 23rd January with the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives' Committee (PRC).

The Ambassadors exchanged views on specific reports including the reports of the Sub-Committees on Structures; Multilateral Cooperation; Contributions; Economic and Trade Matters; the report on NEPAD as well as that of the Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine in Africa among others.

They have considered the Working Documents and Draft Decisions in preparation of the 20th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

Part A includes items for adoption on which the PRC has reached an agreement and for which approval by the Executive Council is required without discussion while Part B includes items which agreement has not been reached by the PRC and therefore requires debate before the Foreign Affairs Ministers.

In attendance at the meeting were: Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Mr. Andrew Gbebay Bangali; Mr. Amadu Koroma, Deputy Chief of Mission; Mr. Unisa Kamara, Director, Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Juliana Sia Fallah and Mr. Christopher Bockarie First and Second Secretaries respectively in the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Addis Ababa.

Photo: Jam Body (right) and Ambassador Bangali.

ABC Secretariat, FCC Traders, Hang Heads

2012-01-27T03:17:30Z

By Momoja Lappia, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

In their determination to address the threat trade abnormalities are posing to consumers' health and safety especially within the Freetown Municipality, the Attitudinal and Behavioural Change (ABC) Secretariat on Tuesday 24th January, 2012 concluded a one-day Public Education Meeting with officials of the Freetown City Council (FCC) and Leadership of Street Traders at Youyi Building in Freetown (top photo).

Big Blessing

This meeting which attracted traders from Sani Abacha Street, Fourah Bay Road, Aberdeen Road, Guard Street, Hagan and Martin Streets was described by attendees as a big blessing for inhabitants of Freetown and the country at large. According to them the meeting materialised at a time when the problem of street trading has been politicised and traders view officials of Freetown City Council as corrupt and non-performers. Moreover, the meeting, they said, will solve range of problems the rift between FCC and Petty Traders have been unduly causing the President Ernest Bai Koroma's All Peoples Congress ruling government.

Showers of Praise

In his opening remarks the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Information and Communication, Mr. Sheku Tamu heaped praises on the current ABC Secretariat executives. He observed that unlike the former executives who were fired for alleged corruption that dented the secretariat's image, their successors are relentlessly attacking poor attitudes and behaviours that are demeaning national progress. The current executives, Mr. Tamu said, have the resilience in exploiting their potent capabilities to see that President Koroma's vision of an Agenda for Change come to fruition. In a retrospect Mr. Tamu spoke on how their sensitisation tour last year helped to tackle the negative attitudes of students, police officers, soldiers, traders, prison officers, fire fighters and school authorities among others.

He underscored the importance of petty traders in the socioeconomic uplifting of the country albeit the problems some of their activities are causing.

Tamu bemoaned how street trading, adulteration of consumables, falsification of standard measurements and overpricing of goods have not only swindled consumers of their hard earned income, but affects their health and road safety as well.

That, he stressed, does not corroborate with admiration foreigners hold for Sierra Leoneans because of their inborn hospitality, religious tolerance and hardworking nature.

He admonished the Freetown City Council to be transparent, accountable and result oriented, since in a contemporary democracy much is expected from Local Government.

Tamu, in conclusion, urged participants to be objective in their contributions so that a workable Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) could be drafted at session's ending.

All Eyes on Freetown

While declaring the purpose and intent of the meetings, the Executive Director of the ABC Secretariat, Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas mentioned that among other City Councils in the country, all eyes are on FCC because of its unsatisfactory performance. He attributed this to the poor attitudes and behaviours of the FCC employees and the city's inhabitants most of whom he said fail to pay dues, fines, charges, and taxes.

He said it is against this backdrop that Freetown is experiencing the worst form of trade associated problems.

Dr. Thomas divulged that this existing problem can only be addressed through dialogue among the actors. And this he disclosed constitutes the purpose and intent the ABC Secretariat has for organising the Public Education Meeting.

FCC Exposed

Speaker after speaker from the Leadership of Petty Traders present divulged that the Freetown City Council has not been giving them satisfactory service for collected dues, rates, fines and taxes. According to them the market dues are collected by youths around the area and no receipts are issued.

The Chairlady of Salad Grounds Market along Garrison Street, Mrs. Salamatu Sesay complained that although they have been honouring their obligations, FCC has failed to provide necessary sanitary conditions, market facilities and security.

On her part Madam Isatu Kamara of Martin Street Market revealed that although they as petty traders tried to address the spate of street trading through ‘Operation Push Back', FCC undermined their effort by allowing street traders to molest and humiliate them.

Mr. John Sesay, another speaker, said as expected the FCC has not over the years conformed to the requirements of a true local governance actor. He complained that in the midst of rampant unaccountability FCC cannot even boast of a data base of traders within the Freetown Municipality that could be used for proper planning, control and execution of duties.

FCC Admits, Apologises & Promises

Responding to traders' complaints the Acting Chief Administrator of FCC, Mr John A. Conteh attested that indeed the traders have been robbed of their rights and attributed numerous accidents and the spread of contagious diseases within the city to street trading. According to him although there are unused markets structures most lack the required facilities to attract traders from streets.

He registered his remorse for these appalling situations and said that it is as a result of this inefficiency some former FCC bosses have been dragged to court.

Conteh added that that although he and others have just been assigned to manage the FCC's affairs, they will do everything possible to ensure that traders and other inhabitants within the Freetown Municipality get value for monies they will be paying.

In his contribution the newly appointed FCC Resident Technical Facilitator, Sylvester Leslie Thomas promised that a data base for traders will soon be formulated.

Root of Problems and Feasible Solutions

Making her statement the National Coordinator and Second-in-command of ABC, Madam Nanette Thomas reiterated that problems posed by uncontrolled trade emanate from abominable attitudes and behaviours.

These, she noted, are not only manifested by the FCC and petty traders, but importers, wholesalers, customs officers, policy formulators and law enforcers.

Madam Thomas maintained that these inhuman trading and official behaviour are hampering President Ernest Bai Koroma's Agenda for Change which aims at maximizing the livelihood of Sierra Leoneans.

The National Coordinator of ABC Secretariat advanced that until the established laws for competitive trade are applied petty traders will remain at the mercy of extortive importers.

Madam Thomas maintained that to curb street trading FCC should build and maintain existing markets within Freetown. She called for more control measures within the collection and disbursement of dues, fines, rates, taxes and charges. She informed participants that she worked for FCC and during those days market keepers and market sweepers put on uniforms to work which always identified their position and place of work. She appealed that the FCC ensures that the workers start wearing uniforms to help solve some of these problems. She also informed the participants that she is very saddened that a whole institution like the FCC can allow youths to handle the finances of such a noble institution.

She concluded by calling on petty traders, especially women whom she described as the breadbaskets of most families to endeavour to manage their finances, relationships, environments, spirituality and health well since this will help them in putting up positive manners.

In another development, Madam Thomas warned petty traders to desist from child labour which she said does not only contravene FCC Bye- Laws, but is keeping most potential future leaders from acquiring education.

She also encouraged traders to spare their limited time from trading and register in droves for the forthcoming elections. According to her it is only by registering and voting that traders will be empowered to elect performance orientated Councillors and the Mayor that will return Freetown City to its once enviable status.

ABC Executive Director Ivan Ajibola Thomas.

Nanette Thomas, ABC National Coordinator.

Permanent Secretary Sheku Tamu.

Making Health Facilities “Fit-for-Purpose” in Sierra Leone

2012-01-27T02:49:06Z

Analysis

By Alhassan Fouard Kanu, Makeni, Northern Sierra Leone.

It is a politically unpalatable fact that resources needed to address the health of a country's population are always inadequate and hence affect efficiency and equity in healthcare delivery. This is demonstrated in the bad shape of our health facilities, shortage of skilled professionals and the frequent stockouts of essential drugs and supplies. These combined, have been the major factor for the unwanted deaths and disabilities in our population; and especially in the vulnerable groups of women and children.

A political decision was made in 2010 to provide Free Healthcare (FHC) services to these groups in order to improve on maternal and infant mortality indices and above all, to avert some of the uncalled for deaths due to financial barriers to accessing health services. This scheme for pregnant and lactating women and their children is also pregnant with opportunities. It is a demand-focus initiative but has also provided support to the supply side with increase in salaries and lately the Performance-Based Financing (PBF) among others. The PBF is one of the strategies for the implementation of the FHC scheme by ensuring a clear link between financial resources and the MDG's outcomes. The performance-based financing mechanism funds healthcare service providers according to the outputs (healthcare service provision) or outcomes (health status of the target population) that they provide. The general objective of the PBF system is to help change the behaviour of health providers at facility level for them to deliver more quality services and to increase their productivity under the free health care policy.

The Reproductive and Child Health Directorate (RCHD), which was created in 2008 has been at the fore in the management of the FHC scheme. This very important directorate in the Ministry of Health & Sanitation (MOHS) is tasked to generate policies, provide supervision, monitoring and evaluation and coordinate all RCH activities related to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality within the (MOHS) RCH framework. It is headed by the erudite, dynamic and innovative Director- Dr SAS Kargbo. A man who, before being called upon to head this directorate has carved a niche for himself as DMO in the Koinadugu district where he creatively employed pro-poor strategies to address issues of RCH in the most access challenged district in the country.

At the RCHD, he is working assiduously and synergistically with other directorates, programmes and partners, trying to reverse the unacceptably high maternal and infant mortality indices, using different approaches.

The RCHD believes that, providing FHC to these vulnerable groups is not enough but should ensure quality service delivery is provided, and our staffs work in a conducive environment with the required tools and competence. The MOHS identified seven requirements which became known as the ENABLERS, to be in place for the functioning of EmONC (Hospital and Community Health Centres) units and these are:

Water and Sanitation

This calls for a 24 hour availability of safe drinking water in the facility carried through pipes in the labour room and theatre; hand washing facilities and the availability of waste disposal using either an incinerator or burial pit.

Electricity

Facilities require 24 hour availability (when needed) of power- especially in the labour room and theatre, from sources including central power, solar and generator. A back up source is also needed to fulfil this requirement.

Referrals

This requirement is looking at two areas: transportation and communication. On transportation, there must be a 24 hour ambulance service available at the facility. On communication, there must be the possibility of 24 hour communication using cellular phones or VHF radios to call for ambulance service.

Equipment for special procedures

Important instruments are required by facilities to be able to respond to EmONC needs and ALL of them must be present at the facility. In addition, staff at such facility must be competent in performing life-saving EmONC procedures.

Blood storage and Laboratory services- there must be a functioning laboratory (with a trained lab technician/assistant) in EmONC facilities that can do haematology, microscopy and biochemistry. Staffing-this requirement calls for the placement of the right and competent staff in EmONC facilities.

Drugs and Supplies

This requirement calls for the non-stock outs of ALL 16 tracer drugs Plus IV/IM antibiotics, oxytoxics and anticonvulsants

The MOHS, through the RCHD set up a team that will be responsible for tracking progress of these ENABLERS quarterly. These teams became known as the Facility Improvement Team (FIT). The overall objective of the FIT is to assist the districts in monitoring the implementation of all ENABLERS in the targeted facilities to become EmONC certified and assuring that quality service delivery is provided.

Facilities earmarked as potential EmONC; 65 CHCs to be BEmONC and the 13 hospital as CEmONC were visited throughout 2011.Though it is yet a challenge to have an EmONC compliant unit in the country, the FIT has gone a long way in driving support from our partners who have positively responded to its requirements. The recent supply of required equipment and drugs by UNICEF, for example, to facilities- in response to findings of FIT- is improving service delivery in our health facilities. The human resource needs of our health facilities are incrementally being addressed, as seen in the recent posting of community midwives to all the BEmONC centres in the country.

The FIT is also providing a direction to district stakeholders (DHMT, Local Councils and partners) in areas to spend health sector funds, especially the RCHP funds. Further, the FIT has ignited commitment and create a spirit of competitiveness by the various districts to ensure they improve between quarterly FIT assessments by procuring and maintaining generators, solarisation of facilities, support to staff trainings and recruitment of auxiliary staff .This is making a difference in our facilities.

The FIT team is also checking that district stakeholders deliver what they promise in meeting with teams (management accountability, as well as ensuring that democratically decided actions are implemented) ; as well as making evidence-informed recommendations to DHMT and local councils on quality health service delivery.

Whilst at the beginning the FIT was assessing only inputs to these facilities, this has now moved to another stage where the processes are looked into, giving birth to a sub-component of FIT (referred to as FIT mentoring). This component provides on-the-job training of staff on live-saving skills and on evidenced-based and pro-poor strategies in reducing maternal and infant morbidities and mortalities.

Our potential EmONC facilities are becoming Fit-for-the-purpose of delivering quality health services to not only the target groups but to all and sundry that come into contact with these centres.

With thanks to partners : Options Consultancy Services, who provides technical support to the RCHD and funds for the quarterly FIT assessments; the UN agencies (WHO, UNICEF) for the funding of the FIT mentoring exercise, among other support.

Editor's note: Alhassan Fouard Kanu, is Regional Health Sector Support Specialist (NORTH) Reproductive and Child Health Programme Ministry of Health & Sanitation; Sierra Leone (Options Consultancy Services UK LTD)

Tel:+23278874810/+23288916618/+23276209546

Email: allanzain2009@yahoo.co.uk

What a New Year's Gift for Sierra Leoneans

2012-01-27T02:30:48Z

Commentary

By Abdulai Bayraytay in Toronto, Canada.

A political theory is playing out in Sierra Leone over the entrenched culture of violence in the country following the vicious stabbings of members of the ruling All People's Congress Party (APC) allegedly masterminded by Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) chairman in the Fourah Bay Community, Aziz Carew.

Cross sections of civil society organizations have come under a barrage of criticisms over their particularly conspicuous silence on the stabbings unleashed on APC supporters, including the chairlady of the party, Mariama Suma aka N'ma Bangura and firebrand politician Lansana Fadika (who only a fortnight ago crossed over from the SLPP to the APC), among scores of others.

The criticisms have garnered widespread support from Sierra Leoneans particularly in the Diaspora not only because the bloodbath visited on APC stalwarts had succeeded not only in rekindling the squalid memories of the country's brutal civil war from 1991 until 2002, but the rather squalid message this would send that political differences in Sierra Leone could only be resolved through mayhem.

Whilst the government's position since President Koroma came to power in 2007 seems to be that of continuing to demonstrate to the multitude of human rights organizations and the international community that its human rights record has so far been impeccable with journalists given the unprecedented freedom to practice their profession without any let or hindrance or perceived repercussions, no opposition politician arrested, not even John Benjamin and his cronies who have been infamously accused of fomenting political chaos across the country, including the notorious masterminded incident in Bo.

As the SLPP calculated violence has largely been seen as a cheap political ploy aimed at diverting growing concerns held by the international community over the role of Maada Bio in the brutal extrajudicial killings of former Inspector General of Police, James Bambay Kamara, Salami Coker and scores of others, what would not however easily fade away from the minds of the international community, especially the country's donor friends, are niggling questions former President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and his former Vice-President cum Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Solomon Berewa jointly raised on the role Maada Bio played in the dubious transactions the NPRC regime undertook in the name of national defence, including the hundreds of billions of leones and over a billion dollars paid out from government funds on such contracts for ghost transactions like the M.V. “Sharon” naval patrol boat, the granting of a general power of attorney to Maada Bio's brother, the late Steven Bio, to conclude all and any defence and military contracts running into tens of millions of dollars, Maada Bio having caused the Government to pay the whooping sum of Le.235,000,000 into his private firm, P. Banga Investment Limited, in respect of contracts that firm had purportedly entered into with the government for the supply of spare parts for the replacement of helicopter engines which did not belong to the Government of Sierra Leone on February 1st, 1996.

Unless and until Maada Bio exonerates himself from the scandalous sale of our country's passports, which, according to former President Tejan Kabbah, caused the government of Sierra Leone, from tax payers' money, to also pay into his Channel Islands' account the colossal sum of US$400,000, the SLPP's chosen path of violence in efforts to regain power would only be seen as an opposition running out of ideas in providing an alternative agenda to the much acclaimed agenda of change espoused by President Ernest B. Koroma whose enviable popularity cannot just be saddled with mud overnight.

If intelligence reports that the recent violence perpetrated by the SLPP was to test how prepared the APC would be in responding to incidents of violence and the worrisome concerns that the SLPP was poised to recruit local Kamajor militia to unleash violence during the presidential and parliamentary elections slated for November 17 this year are anything to go by, then it means the SLPP seems to undervalue the obvious power of civil society who would not be browbeaten by any forms of intimidation from any hustler-politicians aimed at reversing the peace gains the country had made and continues to make in her post-war reconstruction efforts so far.

Again, this is where one would heartily congratulate President Koroma in calling on the International Criminal Court to keenly follow trends of violence in the country so that perpetrators would be brought to justice in the case of any eventualities.

But so far, it has not been a happy New Year for the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans as a consequence of the politics of knife-wielding, stabbings and the importation of the notorious “West Side Boys” by the increasingly desperate, cynical and mercurial opposition SLPP. It's definitely not what Sierra Leoneans deserve as a New Year's gift.