In four separate engagements recently at State House, President Koroma(pictured) came out as a Head of State who has been created by his love for democracy, his service to others, and his career as a businessman. This was the central message that was emphatically portrayed when he met executive members of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD), the members of the Rotary Clubs of Freetown and Fishers, Indiana (USA), and the new executive of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce as reported below…
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY TARGETS YOUNG PEOPLE FOR ATTITUDINAL CHANGE
As required by law, the Chairman and Commissioners of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) today presented their annual report (2008) to President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House.
NCD Chairman George Coleridge Taylor congratulated the President for his performance during the recent London donors’ conference, referring to it as a remarkable occasion. He said the NCD will help the President in implementing the Agenda for Change within the framework of democracy. He commended President Koroma for making an impact and improving on the democratic climate and on the economic delivery of services and goods to the public, especially in agriculture, health and energy.
Mr. Coleridge Taylor was however concerned that more efforts needed to be put on the implementation of the Attitudinal Change concept, for which the NCD is now targeting mostly primary schools and young people to help in realizing the President’s dream: “I must be realistic and say that the attitudinal change gap is there. The change from apathy and negativity to positive thinking has not been as effective as it should be, especially in terms of intolerance, violence and lack of patriotism.” He therefore noted that they have made very strong points in the report for the nation to take an auxiliary but not alternative trend in the sense of targeting young people, particularly those at primary school, for the inculcation of attitudinal change values. “By planting the right seeds in the minds of these young people, a new generation of positive-thinking Sierra Leoneans will be produced,” he emphasized. While not underrating the challenges faced by this new target, he said the NCD has taken the lead to make it a priority in its new agenda and have already gone ahead to make the First Lady their patron, hoping that a full realization of the benefits could be seen in 10 to 15 years.
In his response, President Koroma thanked the NCD for the annual report and expressed satisfaction about the comments made on general issues of governance and service delivery. “I believe we have made some progress, but we are not there yet. It’s our duty to ensure that we fast-track the pace and get there early enough to ensure the country gets the necessary turn-around,” the President said, while noting that “these are critical moments for us.” He observed that one reason why Sierra Leone is today internationally respected and seen as a progressive country “is due to our acceptance of democracy, which is not just about conducting elections but entails much more, including tolerance.”
President Koroma noted that, as a nation, there’s still a lot more to be achieved in that direction.
On the attitudinal change campaign targeting young people, the President said, “Institutions like yours are looked up to for great initiatives, and I commend you for this great initiative of inculcating values in our young people”. He however noted that this would not be something that would be achieved overnight, but that “We are better off starting when they are young, so they will grow with it, accept it as a way of life and live as decent and responsible citizens.”
The President emphasized that if the attitudinal change concept is effected in the majority of citizens, then “we would have solved a huge percentage of our problems. This is the only country we have, and if we focus on the development of the human resource we have, with or without oil, Sierra Leone cab be a rich and great nation.”
The President ended by assuring the NCD of his support at all times, while he looked forward to having more meetings with them to discuss matters of interest to the nation.
As per law, the next stage for the report is for it to be laid before Parliament
THE ROTARY CLUB PROMISES 100 WATER WELLS FOR SIERRA LEONE
In another engagement at State House today, President Koroma received in audience national and international members of the Rotary Club.
Rotarian Leslie of Sierra Leone, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, reminded President Koroma (who is a Rotarian himself) of the Rotary Club motto ‘service above self’ and about the great contributions the club has made in Sierra Leone since its formation here some 46 years ago. He said the local club has now got international collaboration and support through the Rotary Club of Fishers, Indiana (USA), in collaboration with World Hope International, with a pledge to construct 100 wells in the country by 2011, having already got funding to start with 11 immediately.
The connection with the Fishers Rotary Club emanated from President Koroma himself when he first met with members of that club as part of a delegation of World Hope International earlier this year.
In his remarks, President Koroma welcomed “fellow Rotarians to State House as I always feel very much at home with you, having myself served actively as a Rotarian for many years.” He thanked the Rotary Club of Freetown for continually coordinating developmental activities and appreciated the Rotary Club of Fishers for identifying Sierra Leone for “a project that will increase the number of people that will have access to clean water.” He said this is a very critical project for the country as only 30% of the population has access to clean drinking water, which is one of the indicators used in determining the country’s position in the Human Development Index. The President said the Rotary Club has given great support to mankind, and Sierra Leoneans know the efforts the club has made in development. He wished them a pleasant stay even as he looked forward to a fulfillment of their target of constructing 100 wells by 2011
SIERRA LEONE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTS NEW EXECUTIVE TO PRESIDENT KOROMA
In yet another State House courtesy call on President Koroma , the President of the Sierra Leone Chamber Of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Tunde Cole, as per tradition, introduced the newly elected executive members of the organization.
Before formally introducing the members, Mr. Cole pointed out two notable achievements by the President thus far in the form of security and the provision of electricity through the completion of the phase one of the Bumbuna hydro project, which he said would greatly benefit the business community. He also noted how proud all Sierra Leoneans are on the success of the recently held donors/ investors forum in London which would attract investors to Sierra Leone.
Among the introduced members was Gladys Strasser King (Vice President), while the others included Ayodele Mac Williams, Arthur Yaskey, Leslie Nicol, Christo Forster, Charles Campbell, and Millicent Hazely. Mr. Cole also took the opportunity to present to President Koroma a report done by Tradecom, sponsored by the European Union, on enhancing the institutional and analytical capacity of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Cole also took the opportunity to highlight the Chamber’s constraints, foremost of which was the lack of access to a land they had leased and paid for, thereby asking for the Head of State’s intervention. He also presented a report by the organisation’s Executive Secretary on a conference of Mano River Union Chambers of Commerce held in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire. He then appreciated the President for accommodating the group, while looking forward to continued public/private partnership, before thanking the President for a great speech on World Aids Day and then wishing him a merry Christmas.
Replying, President Koroma congratulated the new executive on their election into office and said “it is always a home feeling for me when I meet you, having spent a good number of time in business, knowing what you feel, what you experience, in moving this country forward.” He reminded them about the great challenges ahead as they have been elected at a very critical time, even as he thanked them for their effective participation at the London conference, which he hoped would usher in a new beginning for Sierra Leone. He said the time for excuses is over, as “It’s time to take control and stand on our own and for the private sector to take up the challenge… It involves a lot of work, a lot of commitment, a lot of coordination, a lot of initiatives and a lot of support on the side of the government. With me on this side, be assured of every support that will facilitate your activities.”
He urged them to work more closely together: “As individuals, we are small in our entities, but if we work together and form clusters of strength, the financial sector will open up. Sierra Leoneans should now be more positive in taking the leading role in the advancement of Sierra Leone. There should be no more excuses. We should start to think out of the box. Together we will make the impossible possible, and together we will make a Sierra Leone that we will all be proud of.” The Head of State promised to look into the land issue they raised, as he would assign an official at State House to pursue it and report back to him.
PRESIDENT KOROMA CONTINUES REVIEW OF MINISTERS’ CONTRACTS
Meanwhile, still continuing in his avowed aim of running his government as a business entity, President Koroma continued with the quarterly review of the contracts he signed with his Ministers. Monday was the turn of the Ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries, while Tuesday he dealt with the Ministry of Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Education.
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