BY: HENRY LEBBIE
Lead on Governance and Civic Education.
YARDO-SL
It is a universally accepted view that a country that invests in its youth, invests in the sustainability of its achievements. But this can only be achieved with the right strategies and committed leadership. If we need a cultured, educated and empowered youth, then the government should invest in strategic areas and by making the youth agenda a national priority. The untapped resources buried deep in Sierra Leonean youths should be utilized for our national development thus putting an end to the misuse of young people by some unscrupulous politicians for selfish and unnationalistic objectives. This is a nationalistic call for an active involvement of young people as citizens in public affairs as an element of participatory democracy, for democratic consolidation and good governance.
Unarguably, our country is one of the poorest countries in the world and currently facing numerous challenges. It is estimated that 81% of our 7.72 million population lives in poverty. We have one of the highest youth unemployment rates in West Africa of about 67% according to the New Direction Manifesto, one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world and health problems including malaria, HIV/AIDS, hyperthitis, and drug-related diseases affecting mainly the youth population in Sierra Leone. The population accounts for about 35% of our country’s population and half of which remains unemployed. The psychological impact of poverty and the desperate search for opportunities is the reason many are risking escaping to Europe by suicidal means such as crossing the Mediterranean on overcrowded boats.
Being a youth in Sierra Leone is a true example of SURVIVAL OF FITTEST, in a jungle where hopes are lost and dreams shattered. Even though our ordeals can be attributed to the greed and selfishness of our political leaders in the past and in contemporary times, we are equally affected and chased by the effect of our most recent history as a nation like a shadow. Sierra Leone is still haunted by it recent past, of which heinous atrocities were committed mostly by young people who felt compelled or brainwashed to fight against a system that was characterized by political, social and economic marginalization and injustice. Youths who perpetrated this violence and those who lost their families are still suffering from psychological trauma. Undeniably, the scar of a decade of bloody civil war remains conspicuous mainly on most young people, maybe this is so because healing is always a process that continues for generations.
Concurrently, the sad repercussion of our dreadful political history; and bad governance, as well as the economic and social injustice seven years after the war, continue to have undesirable impact on our people and the youths in particular. Despite the efforts made by the previous governments in the area of social and economic development, much has not been achieved in the area of youth empowerment and development. Specifically, the government of Ernest Bai Koroma made several promises on youth empowerment which the New Direction best describe as “mere cliché” and he woefully failed to deliver on those promises. Fast-forward under a new political dispensation, I believe now is the time to be given the opportunity to choose for ourselves what is best for us as a people. It is time to mentor young people in areas such as education, business, sports, skills, creativity and innovation for our country’s progress and personal development.
President Julius Maada Bio has started well and is already showing a semblance of a unique and outstanding leadership. His administration has had an excellent beginning, with a sense of discipline, hope, vision and order. Under his unmistakable track, strict supervision and leadership, I am optimistic that certainly the youth agenda will become a priority in every policy formulation and implementations as a government. Precisely, the New Direction clearly reassures that “the youth problem will not only receive [our] topmost priority, but will also be viewed as a human development and security challenge”. Therefore, it means this government truly recognizes that young people are the foundation for sustainable development. As we patiently await the successful implementation of the youth agenda in the New Direction, some of us will not cease reminding the President and his government the huge expectations of the people who truly ushered him to power, youths.
Subsequently, we expect and hope that this government will create a level playing field for us to actualize our fullest potentials, to become productive to ourselves and our country; and to empower us to serve as the agents of the transformation of this country. In addition to the seven (7) areas of priority as indicated in the New Direction Thus Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), National Youth Scheme, Economic empowerment, Sports, music and Performing Arts; Public Works and Agriculture, I strongly advocate for an active youth representation in decision making processes which is absolutely crucial to democratic consolidation. Moreover, our effective involvement in policy formulation and implementation is a key element for success and it will positively impact quality governance. It also builds our ability to hold government institutions accountable.
Meanwhile, President Julius Bio must be applauded for a good start as he has already appointed some young people to serve as ministers and in other capacities. The obligation Is now on those young people to perform to the expectation of the people and confidence of the president by working to make the government succeeds. It is also required of them to prove that they have the capability and ability of good leadership by demonstrating such qualities like commitment, transparency, diligence, trust, loyalty and honesty. In addition to the president’s commendable start, I hope more young people will be given the opportunity to serve our beloved country, especially women within the youth age bracket. It is no longer strange that youths across the continent are capable of and ready for all forms of leadership, and we in Sierra Leone are no exception. A list of competent and qualify youths presently in Sierra Leone cannot be completed if I was instructed to write it.
Comparatively, some African countries had also started entrusting young people in positions of trust and responsibilities. Botswana’s new President Mokgweetsi Masis recently appointed a very young lady, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo as Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry. She is the country’s youngest minister ever who also served as a member of parliament two years prior to her present appointment. And in neighboring Liberia, President George Weah has done remarkably in empowering young people. Haven made several appointments of individuals to aid his government for the next six years, and more than 200 people appointment so far, it is unprecedented the number of young people he has appointed in his government. I learnt that this is in fulfillment of a promise he made during the campaign that he’ll tap the knowledge and skills of the young people who, in the past, were considered unserious and unproductive. What Is even more significant about the appointments of those young people is that most of them are home-based.
Consequently, the appointment of locally based young people to serve in government will certainly have a significant influence on their peers and the society, motivating hard work and diligence. This needs to be replicated in our democracy, and I am of the utmost confidence that there are already great young leaders in Sierra Leone. Quite honestly, I am not against people from the diaspora given the opportunity to serve, but it is also time for a paradigm shift and the idea of underestimating the competence and qualification of home-based young leaders. We are the ones most affected by political decision and failed policies as well as political victimization, marginalization and oppression. That’s exactly another reason I contested but lost narrowly for the National Young Generation Secretary General of the SLPP. I campaigned to the delegates in Kenema using Okada without a cent to offer, and deliberately not pledging allegiance to any senior member of the party to avoid the sycophancy and mediocrity I hate in others. It was a radical move to inspire others to believe in themselves, and for change.
Convincingly, the New Direction is bound to transform Sierra Leone but this transformation cannot be possible with youths in isolation. Our involvement and active participation is crucial, so it important that the President Julius Maada Bio make significant strive for the direct involvement of young people as he has already started. My suggestion however, is for the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mr Mohamed (Orman) Bangura, in addition to his mandate as directed and in consonant with the New Direction, to focus on youth mobilization and training for social and economic transformation; reconciliation, intellectual, cultural and the moral welfare of Sierra Leonean youths. Equally important are Gender and Disadvantaged youths’ priority; youth protection, civic education, health, leisure, poverty, unity and a national ICT literacy and awareness campaign in collaboration with both Ministries of Education. A robust effort for reactions and discussions on youth empowerment, policy implementation, conflict resolution, human right and other related issues, requires instituting an annual national youth conference involving representatives of registered national youth groups, MPs and council representatives.