Less than 24 hours after confirming an index case of Covid-19, Sierra Leone has announced a second case which involved a medical doctor with no links to the first patient. Both cases were registered in the capital Freetown. To stop further spread of the disease in a country that suffered heavily in 2014 over the Ebola outbreak which it has not fully recovered till date, Sierra Leonean government has announced a three-day nationwide lockdown as a containment measure against the spread of the virus. The country’s Defence minister and national COVID19 Coordinator, Brig (Rtd) Kellie Conteh made this known in a broadcast. However, doctors in the country are calling for a two-week lockdown instead of three days arguing that 14 days is the normal incubation period for the virus and will enable them easily identify any potential cases. They also called for protective gear for all health facilities and a “designated and adequate facility” for affected frontline health workers”, plus compensation.
national COVID19 Coordinator, Brig (Rtd) Kellie Conteh
The country becomes the 48th African country to record a case as well as the last in West Africa to do so. Already a raft of measures has been imposed to check the entry and subsequent spread of the virus. As part of the measures, government announced that schools and other learning institutions throughout Sierra Leone will close indefinitely. Government had closed all borders last week after neighbours Guinea and Liberia did so.
Guinea also announced a 9pm – 5am curfew throughout the country to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Neighbouring Guinea which is also under a state of emergency, jump in figures have been recorded from 21 new cases to 52. The new cases emerged from a list of primary contacts of earlier patients from Europe. President Alpha Conde also isolates the capital, Conakry with no vehicular movements allowed to and from the rest of the country. This, after the country’s COVID numbers doubled. Guinea’s current tally stands at 22.
Sierra Leone’s border closures come in the wake of same action taken by neighbours Guinea and Liberia. Guinea president Alpha Conde declared a state of emergency on Friday also for 30-days over the virus. The closure will last for a renewable period of 30 days excepting cargo vehicles which will be limited to two apprentices & a driver. They’ll be subjected to a 14-day surveillance by both countries on entry and exit. All learning institutions & entertainment centers have been closed for 14 days, as have churches & mosques. All cultural events have been prohibited.
Liberia is currently in a lockdown over the pandemic. The three countries were at the heart of the Ebola epidemic that killed thousands years ago. Despite being among 11 African countries that have not recorded any cases of the coronavirus, Sierra Leone president Julius Maada Bio has imposed a twelve-month state of public health emergency effective March 24.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
In his first, brief 73 days stint as military Head of State of Sierra Leone in 1996, incumbent President Julius Maada Bio wrote his name in gold in the annals of the country’s political experience. The then 33-year-old leader had acted with wisdom beyond his years by organising elections and voluntarily ceding power to a democratically elected government. A little over two decades later in 2018, when Bio returned to run for the office of the President as a civilian, the people remembered his uncommon valour and honour, and voted massively for him. Following his victory, he returned to the Presidential Villa in Freetown in April 2018. Today, President Bio is again showing the stuff he is made of: a fiercely patriotic Sierra Leonean who sought power for nothing else but the good of his compatriots.
President Julius Maada Bio
“Sierra Leone is bigger that any or all of us”, he says, pledging to build “a secure, peaceful and just society where every person can thrive and contribute to national development.” The peculiar thoughts and philosophy of President Bio are captured in this scintillating interview. All through this exclusive interview, the Sierra Leonean leader espouses the ideas he hopes will not only return his beloved country to macroeconomic stability but also to the path of confident, sustainable, home-grown development-enabling milieu in an increasingly complex global economy racked by uncertainty. All these constitute the essence of the nation’s New Direction agenda. Excerpts:
YOU once spoke about “Your Sierra Leone Story” and got people baffled. What is it really about?
Around the world, some people still see Sierra Leone through the lenses of the past as a war-torn country, a place ravaged by the Ebola outbreak, a corrupt society, the worst place to be born as a child and a poverty-stricken nation. Despite the significant progress we have made over two decades, it is hard to break this perception of Sierra Leone.
So, our “Sierra Leone Story” is about the new Sierra Leone we are building: the Sierra Leone where we have had three peaceful transfers of power through democratic elections; the new champion of Human Capital Development; the new champion of Innovation, Science and Technology in governance; a champion in the fight against corruption; a country with a youthful population and the best destination for tourism; a country that is providing leadership in the sub-region and a place for foreign direct investments and business.
Our “Sierra Leone Story” should not get people baffled, but rather it should get people inspired. As a nation of slightly over seven million people, we are collectively determined to ensure that the world will no longer judge us by our history but the boldness of our vision, ideas, policies and programmes to create a prosperous nation. I am committed and excited to provide that leadership.
Your victory over the then incumbent party at the 2018 general elections is proof of Sierra Leone’s political stability. How are you working to grow the economy to match the maturing polity?
We assumed office under very challenging economic conditions. Real GDP growth was on a downward trajectory slumping to 3.7 per cent in 2017, from just over 6 per cent in the previous year. Inflationary, year-on-year was 15 per cent at the end of March 2018. The three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was approved in June 2017, had gone off track due to lacklustre revenue performance and expenditure overruns. Within the First 100 days in office, I issued two Executive Orders focused on enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation and expenditure controls. In the same first 100 Days, we successfully engaged the IMF and following the implementation of agreed structural benchmarks, a new ECF programme was launched and is being implemented alongside several impressive measures aimed at correcting fiscal slippages that occurred in previous years and restoring macroeconomic stability.
Our economy is projected to grow by 5.1 percent this year. To sustain this growth in line with our sustainable political stability, my Government will continue to pursue aggressive fiscal consolidation focusing mainly on enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation and expenditure rationalisation as well as more significant private sector and development partner engagements underpinned by transparency and accountability. We would also continue to leverage on science, technology and innovation in the public financial management space.
In terms of domestic revenue mobilization, the most prominent policy shifts would be towards deepening the implementation of the Treasury Single Account; developing and implementing a robust and holistic duty and tax waiver policy; continuing the implementation of the Common External Tariff framework for member-countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); and automating tax collection and administration and other financial management processes.
We shall continue our prudent expenditure management measures mainly through the rationalisation of the government wage bill; the harmonisation of wages and compensation across the public service; and ensuring value for money in all public sector procurement.
However, our biggest focus would be on the real sector. How we can diversify our economy and support inclusive growth across key productive sectors — agriculture, fisheries, tourism, mining and the manufacturing industry. To create the enabling environment for businesses to grow and attract quality private investment to these sectors, my administration is investing in the development of critical infrastructure, especially in energy, transportation and ICT. This is being complemented by reforms in the business regulatory environment, especially those related to our ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and creating transparent systems and processes to help our investors. Besides, we also have sector-specific investment incentives, and for the first time, we have established a National Investment Board to ensure credibility, transparency and efficiency in the investment environment. We are investing in human capital development, especially education through strengthening access to quality formal, technical and vocational education. This will ensure that the requisite skills needed for production in these sectors are available, leading to sustainable job creation.
In all these investments, we shall continue to engage the local and international private sector as well as development partners to complement our efforts and also align their interventions with my Government’s priorities.
How is Sierra Leone preparing for implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) considering that the economy’s industrial base is still undergoing improvements to meet the level of sister African countries?
As you said, our economy’s industrial base is indeed undergoing improvements. We are undertaking investments in key infrastructure. We are also transforming the private sector by enhancing policy and legislative reforms while leveraging science, technology and innovation. These will enable the private sector to not only grow but also compete efficiently at the international level. We are also actively engaging local and international development partners and players in the financial sector to support us in this work.
You might have heard that in the New Direction, evidence guides our decision-making processes. We are undertaking research in collaboration with international economic partners to help define our national priorities and deepen our understanding of the capacity needs for the effective implementation of the AfCFTA by Sierra Leone.
In addition to addressing the traditional macro-economic fundamentals, we would be investigating opportunities for value chain development; strategic actions needed to boost sectors where Sierra Leone can be competitive internationally. We will also focus on resource mobilisation; adopting and planning for new technologies; developing a monitoring and evaluation framework; and how we can collectively scale up efforts aimed at addressing cross-sectoral issues such as gender, the environment and climate change. Once this is completed, Sierra Leone would be better placed to benefit from this landmark agreement.
What are the focal points of the National Development Plan tagged “Education for Development”?
In line with the premium that my Administration has placed on human capital development, our medium-term National Development Plan, ‘Education for Development’, has been articulated across eight policy clusters: Human Capital Development; Diversifying the Economy and Promoting Growth; Infrastructure and Economic Competitiveness; Governance and Accountability for results; Empowering women, children and persons with disability; Youth employment, sports and migration; Addressing vulnerabilities and building resilience and the framework to ensure efficient implementation of the entire plan. The successful implementation of the activities embedded in these clusters would help us achieve five key targets: a diversified, resilient green economy; a nation with educated, empowered, and healthy citizens capable of realising their fullest potential; a society that is peaceful, cohesive, secure, and just; a competitive economy with a well-developed infrastructure.
The National Development Plan is a compilation of the various components of the development agenda we have mapped out as a nation for the immediate and long-term goals of our development aspirations. It outlines the vision of this administration. It delivers on the promise we have made to the people of Sierra Leone and our determination and commitment to transform this country from a fragile state into a stable and prosperous democracy. We provided the funds for the development of this plan to underscore both national ownership and the importance we have attached to this process.
To what extent is agricultural development the centerpiece of your poverty reduction and economic development drive?
On several occasions, I have reiterated that the most valuable resource we have as a nation is the human capital. Therefore, to enrich and develop human capital, we must invest in feeding the brain (through education), the stomach (through agriculture and fisheries) and taking care of the whole of the body (through healthcare delivery services). This explains why agriculture is in my presidential priority portfolio for Human Capital Development. Rice is the staple food in Sierra Leone, and the goal is for us to be self-sufficient in production of rice by 2023. In addition, fish supplies about 80 per cent of total animal protein consumption and the fisheries sector provides jobs for over 500,000 people. While work is in progress to complete a comprehensive fish stock assessment and guide our target-setting, we aim to increase the domestic share of marine catch by 2023, within limits of sustainability.
In the light of all these, you can see that agriculture and fisheries are central to our poverty reduction and economic growth drive due to their potential for food security, job creation, contribution to our economic diversification agenda and foreign exchange earnings. Government is committed to increasing the budgetary allocation to this sector to a minimum of 10 per cent in the next two years in line with the Maputo Accord; undertaking sustainable investment in mechanized commercial agriculture; increasing food and cash crop production and engaging the financial and private sector to drive investments in this sector. I have even made investing in agriculture (including animal husbandry) a pre-condition for holding political office.
You consider human capital development as both a means and an end for development and a central pillar of your administration. How are you driving it?
For many years as a country, we have depended on natural resources, but the mere presence of these natural resources is not sufficient for sustainable development. Beyond our natural resources, Sierra Leone’s most substantial asset is its human resources, primarily made up of a young and dynamic population. Like natural resources, this resource must be adequately developed to be an asset for economic growth and development. However, levels of literacy are low, performance in primary and secondary education is weak, and what is produced for the labour market is inadequate to meet needs.
Improving human capital to promote growth and development will require a dramatic increase in the quality of public services. In the short term, better public service provision (especially free quality education) will free up household resources previously used to purchase similar services in the private sector, allowing for increased consumption or productive investments. This alone can improve outcomes, as lack of funding or capital was identified as the main reason for not sending children, particularly girls, to school and a key reason for not starting or expanding businesses and farming activities. In the medium term, an increase in human capital resources at the national level will improve the business climate, boosting the output of private sector activities and the attractiveness of Sierra Leone for future investment. Improved health also reduces days lost to illness, increasing the supply of labour for agriculture or informal non-farm enterprises. Quality education meanwhile, has been shown to enhance the uptake of modern farming practices and allow fishermen and fish traders to move up the value chain. In the long term, healthy and educated people living in stable conditions will constitute a ready workforce for new foreign direct investment in the manufacturing and service industries or increased domestic entrepreneurial activities.
We consider human capital development as both a means and end for development because it encompasses three critical components: education — in terms of equal and free access to quality education, skills training and innovation; healthcare — by strengthening systems and services; and agriculture – by focusing on food security. We are driving human capital development by making increasing budgetary allocations to the education, health and agriculture sectors. Human Capital Development is the central pillar of my administration because it is the most fundamental pathway to achieving a middle-income status and sustainable development for the country in the not too distant future.
What is the strategic objective of health in the New Direction?
A healthy population is among the most crucial prerequisites for the advancement of a nation. Along with education, health is a leading dimension of the human capital formation required for sustained GDP growth and the structural transformation of any economy. Before I assumed office as President last year, the health sector was faced with myriad challenges, including, but not limited to, poor infrastructure; poor conditions of service for health workers; poor governance and management of delivery systems; a weak human resource base; low per capita expenditure on health. The health allocation was below 15 per cent of the national budget, which is the 2001 Abuja Declaration minimum. It faced the challenges of inadequate disease prevention; a poor control and surveillance programme; poor quality data; and limited access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The health sector’s statistics were appalling despite the free health care programme that was initiated by the previous administration. In my first State Opening of Parliament Address, I outlined the strategic objective of the health sector in the New Direction: to transform health infrastructure and the healthcare delivery system by improving their quality and making them efficient, reliable, cost-effective, affordable and sustainable for the entire population especially women, children and the elderly. In other words, we must transform the health sector from an under-resourced, ill-equipped, and inadequate delivery system into a well-resourced and functioning national health-care delivery system that is affordable for everyone and accessible to all.
Whilst my Administration aims to foster increases in public and private investment in the sector with a focus on health governance; health financing; human resource; free health care; disease prevention and control and service delivery, I also have specific targets for health as part of my Human Capital Development (HCD) portfolio. In the Medium-Term National Development Plan, we have outlined four key targets: Firstly, by 2023, to expand and improve on the management of free health care. Secondly, to continuously improve disease prevention, control, and surveillance. Thirdly, to improve health governance and human resource management by 2023. Fourthly, to increase modern diagnostic and specialist treatment within the country and improve on secondary health delivery systems by 2023.
Additionally, Sierra Leone’s maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world, though maternal deaths are largely preventable, with the leading cause being postpartum haemorrhage. Teenagers account for almost half of all maternal deaths. Poor maternal health is also the leading cause of death in children under-5. My HCD flagship in the health sector will promote an evidence-based approach to addressing the causes of high maternal mortality rates. Therefore, we aim to halve the current maternal mortality rate by 2023.
You made war on corruption and the institutionalisation of accountability hallmarks of your administration. To what extent would you say they have yielded results?
On my inauguration day as President, I declared three wars, one of which was against corruption. This is because corruption in all its forms has a cost and it has real human victims when critical infrastructure like hospitals and schools are not built and when citizens are denied their rights and equitable access to service delivery. Therefore, corruption stalls economic development, compromises ethical conduct and national values, violates the fundamental rights of citizens and undermines democratic institutions of governance and the stability of a country. It is also true that credible foreign and local investors whose investments create good-paying jobs for citizens avoid corrupt countries. I consider corruption as a national security threat.
During the election campaign, I strongly advocated that we fight relentlessly against corruption. Immediately after winning the elections, I kept my promise to the people of Sierra Leone by setting up a Governance Transition Team to review the governance landscape we were taking over. Their report identified severe deficiencies in governance, financial management, and accountability. They advised thorough forensic audits and the setting up of an independent Commission of Inquiry. Three Commissions of Inquiry were set up and are at an advanced stage in investigating many of the governance and corruption issues in the previous administration. The processes have been transparent and enjoy enormous public support. For me, these Commissions of Inquiry would not only demand accountability for those who had occupied public office but also serve as a deterrent to all of us now in the present administration that they will be held accountable for their stewardship.
As President, I also appointed a new, young and vibrant leadership at the Anti-Corruption Commission who has injected new energy, increased public confidence and restored faith in the Anti-Corruption Commission. Therefore, last year, Sierra Leone passed the “Control of Corruption” Indicator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard, scoring 71 per cent. We moved 22 points upwards, moving from 49 per cent in 2017. This is the country’s highest score in the ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator since the introduction of the MCC Scorecard in 2004. In the Afro Barometer Report, Sierra Leone also made tremendous progress as only 43 per cent of the respondents think corruption is on the increase, as against 70 per cent the previous year.In the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for the year 2018 released by Transparency International, Sierra Leone also improved from 130 to 129 out of 180 countries surveyed, with a score of 30 thereby leading more than 50 countries in the campaign against corruption including, Guinea, Nigeria, Kenya, Lebanon and Russia. Sierra Leone also ranked 3rd out of 35 African countries surveyed, on Government’s effectiveness in the fight against corruption, ahead of all other West African countries and behind only two countries in Africa. According to the Transparency International (TI) Global Corruption Barometer for Africa-2019 Report, 66 per cent of Sierra Leoneans in 2019 believe the Government is doing well in the fight against corruption; against 19 per cent of citizens who held this view in 2015.
We have made significant progress in the fight against corruption since I assumed office, but the war is not yet over. It is my firm conviction that if we are to develop as a nation, we must draw a line under the perverse, arrogant, and reckless looting of the state. I often say, corruption is a fight we must win, and it is a fight we will win.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
SIERRA LEONEAN children’s rights to quality education, in line with President Maada Bio’s Free Quality School Education Programme, has gone a notch higher. At the just concluded annual meetings of the World Bank in Washington D.C, Community Action to Restore Lives, a civil society organization (CSO), supported by OXFAM International, ranked among an elite group that requested the World Bank to focus its funding programs on free, public quality education in developing countries rather than for-profit private education which exclude poor children and children with disability and special needs.
The CSO’s CEO, Mrs Madiana Samba has been on various panels with eminent personalities pushing for increased financing to the education sector under the Bank’s IDA19.
IDA 19 funding negotiations are ongoing. Low-income countries are in discussions with donors for $86 billion in assistance to fund sundry development projects for the next three years. Sierra Leone’s Financial Secretary, Sahr Jusu, is one of 14 negotiators representing 77 IDA countries to raise the fund.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
AS a “new kid on the block” in the Mano River Region in West Africa, and the exclusive club of leaders in the African Union, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, 55, wouldn’t want to be seen as impulsive or “poking his nose” into the affairs of his ‘older’ colleagues. Even so, he has a word or two of advice on leadership for them. “If your continued presence or stay in power becomes a threat to peace, you should reconsider your options,” he said in response to questions on the vexed issue of self-perpetuation in power and respect for term limits among African leaders at a lecture on governance at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Governance early this year.
He made it clear that it was his personal opinion and not intended to impugn the reputation of anyone, not least of all, his “brother” African heads of state. After all, that has been his position on the issue since 1996, when he voluntarily relinquished power as military head of state after organizing elections to return his then conflict-ridden country to democracy. He has run full circle to return as Sierra Leone’s leader, but this time through the ballot box for a single 5-year term, renewable only once; a condition that he intends to comply without any airs or excuses whatsoever.
The articulate and personable leader wouldn’t contemplate anything that would tarnish his cultivated image as the “Father of Democracy” in his country, a reputation he earned back in the 1990s when he audaciously chose to discard his military uniform and embark on a self-improvement programme. Along the way, Bio earned himself a Master’s degree in International Affairs before becoming president of International Systems and Science Corporation, a consulting and management firm in the United States. He fully “civilianized” himself when he picked up a Doctorate in Peace Studies while he was a Senior Research Fellow at University of Bradford in the UK.
Bio’s affinity for education goes way back to his early beginning, when he lived with his elder sister, a school teacher in Pujehun, a short distance from his native town of Tihun in Bonthe District. His leadership skills were groomed from his stint as Senior Prefect in his A-level days in Bo, a main town in his locality. Since then Bio has been drawing from the deep, rich resources from his childhood, especially his mother’s penchant for Catholicism-driven hard work and the administrative skills of his father, who juggled the lives and welfare of 9 wives and 35 children alongside his responsibilities as a paramount chief.
Bio’s flagship prrogramme, Education for Development, the theme for Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan, is reflective of the leader’s own life and vision for his country and compatriots. He is convinced that “investment in human capital through quality education” – the type he has availed himself of – “and free, quality healthcare services and food security will accelerate national development”. In conjunction with development partners, he turned his thoughts into action by devoting 21 percent of national budget to education. To encourage girl-child education, his administration gives full scholarships to girls studying science, technology engineering and mathematics in tertiary institutions.
To redress the culture of waste and fraud in the public sector, Bio appointed a young turk into the leadership of the anti-corruption commission. Under a year, the commission recovered $1.5 million in stolen funds from venal and corrupt public officials and their accomplices. Without ceremony, Bio promptly plowed the funds into establishing the first-ever National Medical Diagnostic Centre in Sierra Leone.
Bio’s love for humanistic ideals and philanthropy were already evident before he ran for president. His Maada and Fatima Bio Foundation was known for donations to the victims of the Ebola epidemic in 2014 and the environmental disaster that inundated parts of Freetown in 2015. He rues the uncomfortable fact that Sierra Leone has been “mining minerals and receiving aid for over 50 years but remains in poverty”.
He is committed to doing something to remedy it. This is why he sees leadership as the opportunity to “listen to with empathy to the ‘craziest’ of ideas, the hopes and aspirations of the younger generation who are looking for a chance to make their lives and the country better”.
As President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Bio now has not only the opportunity but also the pedestal and levers of state to make the dreams of his young compatriots a reality.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
The growing trend of human trafficking which has become pervasive across the West Africa sub-region is attracting attention from the Sierra Leonean government as the country is fast becoming notorious as a source, transit, and destination country for thousands of children and women trafficked for forced labour and sexual exploitation every year. Officials say that though there is no reliable database to accurately measure the scope of the phenomenon in the country, it is believed to be affecting mostly children who are taken from their homes and forced to beg on the streets, or work in homes as houseboys, in mines or in plantations.
Mazda Bio, president of Sierra Leone
Add to this, there are cases of young Sierra Leonean women and girls who are scammed into paying hefty sums of money for fake employment offers in foreign countries – in the Gulf for instance – only to be coerced into modern slavery or sexual exploitation. Three years after the end of the country’s civil war which cost more than 50,000 lives and set the ground to human trafficking networks, Sierra Leone passed the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, thus recognizing the phenomenon as a major national issue. A National Task Force on Human Trafficking was established with the responsibility to coordinate the implementation of this Act, especially with regard to the enforcement of the law against trafficking.
But in 2017, only 9 per cent of the victims of trafficking identified by the Sierra Leone Ministry for Social Welfare, Gender and Children Affairs (MSWGCA) came from the Western Urban District where Freetown is located. A Senior Social Welfare Officer for Human Trafficking at the MSWGCA said criminal cases rely on victim testimonies, but this can be difficult to access since the Task Force is located in Freetown and most victims come from far away provinces. “Because victims of trafficking often cannot afford the expensive trip from their district to the capital to testify or present evidence, their cases are closed,” the officer added.
Last week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the MSWGCA in the decentralisation of the National Task Force in 14 of Sierra Leone’s districts to increase victims’ and potential victims’ access to information, protection and justice mechanisms, and avoid procedural delays related to prosecuting traffickers.
The new district task forces will be co-chaired by the MSWGCA and the Office of National Security (ONS), and composed of traditional and religious authorities, the police’s Family Support Unit, youth committees, motor bikers’ union, teachers’ guild and radio journalists. “Our aim is to bring the lifesaving services of the Task Force closer to the populations by bringing together key community members,” said Mangeh Sesay, National Project Officer for IOM Sierra Leone.
Through monthly meetings, it is expected that these new district task forces will contribute to collecting more data and testimonies to assess the scope of human trafficking in the country. In the future, task force members will also be trained in identifying, referring and providing immediate assistance to victims of trafficking.
IOM’s counter-trafficking activities in Sierra Leone are implemented in the framework of the Africa Regional Migration Programme funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
Hon. Memunatu Pratt, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is working diligently to actualize President Julius Maada Bio’s administration vision of promoting tourism as a catalyst for diversification of the economy. In this interview, she speaks on the efforts of the Ministry to transform Sierra Leone into a destination of choice for tourists. Excerpts:
WHAT is your strategic plan to transform Sierra Leone’s tourism industry?
Tourism is one of the central pillars of the present administration’s economic diversification drive. The strategic plan is to harness the country’s tourism potential in order to transform Sierra Leone into a resilient economy.
The New Direction Master Plan of the Government has identified certain critical areas for the transformation and diversification process. They include the review and upgrade of all tourism-related laws, regulations and policies to ensure ongoing consistency with global best practices; the rehabilitation of historical and cultural sites geared towards attracting domestic and international tourists and business travelers; the enhancement of the capacity of actors involved in the management of tourism; and the development of tourist resorts and more extensive supporting infrastructure.
Since taking up office, the Ministry has been working round the clock to actualize the master plan. The Ministry and the National Tourist Board have engaged in several activities to convey Sierra Leone’s fitness and readiness as a top destination for tourism. These efforts will continue in collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and partners.
Hon. Memunatu Pratt, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Being only six hours away from Europe, eight hours from the US and three hours from Lagos, West Africa’s largest city, Sierra Leone has a splendid combination of beautiful white sandy beaches, vibrant tropical forests teeming with exotic wildlife, breath-taking mountains, tropical rain forest, and excellent climate. With the influx of international brands such as Hilton and Radisson Blu which are investing in our tourism sector, coupled with the consistent surge in the number of tourists visiting Sierra Leone annually since 2016, tourism has gained momentum and the country is back on the world map as a tourist destination. In fact, since 2016, Sierra Leone has been rated among the world’s fastest-growing travel destinations.
The National Tourism Policy and the National Ecotourism Policy, which seek to attract up to 20,000 international and 30,000 domestic ecotourism visits by 2025 have provided blueprints to guide the sustainable development of the sector. To continue building on this momentum, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Immigration recently launched the visa-on-arrival policy for Sierra Leone.
To continue the transformation of the country into a competitive tourism destination, a series of regulatory frameworks have been introduced. They include the National Tourism Island Development Policy; Review of the Cultural Policy; the introduction of the Entertainment Policy, which will pave the way for the establishment of the Entertainment Commission; the Tourism Wildlife Development Policy; and the review of the Tourism Development Act 1990, which is in progress.
We are quite aware that there are endless possibilities in the tourism sector, given the diverse ecology of Sierra Leone. The Government through my Ministry will continue embarking on activities that would enhance the environment for tourism operators such as providing reduced visa costs for target markets and reviewing the prices of air tickets for travelling to the country. We are also supporting the formation of the Tourism Federation and other stakeholder associations to enhance public-private partnerships (PPPs) whilst capitalizing on digital and technological advances globally to improve the government’s revenue generation drive and showcase the potential of the sector digitally.
How is the Ministry creating awareness about the country’s tourist attractions to make it a destination of choice for tourists?
Stories of our experience as a country in the 90s and the recent Ebola scourge have sort of tainted Sierra Leone, especially on the internet. But these are challenges we have not only overcome but also learnt lessons from as a nation, and we are on a positive trajectory. The entire country is stronger, safer and healthier than it has ever been.
In recent times, we have been more strategic in telling the world about our positive trajectory and creating awareness about the country’s tourism attractions. My Ministry and its agencies in collaboration with other stakeholders have been engaging the international media such as the BBC, Aljazeera, Eturbu news among others. We have also been organizing press conferences, trade fairs, media engagements and promotional tours. We have equally been hosting globally renowned tourism /travel personalities such as Dr Jane Goodall (DBE, anthropologist and UN Messenger of Peace), the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, and Jessica Nabongo who is on the quest to become the first black woman to travel to all countries. Familiarization visits are also being organized for travel writers, journalists, tour operators from key source markets to have a first-hand experience of the diverse offerings of the country.
To enhance domestic tourism, the Ministry, in collaboration with other MDAs, organized the Agro-tourism festival in Bonthe and the National Cultural Festival in Kabala. The Ministry has hosted and facilitated several entertainment shows, festivals and concerts across the country. It spearheaded the first National Entertainment Conference and the Establishment of the National Entertainment Foundation which is geared towards developing a vibrant tourism and cultural sector.
As part of our rebranding efforts, we will continue to collaborate with tour operators, travel agencies, travel journalists, Incomers, television channels, airlines hotels and other tourism-related companies along the entire tourism sector ecosystem. So far, these interventions have contributed to the increase in business transactions for local tour operators, hotels, airline operators, local sea transportation as well as cultural and historical sites. The Ministry has supported the collaboration with well- experienced tourism representatives in the UK (Kamageo), Germany (Hana Kebler), France (Olivier Thierry) and the USA (Corner Stone).
The thrust of our message is that Sierra Leone is a peaceful, stable, democratic country and an investment-friendly tourism destination. Our greatest asset is our warm, friendly and hospitable people. Some of the world’s endangered species of chimpanzee, baboon, monkeys, jungle elephant, rare species of birds, butterflies, pygmy hippos and a variety of antelopes and buffalo families can be found in our tropical forests.
Government is making concerted efforts to develop facilities along all these beaches to improve the tourism market of Sierra Leone.
Apart from the beaches, the country offers visitors its historical heritage and is a site for cultural tourism as many African-Americans trace their roots back to Sierra Leone including well-known celebrities like Denzel Washington, Idris Elba and many more.
With all these endowments, the present administration is not only scaling up investments in the labour force but providing the requisite infrastructure to encourage investments in the tourism industry.
How is Sierra Leone exploring cultural tourism which is an emerging and sustainable form of tourism?
Culture is one of the most profound concepts to have emerged in modern times. This is so because the boundaries of the social setting are identified by two significant concepts – society and culture. We view cultural tourism as a low hanging fruit and the most readily available component of our sustainable tourism development plan. The cultural/creative industries are readily available, cheap and easy to harmonize for us to harness the potential of our cultural heritage tourism to the fullest degree. We are right now creating the necessary framework and undertaking infrastructural development to make the sector viable and competitive in the promotion of cultural activities in the country. To this end, a new Cultural Village is being constructed at Mabala, Koya Region, and Western Area; a National Arts Gallery is to be built; the Cultural Policy will be upgraded into an Act and Policy for Arts, Culture and Entertainment is being developed.
We also intend to ratify and domesticate the UNESCO conventions. Other activities we are engaging in to boost cultural tourism include Community outreach and trainings for arts, culture, entertainment practitioners and stakeholders, organizing of Special Annual end-of-year Agro-Tourism and cultural festivals, holding of events and exhibitions at regional levels. We will continue to organize the Annual Mid-year National Cultural Festival and Exhibition dubbed “Sierra Leone Carnival/ Faces”; the conducting of research and documentation of Arts, Culture and entertainment resources and products. We will equally establish a Heritage Commission.
How is the Ministry utilising the country’s breath-taking natural landscape resources as a catalyst for economic development?
We have embarked on a range of activities to develop the natural landscape for the stimulation of job opportunities, income generation, investment, trade and skills training opportunities. This is being done through the opening up of coastal communities. The Ministry has prepared projects in partnership with the World Bank and other development partners to provide safe and reliable sea transportation to these communities to open them up for domestic and international tourism.
In the same vein, we will implement the Island Development and the Wildlife policies in strong partnership with the private sector. Plans are under way for a National Consultative Conference for all Paramount Chiefs to enlighten them on how they should re-assert their authorities as crucial stakeholders in the protection and preservation of cultural assets in the country. We are unrelenting in our efforts to preserve and conserve our environment.
What are the prospects of Sierra Leone’s tourism industry?
There are bright prospects for Sierra Leone’s tourism industry. With the priority government is giving to tourism, the country stands to benefit from the current favourable global tourism trend, as preparation is ongoing to improve on active networking in the African continental and sub-regional tourism markets. Outside the continent, the Western European market is also showing interest in Sierra Leone as a preferred destination. We will also tap the North American market as soon as airline services to the region are established.
With tourism still in its infancy in Sierra Leone, it will be a long-term advantage for the international tourist industry to invest in the sector. In adopting planned and regulation development approach, Sierra Leone, by and large, is still in a position to ensure environmental conservation while expanding its tourism sector with a view to enhancing the quality of its tourist sites.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
Since the inception of President Julius Maada Bio’s administration in 2018, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Communication has been outstanding in driving the Ministry to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. In this interview, Swaray speaks on how the Ministry is using ICT to leapfrog Sierra Leone into a digital economy.
WHAT is the thrust of this government’s telecoms policy?
As Sierra Leone is engaged in a digital transformation drive, the telecommunications policy thrust gears towards ensuring that telecommunications services such as mobile voice, data and broadband are improved to such an extent that they contribute significantly to the country’s socio-economic development. This, according to the Digital Transformation Roadmap, would be achieved by creating the enabling environment for availability, affordability, accessibility and reliability in the delivery of telecom and Internet Services nationwide.
To achieve these objectives, the Government intends to utilize ICT as an enabler by diffusing it into the cross-cutting strategies of all growth sectors including agriculture, mining, tourism, financial and entertainment industries as well as service delivery sectors such as education and health. At the same time, ICT would be used to influence and promote equity, transparency and accountability in the socio-political sphere so as to create wealth and jobs.
What do you consider as the major achievements of the present administration towards improving telecommunications since its inception in 2018?
Since 2018, upon taking up office, His Excellency the President made it clear that he desire to use ICT to leapfrog Sierra Leone into a digital economy. Against this background, the Ministry of Information and Communication, under my leadership, has made significant drives toward achieving the President’s goal by working towards improving ICT with the telecommunications at the heart of it. Some of these achievements include negotiating and obtaining Concessionary Loan of USD 30million, through Exim Bank of China, for the much-needed upgrade on the National Fibre Backbone Infrastructure Project. This is meant to address gaps and weaknesses in the existing network and eventually provide ring protection to the transmission infrastructure across the country. This project will also provide Provincial Metro Access Network as well as connectivity for schools, hospitals and other government offices nationwide.
The Ministry has equally initiated engagements with relevant stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, to kick-start the procurement process for the deployment of a Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcast (DTMB) platform based on DVB-T2 technology. The technical design of the turnkey project will cover the country with ten main sites with powerful DTTB transmitters. This framework provides for the implementation of DTTB project that is fully aligned to the overall government goal of improving the broadcast sector nationwide and reaching out to the underserved populace.
Another milestone recorded is the formulation of Cybercrime Law. The Ministry is collaborating with the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to draft appropriate legislation on cybercrimes. This law will facilitate the domestication of the Budapest and Malabo Conventions while enhancing international collaboration for cybercrimes. The Ministry through the Council of Europe is collaborating with GLACY+, which is a Joint project of the European Union (Instrument Contributing to Peace and Stability) and the Council of Europe. Through the collaboration, the Ministry aims to strengthen its capacity to develop and implement appropriate legislation on cybercrime and electronic evidence and enhance their abilities for active international cooperation in this area.
We intend to Review the National Telecommunications Act 2006 (as amended 2009/2015). The nascent law will be called the Sierra Leone Electronic Communications Law and is expected to be enacted this year. It is meant to transform the regulatory environment so as to make it predictable and competitive.
A new bill known as the National Electronic Transaction Bill is at the pre-legislation stage. Once it is passed, it would enhance the admissibility of electronic document/evidence in legal proceedings thereby promoting e-Commerce and improving the country’s rating in the World Bank Doing Business Reform and financial transactions rankings. The adoption of electronic transaction service will also be crucial to the transition of Sierra Leone’s economy from over-dependent on agriculture and mining, to a digitally-enabled economy.
The Ministry is equally engaging partners on safer use of the internet. Indeed, as part of its strategy to create an inclusive digital Sierra Leone, the Ministry joined other countries around the world to observe this year’s Safer Internet Day (SID) as symbolic call to action for all stakeholders to play their part in creating a better internet for everyone, especially for younger users.
Information Communications Technology holds the key to the future of the world economy. What efforts is the government making to ensure that a new generation of tech- savvy Sierra Leoneans are equipped for the knowledge economy?
With the advent of numerous new technologies and the strong desire and willingness to match with other highly digitalized skilled countries around the world, Sierra Leone, under the leadership of His Excellency the President, rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio has set a clear Digital Transformation Roadmap to leapfrog Sierra Leone into a digital economy. To demonstrate the Government’s readiness for digitalization, there are benchmarks set by this Administration to ensure our youths are involved hugely in technology and impact positively in the drive towards a digital economy. One of them is the establishment of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Office of the President to seed, test and scale innovations to drive e-governance and service delivery.
The second is the review of existing school curriculum to include ICTs and Innovation from primary, secondary to tertiary levels nationwide. The third benchmark is making internet services available, accessible and affordable, even to the least privileged. The fourth point is that we also providing free quality education for all since literacy is the foundation for using tech devices.
Finally, we are engaging the private sector and the universities to establish innovation hubs, a coding school and other technology-focused incubator and accelerator programmes.
How would you rate the application of ICT in other areas such as education, health and banking in Sierra Leone?
This Administration has prioritized leveraging on science and technology across Government whilst working to develop robust and secure IT infrastructure that will allow proper implementation of e-governance systems, applicability of artificial intelligence/machine learning platforms, blockchains and IoT hence making Sierra Leone a conducive digitalized ecosystem. This infrastructure will provide not only the internet for the masses, but offer a robust road for Sierra Leone to propel towards the digital economy.
To demonstrate its interest in these areas, the Ministry organized a laudable education programme where civil society activists, Local Council representatives and Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were represented to discuss and design a road map for the transformation of Sierra Leone into a Digital Economy.
In almost all MDAs, the presence of this new change ranging from infrastructure design and implementation of locally developed digitalized systems by IT personnel have been a priority.
Our banking institutions can now boast of digital running applications which shows sign of increase in broadband connectivity. The SIM KORPO application used by Rokel Commercial Bank and the Orange money transfer by Orange Mobile Company, are two of the few examples of digital financial solutions currently being used by citizens. Numerous digital applications are presently being used in Sierra Leone as a means of promoting actual availability of undisruptive connectivity and internet services to our people.
Finally, seeing private entrepreneurs active in the use of innovative technology to run their businesses is a massive boost in the right direction. I was overwhelmed to conveniently use the TAP TAP vehicle services app the other day with proper data security and affordability.
In this age of the Internet of Things (IoT), what are the efforts of your Ministry to improve on internet penetration in Sierra Leone?
The combination of an increase in population, increasing demand for technology use, Government’s priority on digitalization, the introduction of technology into educational curriculum and the increase in the use of smartphones, GPS tracked vehicles, smart kitchen utensils, smart home devices and other digital devices, are the reasons why this Administration is focusing on making Sierra Leone a sustainable internet ecosystem. Some of the efforts we are making in this direction include reduction in the bulk purchasing cost to Internet Service Providers which in turn created a ripple effect to end-users; securing funds for the completion of the fibre backbone nationwide connecting institutions such as universities, schools and other essential institutions up to the last mile. In addition, we are increasing the deployment of resource centres to provide access to information through the internet at minimal or no cost and promoting the need for efficient and affordable electricity supply.
What is the outlook for your Ministry?
The Ministry is working to create the enabling environment for Sierra Leone to become a digitally inclusive society with ICT as a means to unleash the innate potential of every citizen to leapfrog the country into a digital era. This vision is also consistent with the ‘Leave No One Behind’ mission of the United Nations as espoused in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ‘Africa we want’ principle of the African Union adopted in its 2063 Vision. To achieve the above strategic vision, the Government realizes that the sector requires critical interventions to enhance its role as an enabler to economic growth and social progress. The Ministry aims to improve the leadership, Governance, coordination and partnerships in the ICT sector; Improve and upgrade ICT related policy, legal and regulatory frameworks; and improve ICT Infrastructure and access. We are also working to improve ICT human capacity, digital skills and knowledge; improve electronic Governance for enhanced public service delivery; improve Information and Cyber Security; and introduce the use of ICT in curbing corruption.
The Ministry is also developing the framework to design a National Digital Transformation Roadmap along with these areas. The strategy, when completed, will outline Government’s roadmap for the overall development of the ICT sector and present a blueprint to project Sierra Leone into the digital economy.
The ICT landscape will continue to evolve in various directions, and the Government will strive to create an enabling environment that provides equal opportunities for stakeholders in different areas of the country to take part in the process. In this context, cooperation, coordination and productive dialogue between policymakers and other stakeholders will remain instrumental.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
While Sierra Leone will continue to develop economic diplomacy and endeavour to live in peace and harmony with her neighbours, the country will pursue its interest in line with laid down international rules and regulations, and also be part of efforts at building a united Africa so says Honourable Nabeela Tunis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone. Excerpts:
Nabeela Tunis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
How would you describe Sierra Leone’s Foreign Policy direction?
The principal outlines relating to the Sierra Leone Foreign policy objectives are set out in Section 10 of the Country’s 1991 Constitution, to wit “… the promotion and protection of the national interest; the promotion of international cooperation for the consolidation of international peace and security and mutual respect among all nations, and respect for international law and treaty obligations, as well as seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or adjudication.”
Accordingly and given the thrust of the aforementioned provision, Sierra Leone has invariably observed the tenets of peaceful co-existence with other countries at sub-regional, regional and global levels. This unique characteristic has served as a centerpiece for greater integration at the socio-cultural level. This has further given the leadership of the country the opportunity to revive a trajectory by putting into perspective and energizing its relations mainly with its neighbours as well as countries, with a view to harness Foreign Service creativity through a set of clear goals for efficient cooperation.
It is prima facie evident that a country’s foreign policy involves an assessment of one’s power position relative to the global narrative of alliances, and must reflect the guiding principles of its external behavior with others. Consequently, Sierra Leone became a signatory to the Charter of the OAU and has more often than not, subscribed to a common African position. Sierra Leone has also adopted a pathway of building and sustaining its goodwill with the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as with other emerging players.
Being a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Sierra Leone’s foreign policy has also been effective within the frameworks of its “non-association” in the rudiments of the Cold War, and in the evolving power play in relations between the West and the European Union on the one hand, and Russia, Iran, Syria as well as other countries opposed to the increasing footprint of NATO and its allies on the other.
It is glaring that the national interest is inextricably linked with the domestic policy of a country and how well it is able to secure the security and welfare of its citizens. Accordingly, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has placed premium on “Economic Diplomacy” as the core national interest under “the New Direction Administration.” This policy initiative has shifted the country’s effort from aid assistance from partners to engaging in trade and economic relations, with a view to attracting foreign direct investments to fund its major national projects.
In view thereof, Sierra Leone’s foreign policy direction can therefore be described as a “Sierra Leone First Policy”, in view of what international negotiations bring to the table, and what fundamental issues at the domestic level could be resolved in terms of infrastructural development, lower tariffs for imports of basic commodities, health and other social services. So far, the country is able to maximize its relations for greater assistance and efforts could be increased to lead to expansion in growth, and more importantly, in prestige as a nation.
President Julius Maada Bio’s administration places premium on economic diplomacy as a core national interest. To what extent has this influenced activities within your Ministry?
In the first instance, Economic diplomacy could be referred to as the process through which countries engage at bilateral and multilateral spectra to maximize their national gain in all fields of activity, particularly trade and investment. This concept, though varied, could be applied in various forms by countries to intensify relations for economic development, whilst promoting normal diplomatic relations.
The need to augment this crucial aspect of foreign policy has seen the creation of the division of Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH), which has intensified the Ministry’s effort in identifying key and significant global players ready, willing and able to do business with Sierra Leone through a ‘win-win’ cooperation. The ECOTECH Division has thus created a technical backstop for liaison with important sectors in the country such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Chamber of Commerce, SLIEPA, etc. in this case, the Ministry can exercise collaborative trade promotion and technical cooperation for effective bilateral assistance from other countries and donor partners.
A key feature of economic cooperation has also involved empowering overseas Missions to engage in constructive dialogue with the business communities in their jurisdictions to realise formidable framework Agreements for cooperation with interested parties.
At the International level, the Ministry continues to follow up on our commitments with sub regional and regional Organisations such as Mano River Union (MRU), ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) for partnership on key objectives. The Free Trade Area Agreement (AfFTA) recently launched by the AU is one such collaborative measure for cooperation, which Sierra Leone intends to exploit fully. Continued efforts at the level of the United Nations and key global bodies by our Missions abroad, as well as engagement at summitry levels by H.E. President Bio are also certain to yield significant results.
What are the mechanisms put in place by the Ministry to encourage foreign direct investment and how effective have they been in attracting greater foreign partnership and investments to Sierra Leone?
Foreign direct investment in Sierra Leone is one of the goals of the new direction as encapsulated in the National Medium- Term Development Plan (2019-2023) of H.E. President Bio, and this is germane for all sectors of the Governments.
Consequently, and in view of Sierra Leone being a strategic location within the axis of the MRU, this Ministry continues to design important frameworks for Sierra Leone to be considered a destination and a hub within the sub-region. A key objective is therefore to attract investment for the creation of a strategic Economic and Trading Zone in the eastern part of the country within the context of the FTA coming into force.
Of importance is solid investment in both soft and hard infrastructure, being the basis for improved economic development. In that regard, this Ministry continues to engage non-traditional donor partners such as China, India, Russia, Turkey, etc. for investment in hardcore infrastructure, which should attract Sustainable business companies for long term investment in the country.
What kind of Support is the Sierra Leonean Government receiving from the International Community and the development partners in its efforts to achieve its development targets?
It is abundantly clear that Sierra Leone has received various kinds of support from the International Community over the years. One such support has been budgetary support.
Budgetary support refers to a method of financing a partner country’s budget through a transfer of resources from an external financing agency to the partner government’s national treasury. The funds thus transferred are managed in accordance with the recipient’s budgetary procedures. Budget support includes General Budget Support (GBS) and Sector Budget Support (SBS). SBS aims at contributing to accelerate progress towards the government’s goals within a specific sector (as identified in the sector strategy). On the other hand, GBS, as the case may be involves the dialogue between donors and partner governments, which focuses on overall policy and budget priorities.
The overall objective of budget support is to facilitate the achievement of the Government’s goals. More particularly, it intends to contribute to the achievement of a number of specific objectives, such as: establishing a favourable and stable macro-economic environment; improve government service delivery; focus on the needs of the poor; to name but a few.
The International Community has also provided support through grants or loans, which is common with the Bretton Woods institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and the ICRB, although with conditionality. Aid has also been received from specific regional blocs such as the Saudi Fund for Development, Japan and China via TICAD, FOCAC, etc., as well as lines of Credit from Development Banks of India and China, among many others. Specific programs organized to raise funding such as Investment for a including the scheduled Russia-Africa Summit for October 2019.
During perilous times in the country’s history ranging from the civil conflict to the mudslide in 2017, a series of interventions have been received in assistance of a direct kind. Non-traditional donor partners, in particular, China, have also most often than not provided direct bilateral assistance to Sierra Leone without conditionality.
How is the Ministry mobilizing and leveraging Sierra Leonean Diaspora business communities for investment and trade in Sierra Leone
It is a necessary fact that fruitful engagements be effected with the Sierra Leone diaspora, in particular, the business community, with a view to transporting creative ideas and enlarging the business portfolio in Sierra Leone.
In view thereof, the Ministry is in the process of completing the Management and Functional Review process, which aims at subsuming the Office of Diaspora Affairs under its purview. The unit, if subsumed under the Ministry will certainly embark on compiling and registering of all Sierra Leonean businesses abroad with a view to providing adequate information for inward investment in Sierra Leone.
Further, our missions abroad have also been encouraged to submit quarterly reports on engagements with the respective Sierra Leonean communities abroad, with a view to facilitating their contacts with the host countries.
What Strategies have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation adopted to develop a strong regional nexus and closer cooperation with other African countries for mutual development pursuits at the global arena?
The Ministry is aware of the need for building and sustaining international support and goodwill at the regional level, being a member of the MRU, ECOWAS and the AU. Active participation in these regional bodies over the years has proven to be conclusive in respect of strengthened relations with all the countries within the African Union.
As a start, Sierra Leone being the Coordinator of the Committee of Ten (10) on Reform of the United Nations Security Council has been successful in corralling the African countries towards a united and common position on reform issues, and Sierra Leone seeks to leverage this position for increased interaction in its relations with other African countries.
A “priority list” on all region, including Africa, is being finalized by this Ministry to present a clear set of objectives on ways of developing practical cooperation with emerging African economies where comparative advantages and favourable concessions could be mutually exploited for win win cooperation. Additionally, our Mission in Addis Ababa continues to be robust in its update on issues discussed at the AU Secretariat.
This Ministry further seeks to advise the Office of the President on participation at summit/events to build confidence at the highest levels.
How does your Ministry intend to sustain the global image and goodwill Sierra Leone has been enjoying since the inception of President Bio’s administration?
The foreign policy objectives of the country are invariably linked to boosting the image and prestige of Sierra Leone. The flagship project of H.E. President Bio in terms of promoting free quality education, coupled with the renewed fight against corruption are certain to create a new standard in relations between Sierra Leone and the International community.
For its part, this Ministry will certainly endeavor to reinforce the message of a disciplined leadership ready to do business in a resource-rich country which is ripe for business, in a transparent manner with its international partners as well as with the global business community.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
As part of efforts by the government and people of Sierra Leone to attract more visitors to the country, boost tourism, and improve their investment climate, the government through the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced a new visa regime for the country. This development makes Sierra Leone the latest African country to latch onto the growing demand for African countries to make ease of movement across the continent a priority. The new Visa regime gives Visa on Arrival (VoA) for all African nationals and other selected citizens from across the world.
Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone
The new regime which takes immediate effect grants visa-free entry for countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) who will benefit from the regional blocs visa-free protocol. Also citizens of other countries that have existing Visa-Free arrangement with Sierra Leone will continue to enjoy visa-free access to the country.
The government of Sierra Leone has been engaging in a series of projects as policy changes aimed at making the country investor friendly and also market its huge tourism potential most of which are quite outstanding , relatively unknown, pristine, making it one of the most beautiful and serene countries in the world. This new Visa regime according to government sources will make visiting Sierra Leone hassle free.
According to the new visa fees, citizens of the African Union member states will enjoy visa-on-arrival but will be required to pay a $25 dollar fee, while citizens of other nations will be required to pay $80 visa fee on arrival. Those covered by this arrangement are United States, United Kingdom, European Union member states and those in BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Others are, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman (the Gulf Cooperation Council nations) as well as citizens of Iran, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Israel, Japan, and South Korea are listed among others.
The Information Minister, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, was quoted as saying: “This is an indication that the new direction is poised to take the country to another level and our latest step in making the country attractive to tourists and foreign investors.”
In Africa, most regional blocs allow easy entry of citizens across their borders. A very effective measure is in East Africa between Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Ethiopia in 2018 also announced a visa free and visa on arrival regime for all Africans. Rwanda has a global measure in that regard. Mauritius has, however, topped the African Development Bank’s visa openness index. At the bottom have been Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.
