By Ralph Sesay
The Institute of Governance Reform has released findings of a Bio Meter Survey on the performance of the Bio led administration as it relates to the 556 official promises made in the NEW DIRECTION manifesto. It also looks at the speech delivered by the President in the first opening of Parliament and a number of other Executive Orders issued by State House in the last one year.
Citizens, who formed one of the clusters dealt with by the survey, noted that 48% of Sierra Leoneans trust the direction in which the country is going, 32% are of the opinion that the country is going in the wrong direction, while 16% are of the opinion that the country is still the same.
The IGR Survey, which is funded by the Open Society for Initiative for West Africa (OOSIWA), is part of wider efforts in West Africa to create platforms for constructive state citizen dialogue that will enhance the responsiveness of government to meet the needs of the people they serve.
The findings of the report were obtained from four groups, based on the nature of politics and the polarisation in the country. It was with the view to ensure the objectivity and validity of results and a wider national ownership of the Bio-meter initiative.
The different layers, that informed the sample size of the research population, had included a sample of 1,920 ordinary citizens, 85 experts randomly selected, officials of government ministries, departments and agencies and a committee of 13 (thirteen).
On the whole, the findings of the expert reveal that 2.7 % of the 556 promises were rated to have been completed; substantial progress was made in 16.7% of the promises, limited progress was reportedly made in 40.3 % and nearly 29.8% were classified as not doing well at all and lastly 10.4 % was not rated.
The five highest non performing sectors, as indicated in the report, are the macro economy, which records 66.7%, marine resources, 47.2%, fighting corruption, 44.4 %, health and sanitation, 41.5% and the financial sector, 38.1%.
The five worst performing areas, according to the IGR Bio Meter Survey, are the Executive Authority, which recorded 22.20%, ICT, 20%, Rule of law, justice and human rights, 18.20%; decentralisation, 11:10% and security, 9.80%.
The report noted that the Bio administration has placed significant emphasis on revamping the economy as reflected across the macro economy, anti corruption and the financial sector. However, the Report described the government as being very weak in the promotion of democratic governance and the rule of law.
Experts have attributed the economic reforms as a response to external pressures and also backed by the need to increase the financial platform of the new administration.
Citizens have also noted, among others things that they still continue to pay fees even when there is a Free and Quality Education scheme; lactating mothers also complained of paying for drugs in government hospitals.
The report has recommended for sustainability in the fight against corruption and the public financial management reforms seen over the last seven months. It also notes government’s efforts at attempting to provide two major social services free of cost to its citizens.
These commitments, the report notes, are a burden for the Sierra Leone economy and are only feasible because of heavy reliance on foreign aid. The report recommends that future commitments should be done with an eye on sustainability and counting the cost rather than committing to spend more than we can afford as a country, the report concluded.