I Think Nahim Khadi Was Sycophantic On SLBC

I Rest My Case!!!

I Think Nahim Khadi Was Sycophantic On SLBC

With Theophilus S. Gbenda (Moe Fire)

I am neither a sports fanatic, nor acquainted with any senior sports official in the country. I have heard the name Nahim Khadi (President of the Sierra Leone Football Association) for quite a while, but have never met him…even though I can easily identify him.

            Listening to him speak on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC) Tea Break program last week and heard him boasting that the government of HE Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has allocated unlimited funds to him for the sole purpose of promoting football in the country, I came to realize that I was in fact listening to a heap of trash coming from somebody with a sycophantic mentality.

Rather than sticking to the hot questions being posed on him by the guy himself, Samuel Valcasel, Mr. Nahim Khadi, attempted to toy with the focus of the interview by spending all the useful time showering misplaced praises on the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and President Ernest Koroma, and in the process making such a wild and unrealistic statement that unlimited funds have been allocated to his office for the purpose earlier specified.

He however did not get his way because each time he tried to evade the question posed, Samuel will call him home.

The thrust of the said interview was for him, as the man responsible for football in the country, to express his views about the surprising performance staged by the Leone Stars in Egypt, that saw the Sierra Leone national side celebrating a one-all draw with their Egyptian counterparts who happen to be the football heroes of Africa.

Forgetting that the said performance is perhaps the best ever staged by the Leone Stars ever since he assumed the position of president of SLFA, Mr. Nahim Khadi, dressed in the gown of pretentiousness, blew the relevance of the clearly impressive performance/achievement beyond proportion.

The fact that Mr. Khadi was not in Egypt to witness the match first-hand, is an indication that he himself never had confidence that the team would have staged such a remarkable or lucky performance. The whole thing came to him as a real shock…and was unable to control the emotion and excitement that accompanied it.

“Come on man…don’t refer to that as small victory”, was the response Samuel Valcasel got when he tried to caution Mr. Nahim Khadi that “it is too early to celebrate”, considering the dismal performances by the Leone Stars over the years, and especially under his unimpressive and divisive administration.

Finance, for quite some time now, has been the greatest hindrance to the promotion of football in the country.

For Mr. Nahim Khadi therefore to have gone on air and stated categorically and in all certainty that unlimited funds have been allocated to SLFA, when in fact the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports under which it is operating cannot boast of such in its budgetary allocation, sends wild signals that the subject, Nahim Khadi, has proved himself to be what he is said to be…a diabolic liar and a sly partner. He first lied to the nation when he ate his own words…by declaring that he was going for only one term. Despite pressure for him to stick to his words, the man campaigned vigorously for a second term…and could even go for a third term if he has his way.

The whole interview turned out to be laughable when after making so much boast about his unlimited funds, he refused to give listeners an indication of how much exactly the government has so far bumped into SLFA. When asked the question, his response was “No. I’ll not tell you…lest the other sporting disciplines will become jealous”. So why then did he say what he said about unlimited funds? I guess not even State House, the Office of the President, could boast of unlimited funds to run the overall affairs of the state.

By making such a big-mouth statement, Mr. Khadi, a clearly unsuccessful football administrator, was, either knowingly or unknowingly, giving the impression that the major obstacle that was holding the progress of football at bay has been effectively overcome and that from henceforth, Leone Stars has no alternative but to come out with good results like the one in Egypt.

If Mr. Khadi is boasting of unlimited funds, then this should have a reap over effect on all regional and district football teams, from where the boys graduating into the national side get their grooming. Am not sure this is the case, because we have scores of teams out there that heavily depend on handouts from mining companies, mobile telecommunication companies and other commercial houses. What about our football officials…how is this thing about unlimited funds reflecting on their professionalism and motivation? What about the football academy…is everything alright there, courtesy of funds derived locally?

One important question that came to mind hearing Mr. Khadi’s empty bluff, was ‘what will this man say to the nation if with all the so-called unlimited funds, Leone Stars fails to beat the Egyptian side in the return match or say qualify for the upcoming African Cup of Nations at which Sierra Leone has a history of absenting?’

For all I know, our boys staged that impressive performance not because of the amount of money poured on them, but courtesy of their sense of patriotism to their country and in fulfillment of their intrinsic determination to put the country once more on the map and thereby sending a clear message to the authorities concerned that they can do it.

I however don’t think it is timely to celebrate, as Mr. Khadi thinks.

I rest my case!!!

Be Grateful to Civil Society

Special Commentary

Be Grateful to Civil Society

By Theophilus S. Gbenda

Recent publications in the media following the launching of two important reports by the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) in collaboration with its associate platforms, the Campaign for Just Mining (CJM) and the Association of Journalists on Mining and Extractives (AJME) and other international partners including Street Kids International, have left much to be desired.

One of the reports titled: Dancing with the Chameleon- Mining Communities in Sierra Leone and the many faces of Frank Timis, did not seem to have gone down well with African Minerals Limited (AML), certain government officials and parliamentarians including the Hon. Chernor Maju Bah, who courtesy of a misplaced appointment happens to be the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Mineral Resources and of course some colleagues in the media. The statement of Hon Bah during the launching sounded more like a PRO for African Minerals Limited rather than the people’s representative. In fact, it was difficult to distinguish between the Corporate Manager of AML and the MP. This shows why dangerous mining agreements are easily enacted in parliament.

What came out clearly in the said newspaper reports is that the local media, or a portion of it, has allowed itself so cheaply to be bought over by a mining company which by all indications, is not the best of companies any country that wants to develop should even consider doing business with.

Rather than critically analyzing the report in question, knowing fully well that persons engaged in civil society activities or in advocacy are professionals in their own right and will therefore not just sit down and come up with frivolous reports, the local media, in an out right sell-out game, condemned the report in its entirety and even made some derogatory and perhaps unfortunate remarks against key civil society activists this country is indebted to by virtue of their remarkable commitment to the cause of the suffering masses and the state as a whole...over the years.

One thing that also came out clearly is that none of the journalists with a critical view of the report, bothered to read through the lines so as to appreciate what is contained in it. They decided to treat it with reckless dismissal, even though in actual fact, they are stark novices when it comes to mining issues and the provisions of law regulating them.

The report in question is a very well researched piece, and is intended to provide a better understanding of the man to whom an area stretching up to 227 square kilometers containing over ten million tones of precious iron ore valued at millions of dollars, has been surrendered to…just like that. 

Over 80% of the information contained in the report was derived from the company’s own website, and therefore sounds ridiculous and suspicious that the company is critical of the report to an extent of dismissing it as baseless.

It should be noted that NMJD is currently undertaking series of investigations on the activities of mining companies operating in the country, and that the report at stake is just one in a series.

As expected, no company, including Koidu Holdings or African Minerals will be happy with a report that seeks to expose their odds. Little wonder why Mustapha Sesay, the Corporate Manager of African Minerals, was vexatious when given the podium at the launching of the said report, to make a comment.

In outright betrayal of his Sierra Leonean identity, Mustapha Sesay, who happens to be one of the opportune beneficiaries of what could best be referred to as a criminal network, based his vexation on the fact that the report failed to take onboard the good things the company has been doing since commencing operations in the country.

Of course the authors of the report are quite aware of some of the ‘benefits’ African Minerals has brought to the country, as was captured in the report at stake. They are equally aware of the countless thousands of dollars the company has been spending since inception to close the mouths of people whom they fear will hinder the smooth operations of the company. The fact of the matter however, is that the thrust of the research was to evaluate the credibility of the company and the major shareholder and Chief Executive Officer behind it. This is where Mustapha and his cohorts are missing the point altogether.

Because Mustapha knew that all what was said of his Frank Timis in the report represents nothing but the bare truth, he did not make an attempt to defend him. He therefore chose to play a publicity trick by delving on the supposed charity of the company to the country whose resources it is seeking to exploit on a win-lose basis.

It goes without saying that a three times convict for hard drugs, as Frank Timis is, can never be a clean entrepreneur. It should therefore be noted that African Minerals is not doing our country a favour. The fact that they are working towards bringing back the railway should not be a cause for celebration. Rather, consciousness should be raised that the company is thinking of doing that not because it is in love with our country, but because it thinks having a railway will make the transfer of our precious iron ore to a market centre, much easier and cost effective.

What perhaps most people, including some journalists don’t really understand is that the company has already calculated what is involved in bringing back the railway for example. I can bet with my life that the company would never have thought of embarking on such an expensive venture if there was no assurance of making a ten-fold or more profits. So then, one can easily state that the money being used to undertake the said venture is indirectly being derived from Sierra Leone. Let me also state that all the monies the company is spending are subject to specific deduction for tax purposes. So what is the fuss about?     

Article 19 (g) of the flawed agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the African Minerals Limited states among other things that “In addition to being able to fully claim the expenditure against chargeable income, the company may claim an additional deduction against chargeable income in an amount equal to 100% of the following expenditure:

·         Actual expenses incurred in respect of environment and social impact mitigation and/or environmental protection and/or restoration

·         Costs of educating and/or training those persons who are citizens of Sierra Leone and who are full time employees of the company or not full time employees but bonded to the company on completion of such education and/or training

·         The cost of any scholarships provided by the company to citizens of Sierra Leone

·         Cost of opening or making donation of funds, equipment or goods (including medicines and drugs) to any clinic, health facility or primary, secondary or tertiary education institution situated in Sierra Leone, whether solely for the benefit of the employees of the company or not.

·         The cost of acquiring prospecting, exploration or mining licenses is deductible in full in the year of acquisition

·         Expenditure on removing waste material during the mining process in order to access the ore body is fully deductible in the year incurred

·         Operating expenditure in relation to assets associated with the improvement of the community such as schools, clinics, hospitals, training centres and other similar assets is deductible in full

·         There shall be no limitation on the amount that is deductible for the cost of air tickets in respect of the company and its nominated contractors’ employees who leave Sierra Leone on their scheduled fly-in fly-out rostered breaks”.

With the foregoing, one can easily state that African Minerals is here to fry us in our own pot, using our own very oil. The company has everything to gain because it has the legal right of deducting all expenses accrued in the process of operating in our country.

Yet, our Minister of Mineral and Political Affairs, ‘Alhaji’ Alpha Kanu, boasts that half a loaf is better than nothing. The real danger is that AML seems to have bought scores and scores of good people already, and these so-called good people seems to have surrendered their wisdom and pride to a company no serious state would want to do business with.

This is where the civil society comes in.

What A Strategic Cabinet Reshuffle???

Special Commentary

What A Strategic Cabinet Reshuffle???

With Theophilus Sahr Gbenda

Having read and heard various comments by pundits and ordinary citizens on the latest cabinet reshuffle by President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, I have deemed it fit to render a contribution to the subject matter.

My take on it is that in the first place, the cabinet reshuffle was long overdue, judging by the performance of some of the ministerial appointees. Adding to that is the fact that, I consider it a strategic reshuffle that can not in any way be unconnected with President Koroma’s poise to clinch a second term.

I hold the view that an effective or competent president is judged by the team he puts in place…just like a good coach would do. It goes without saying that this country has been deprived of effective leadership since independence, as evident by the very poor delivery by successive governments over the years. We can only wish for the best.

No president runs a country alone...he needs a team. The importance therefore of having an effective team in place cannot be overemphasized.

In very civilized countries, presidents are elected into office based on the issues highlighted in their campaign manifestos, and cabinet positions are awarded not based on strict political affiliation, but competence. In this case, major changes are often expected anytime there is a cabinet reshuffle. In fact some appointees don’t even wait to be reshuffled…they resign when they know they can’t deliver.

Here in West African and Sierra Leone in particular, it is the direct opposite. Just as presidents are elected courtesy of the popularity of the political parties they belong to, so too are cabinet positions granted at random…in most cases to non-performing and clearly incompetent and untouchable cronies. In this case, a major cabinet reshuffle rarely occurs.

The cabinet reshuffle we witnessed recently, leaves much to be deserved as far I am concerned. This is so because rather than weeding off non performers, they were moved from one ministry to another.

This brings to question the much drummed about performance bonds signed between the president and his ministerial appointees. The basis of the performance bonds was that ministers have to deliver or face the boot.

Since the performance bonds were signed, the public has not been updated on anything. We therefore are in the dark when it comes to figuring out why two prominent ministers (Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abdul Serry Karmal, and Trade and Industry Minister David Carew) were fired, and why certain ministers and their deputies were reorganized or transposed into new ministries. This has opened rooms for assumptions and critiquing.    

My own assumption, as indicated earlier, is that the reason for the reshuffle has not much to do with the national development aspirations of the country, but purely for political gain ahead of the crucially important 2012 general elections, which the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) would not afford to lose...but have to anyway.

J. B. Dauda, for instance, has no business being made Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, when it is crystal clear that the man has outlived his usefulness insofar as running that strategically important ministry is concerned. The man has been in the political lime line for decades and I am sure all that the nation has seen from his stewardship is personal aggrandizement for himself. He’ll no doubt take great pleasure in embarking on the extensive trips his new office is renowned for. He is a known politician. Although a failed one, he still has the ability of disrupting the SLPP vote in Kenema District…the reason why upon accepting the position, he was forthwith slammed a suspension from the party. I know he doesn’t care about that because he has a history of being a perambulating and priceless politician.

Musa Tarawalie, the former Resident Minister South and now Minister of Internal Affairs, is said to be thuggish in nature and with him in control of the Sierra Leone Police force for instance, is a cause for concern especially giving the anticipated high political tempo that is going to be built around the 2012 elections. As Resident Minister South, he allegedly personally led an attack on the SLPP regional secretariat in Bo, following the defacing of the portrait of Ernest Koroma, reportedly by anti APC support. He can do anything to have his way, including acting underground. It still remains a mystery how he got himself into the APC government, knowing him to be a full fledge member of the SLPP.

Moijue Kai Kai, my dear friend and one time colleague in the struggle, has been made Resident Minister South, after a short while at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, as deputy minister. A former diehard supporter of Chares Francis Margai’s People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), Moijue Kai Kai is one man that is prepared to face the worse for what he believes. He currently believes that Ernest Bai Koroma is the best man on earth, and having made him deputy minister and now the first gentleman of the whole region with a deep rooted political history, he could exhibit the worst manipulative tendencies, just so as to see that his new god-father stays in power while he enjoys the spoils or call it whatever you may. Remember the row between him and the Pujehun radio journalist, who reportedly got a death threat from the former, over a hotly contested bye election.

‘Alhaji’ Alpha Kanu, sometimes dubbed as Agba Satani, after the former vice president of Sierra Leone, Late Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, is perhaps the worst politician I have ever encountered. He is a diabolic liar who courtesy of the reshuffle, has been told to keep a bit quiet or better still, has been cut to size. As Minister of Mineral Resources and Political Affairs, he presided over the formulation of the Mines and Minerals Act 2009, and at the same time contributed in no small way to the breaching of some of the key clauses in it…all in the interest of rogue mining companies and possibly after some palm greasing. As far as he is concerned, Sierra Leone lacks what it takes to mine its huge mineral deposits and should therefore accept anything that comes from the companies that are vesting interest in investing in the sector, saying rather foolishly that “Half a loaf a better than none”…as if we are beggars. Thank God he is no longer in control of our resources. It was even a risk entrusting our minerals in the custody of man who without the fear of God, reportedly tampered with poor people’s Hajj funds. He gave himself so many powers in the Mines and Minerals Act 2009, believing that he will never be removed from that ministry. This is a good reason why I think the Act should be reviewed to eliminate all the hidden agendas contained in it. 

While it was clearly an unwise decision by the president to blend the ministries of Mineral Resources and Political Affairs, it still makes no sense to appoint a serving Publicity Secretary of a political party and the ruling APC party for that matter, Minister of Political and Public Affairs. The rightful holder of that important office, in my view, should be a neutralist, and not one with an open political identity or bias. Alhaji Alpha Kanu nearly got stoned in Kono for meddling in the recent bye elections there, in outright breach of the terms of a signed communiqué that prevents politicians like him from unnecessarily going to certain places during polling.

Frank Kargbo, the new Attorney General and Minister of Justice, could not have been better placed as far as the strategic APC plan is concerned. He was one time Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) junta, and therefore not knew to that ministry. Frank Kargbo currently runs a law firm that is neck deep in facilitating large and long term land leases in parts of the country. In the case of Swiss based Addax Bioenergy Limited in the Makeni area, Frank Kargbo is representing the land owners (it’s unclear who hired him and whose interest he actually represents), and in the case of Portuguese based Quifel, he is representing the company which has so far acquired up to One Hundred and Twenty Thousand hectares of land in the Lokomasama, Masimra and Koya chiefdoms. The company hopes to acquire more leases for periods nearing 50 years and to produce crops and biofuel for export – with their man or call him tool, now the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. In what was clearly a conflict of interest, Frank Kargbo provided all the legal covers for the land leases referred to, while serving in the office of the president at State House, as adviser. Frank Kargbo is also said to have been at one time the benefactor of the current Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner, Joseph Kamara. It was Frank Kargbo who reportedly facilitated Commissioner Joseph Kamara’s flight to England for further studies. With corruption cases having to go through his office for advice before indictments are announced, it is obvious that he will easily steal the show. His appointment to that position puts a big question on the fight against corruption. You could imagine how embarrassing it is for an appointed minister to be roped in for corruption and dismissed as a result. Two prominent ministers in the APC government have so far been convicted for corruption. The list would have been longer…

What special advice does the like of the cocaine-stained Kemoh Sesay, the sacked former Minister of Transport and Aviation, has to offer to a president that worth his salt?

For want of space, let me stop here. But before I go, let me make it clear that the much talked about cabinet reshuffle is nothing to celebrate. In fact it further exposes our business-friendly president’s inability of putting together a formidable Brazilian team to run the day-to-day affairs of the country. Sometimes one is tempted to ask whether he is really sincere with himself or is focused minded. Just imagine that he is yet to separate the offices of the Attorney General and that of the Minister of Justice, and still maintains his vice president Samuel Sam Sumana as head of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Council. These were important campaign promises he continues to renege on...and yet talks about behavioural and attitudinal change. The appointment of SLPP’s Kailahun Member of Parliament, Hon. Tamba Borbor Sawyerr to the position of deputy minister of the ministry of health and sanitation rings a bell. Remember the president in his campaigning stated categorically that he will not draw members of his cabinet from the house of parliament. We now know that he was misleading the people into believing that he will live by his words or sacred promises. Many people voted for him based on the numerous pledges…they should be disappointed by now.

My foot!!! 

         

Welcoming 2011

Special Commentary

Welcoming 2011

By Theophilus Sahr Gbenda (Moe Fire)

Thanks to Jah, 2011 is here. A year we’ve been looking forward to. A year viewed by many as strategic because of its closeness to the crucially important 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

It is the general assumption that every year brings its own challenges...some foreseeable and some unforeseeable. The point however is that whether foreseeable or otherwise, a challenge remains thus until something realistic is done to outwit it.

A new year could be looked at from both individual and general perspectives. Either way, it is always advisable to evaluate the makings of the past year so as to underscore the failures and successes and consequently carve out a positive way forward.

This is important especially taking cognizance of the fact that the birth of every new year adds to the age of an individual and likewise shortens or reduces the tenure of office of a particular government or president.

Just as individuals are under obligation to make progress in life or face the brunt of hardship and ridicule, so too is an elected government or sitting president.

For Sierra Leone, the year 2011 is important for every reason; one principal one being that it marks the country’s golden jubilee. The question most people would ask is, ‘What is there to show’? Are we making progress as individuals and as a nation?

Concentrating on what we achieved as a nation in the past year and what we stand to achieve in the new year, I can emphatically state that we did not do quite badly. Thanks to the man on top of things and to us concerned citizens and critics especially, for making the noise necessary to put duty bearers under pressure to deliver.

Daunting as the task was, a couple of feasible achievements were made in the areas of electricity and water supply, infrastructure and health care amongst others.

Unlike previous years, a good percentage of Freetown residents for instance, now enjoy at least half-day electricity. Although of course it goes with heavy fees, the fact remains that the frequency of electricity has impacted positively on the lives of many and even reversed earlier claims that Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown, is the darkest in the world. We still have a long way though to go because as it is right now, there exist lot of challenges associated with the current electricity supple which if not addressed in good time, will make mockery of the gains recorded thus far.

Makeni, the northern provincial headquarter town, now has some form of electricity, and I learn that towns such as Magburaka, Lunsar and Binkolo, still in the north, will soon start benefiting from same. Doubts exit over the Bumbuna hydro facility, but what is clear is the government’s proven determination to make it an utmost reality. We can only look forward to that.       

2010 also saw rapid or simultaneous development works in most parts of the country. The once bumpy Masiaka-Bo highway now has a new looks…completely different from what it was in the previous years. The Bo-Kenema highway is now a smooth ride, and so too is the Makeni-Matotoka highway. Much progress has been done on the much talked about international road linking Sierra Leone and Guinea in the Port Loko-Kambia axis, and signs are feasible that the death trap that the Kailahun road is often referred to, will soon be called something else...with the contract for the construction of the said road already awarded and mobilization of equipment and personnel now in full gear. Other major road construction works are reported to be going on in several other places, with rumours that the appalling Matotoka-Kono highway will not be left out of the equation. We also are hearing about plans to construct the terrible road network linking Kailahun and Koindu. We can’t wait to see the reality of these largely donor assisted projects.

The much talked about National Youth Commission has been finally established, although we still await the appointment of a youth commissioner. The long awaited Freedom of Information bill is on the pipeline of being passed into law, not to mention the bill on the rights of women which is already in place.

While it is obvious that some people, courtesy of their naïve political thinking are far from being happy about the developments taking place under the Ernest Bai Koroma regime, the fact remains that any citizen who prays for his or her government or president to fail is not only unprogressive but unpatriotic.

Imagine that a government rules for two terms and yet has nothing to show by way of achievement. If you were 35 years when that government assumes power, you’ll be 45 by the end of those wasteful two terms. It is therefore incumbent on every useful citizen to always pray for his or her government to succeed.

As critics, we are raising concern over everything because we want to see results. Imagine that the gains being recorded now had been done with five or ten years ago, we’ll not be talking anymore about trying to fix the death-threatening Lungi-Port Loko road, but about re-establishing our own national airline with fleets of air crafts embarking on international flights or something else. That is development.

As the country gears towards the celebration of its 50^th independent anniversary, the question that keeps lingering on the minds of many is, ‘”What is there to celebrate”? The answer largely depends on how an individual perceives it. For me personally, I’ll say there is nothing to make noise about or celebrate...and the reason is obvious.

As far I am concerned, Sierra Leone, unlike the Republic of Botswana which in the early 60s could boast of barely 60 university graduates and less than 60 kilometers tarred roads in the entire country, has lagged behind for decades and therefore could not make any boast of things being achieved only now.

It goes without saying that our rating in the human development index still leaves much to be desired or inadmirable.

Cost of living remains a nightmare and clearly enough, the government seems wholly dependent on handouts from abroad.

50 years on, Sierra Leone still remains underdeveloped and ideologically dependent. Most of us do not see Sierra Leone as being truly independent.

Politically, the conduct of the 2007 general elections which saw the now opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) losing power to its arch rival, the now ruling All People’s Congress (APC), is enough to tell any critical mind that the latter lost the confidence of the West and was therefore blacklisted. In other words, evidences abound that the result of the 2007 general elections was dictated from outside. Note that even before the elections, the West cut off all aid to the country.

Economically, Sierra Leone is very far from being independent. In fact, Sierra Leone is yet to be mainstreamed in the global economy, which was why it was not directly affected by the global economic downturn. The country has billions of debts to offset, and yet is under obligation from the West to grant huge tax concessions to Western originated economic criminals parading as investors.

We see how powerful former Prime Minister Tony Blaire has become in wooing Western investors to Sierra Leone. Remember that Sierra Leone, under the patronage of Tony Blaire, went cap in hand begging investors of all sorts to come in and do business…in line with President Koroma’s poise to run the country as a business. So far, the business seems to be running at a lose.  

We all saw the dramatic twist by the government in overturning an earlier suspension order that was slammed on Koidu Holdings over the killing of two indigenous Kono youth who were amongst protesters against the lack of commitment to corporate obligations by the company.

Despite the fact that a whole commission of inquiry was instituted to look into the circumstances and a government white paper issued to back up the recommendations of the said commission, the government released a press alert announcing the surprised lifting of the Koidu Holdings suspension. This came immediately after the Israeli owner of Koidu Holdings, Beny Steinmez, jetted in and held a few minutes indoor meeting at State House with President Koroma.    

We also saw the undeserving welcome accorded by the government to top executive members of London Mining. The London Mining delegation was granted a presidential escort with siren blowing left and right...for outright exploiters.

Just recently, a publication came out that the present government lacks what is called due diligence and that the president is receiving praises he does not in any way deserve, mostly from his under men and party loyalists.

This is a very serious situation because without the application of due diligence, a country stands the risk of entering into wrong partnerships and wooing the worst investors or call them economic vampires if you like. Just imagine that the Romanian born Frank Timis, a three times drug convict turned entrepreneur and owner of African Minerals, has been given an exclusive right over billions of dollars worth of iron ore deposit stretching about 227 square kilometers in the Tonkolili District, north of the country.

Just recently, a corporate employee holding a very senior position in one of the mining companies operating in the country, confided in me that the government often asks them for assistance in balancing the national budget. This explains the reason why the companies are taking advantage of our poverty or call it mismanagement of resources…to an extent that laws are being broken just so as to ensure that so-called investors enjoy a good investment climate with less obligations to the state.

There is no way this country will develop without laying premium on local revenue generation as opposed to depending almost entirely on alms with conditions attached from abroad.

It is baffling sometimes seeing people engaging in political violence and political manipulations. It is about time that Sierra Leoneans started voting on issues rather than on party affiliation.

For so long, politicians have taken advantage of the vulnerability of our people. What I will measure as a major achievement by the current government is overhauling the present political landscape by ensuring that action, and not talk, becomes the criterion for re-election or re-appointment.

The road however seems far off, given the level of sycophancy and corruption around.

Sierra Leone is a great country; we can’t afford to see it remain plunged into the melancholy of underdevelopment.

Let me end by wishing all and sundry a hearty and prosperous 2011.