For those of you who do not know, I am half Sierra Leonean. My heart strings are moored at Lumley Beach. Her shores call to me in my sleep, She is home in my waking and sleep states.
News Story
ACCOUNTABILITY IS Equal to Sustainable Development.
9.26.2008
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: MOHAMED YONGAWO- Irrespective of which political flag we fly, I believe all Sierra Leonean's should stop the unrelenting sycophancy and kowtowing to our leaders. We should adopt the habit of questioning their actions or inactions. For a very long time our leaders have and continue to trample on us with impunity and unabated because we have been seen to be soft and are always prepared to roll the red carpet for them irrespective of their misdeeds in public service. In the process, our politicians have been dehumanized and turned into demagogues. They should be humanized again by any means possible.
Say for instance, if President Ernest Bai Koroma states he is going to float a bridge across the Atlantic connecting Freetown and Lungi. I agree he should be applauded for such a brilliant idea. However, he should also be asked when? why? and how? he intends turning his pronouncement to reality. Also, he should be questioned to outline the benefits this would bring to the nation. Most importantly he should be grilled about funding and how the contracts for the project will be awarded. Are there going to be open or kitchen bids? The latter is the normal practice in Sierra Leone although it blatantly ignores procedures put in place to regulate such activities.
I have no problem with the leadership globetrotting. I also have no qualms about with whom the leader dines or dances. However, I have issues with the size of the entourage, the price tag – huge or small, for the poor tax payers and the benefits these global visitations will bring to Sierra Leone. If my President, for example, jets to Nigeria, I would expect at the end of the state visit, meaningful economic or other deals are concluded with the Nigeria Government and Individuals or organizations interested in investing in the Sierra Leone Economy. On his return, I would also expect the deals so agreed to be placed before the nation’s parliamentarians for ratification, if this is deemed necessary and published for public consumption. By so doing the government becomes answerable to its citizenry and increases the latter’s interest and participation in the activities of the state. This is a very straightforward accountable statecraft that does not require knowledge of cosmic engineering.
I am tired of reading some online news outlets preaching again and again that the last administration was corrupt than this one. If anyone of the public servants who served in the last administration is found wanting let the individual be brought to book. However, this should not serve as an excuse for the current government to wallow like freed convicts and continue to be complacent on this burning issue of corruption while the general populace continue languishing in abject poverty.
I have to admit that I have no facts at hand to point fingers at particular government functionaries. However, reading from news outlets, it appears that there are abundance evidences of systemic corruption and the current administration presents to be turning a blind eye. The $25 million Wanza fiasco and the $32 million generator ‘wahala’ are few examples the government is yet to make the record straight on. Also, I have not seen or hear a government statement debunking allegations that Vice President Sumana bought a million dollar property somewhere in the US. Furthermore, I am yet to read or hear that the government or the appropriate arm of the state has held anyone accountable for the countless political or other violence perpetuated in the name of their political hues since this administration took power.
In that respect, I would particularly like to draw the leadership’s attention to Kambia District, which I understand is turning into a political hot potato. I hope I am wrong on some of the issues raised here; otherwise, the government would appear in the eyes of intelligent observers to be colluding with corrupt officers and political hoodlums. With the cocaine debacle I would rather not pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing court proceedings. My only hope is that those handling this cocaine issue know there is a symbiotic relationship between drug trafficking, corruption and chaos. Also, I hope those in power understand the ramifications of the availability of drugs within a very poor society like ours. Although, it is widely trumpeted by supporters of the government that the final destination of the cocaine was Europe, it will be naïve to presume that some of it will not end up in street corners and allay ways in parts of our country. If this happens we will be doomed for decades to come.
At every stage of our nation’s development our politicians and other public servants have always let Sierra Leone and Sierra Leonean's down. These group of people appear to know no tomorrow – they only live for today. They appear to have organized themselves into what I call a “Paris Club” or can I say cabal. They appear to only care for themselves and those closer to them. No plans, no programmes. Even where one is present rather than developing it, they ensure it is destroyed before they leave office. Sadly, sadly, today it seems some members of the fourth estate who the people rely on to champion their case appear to be kowtowing to these politicians. I love this popular Sierra Leone Maxine – ‘tell friend true nor dae pwel friend’.
I am pleading to my fellow Sierra Leonean brothers and sisters to open our eyes. We can not afford to be blind anymore. Yes, there are problems all over the globe and most of the issues in Sierra Leone are not unique to her alone. Even the most successful economies are not immune to the current economic virus that is fast becoming a pandemic. However, we can not continue blaming global problems for the ineptitude of our long dreadful history of uncommitted and indecisive leadership that has plagued our beloved Sierra Leone for decades. We have suffered for far too long, we deserve better. Join me to say very loud and clear that enough is enough.
We can all go around talking about democracy and changing of attitudes but actually what we are preaching is ‘DEMOCRAZY’, if we fail to tell the truth to those at the helm. Truth is perhaps the first principle of democracy and trying been hypocritical even where the truth flashes in ones face is dangerous and counter productive. Because, if one is not careful you may fall victim or worst still be spurn by your own lies - just because you fail to tell your friend the truth. Remember the famous saying – ‘what goes round comes round’. ‘Journalists’, even pretend ones are humans and therefore should not be expected to be interest immune. However, I and many others expect them to put the national interest before their selfish interests. Therefore, next time, when they put their pens to paper or click their keyboards, they should search very deep within their conscience and ask themselves whether what they are writing is in the nation’s interest or they are doing so to prop up a friend, ‘Ngor’ or ‘kortho’.
Everywhere you look around Sierra Leone – North – South – East and West, there are abundance lovely, industrious people and natural resources but we still present to be down and out. No, no we are not; we should only make our opinions known - by voicing them out. Even if it is going to hurt your brother, sister, father, mother, uncle, your political friend or foe – say it as it is. There should be no sacred cows. Gone are the kowtowing days. This is one means, I believe we can all play our part in redeeming our beloved motherland from the woeful state it is today to the part of sustainable development.
As always, I am one of those who still believe all is not lost. However, the government should start acting now before another generation is lost to empty words, empty promises and importantly to safeguard our baby democracy. Giving further powers to the Anti Corruption Commission as reported is a noble gesture, the president signing what I would term a memorandum of understanding with his Cabinet in respect of their performance in their different ministries is good. However, these and others will in the end become short term gimmicks if they are not seen to be implemented to the letter. Nevertheless, I do not really think the president needed a by -law in his dealings with his cabinet. I would like to presume His Excellency knows what he his doing.
In that respect I believe we the Sierra Leonean citizenry both home and abroad should also review our approach towards our politicians and other public servants. So, my brothers and sisters next time you stumble across the president, a minister, a parliamentarian or a civil servant, demand to know any good she or he has done or doing to still deserve been in the position she or he has been entrusted with. We should never again allow our politicians and other public servants to continue fooling themselves and feeding their egos with resources, which belongs to us all. Enough is enough.
Mohamed Yongawo
London, UK
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