Dust has been thrown in the eyes of business owners and executives by Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio during a conference in Brussels, the Belgian capital by showcasing Sierra Leone as an “investment destination.”
The conference which takes place annually is meant to discuss investment plans in Africa, an ideal platform for President Bio, a man who has always tried to curry favour from investors.
In reality, Sierra Leone’s security situation remains fragile and volatile at the moment although a communique that purports to end a three-month post-election stand-off is about to be implemented.
Sierra Leone has never been at ease within itself after the June-24 elections owing to allegations of votes stealing against the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party. As a show of resistance, elected officials of the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) boycotted governance at all levels calling for a re-count or re-run.
Parliamentarians, mayors, chairmen and councillors declined to take the oath of office saying they would not serve a government whose President holds a “stolen mandate.”
Weight to the opposition’s resistance was added by the international community particularly EU and the US who condemned the elections for lack of transparency as well as police and military brutality. Apart from the stay-away from governance, protests and threats of violence are widespread with the September 11 demonstration standing as a bright example.
Six residents including a disabled top-up seller, Alfred Kallon were gunned down in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.
Accusing fingers are being pointed at the the police and the army for the fatalities. The capital city, Freetown and other parts upcountry have never enjoyed total peace as businessmen and petty traders fear to carry out business as usual.
Shops and other business centres close down as early 7pm and 8pm owing to fear of a resurgence of political violence and thuggery.
However, signing of a peace communique last Wednesday seemed to have brought a semblance of peace, but renewed threats of another boycott cast further doubt on the country’s stability. Shops and other business centres in Freetown remain closed for the past two days without any sign of re-opening.
Few businessmen however appear to have returned to business although not at a full-scale. Threats to peace were never mentioned by President Bio during his address at the Brissels conference which commenced last Friday.
The conference was held on the fringes of ‘Revolution in African Financial Systems (RAF): Blending Authenticity and Modernity: Pathways to Financial Inclusion.
RAF is the most prestigious pan-African Economic Forum in Brussels which bring together top business owners and executives. As guest of honour and keynote speaker, President Bio presented Sierra Leone as an investment destination to leaders of the organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific states.
Poised to see large-scale investment in Sierra Leone, the President informs the investors that Sierra Leone is peaceful and politically stable with poverty reduced to an appreciable level. The Invest climate, the President said, was attractive and Sierra Leone was free from crime backed up by government’s readiness to invest in agriculture under the broad umbrella of the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative.
“We see agribusiness as key driver of growth for the country and a key critical area of focus for investment. We seek strategic partnerships to harness the full potential of our agricultural sector. With a growing consumer market, investors can benefit from several preferential trade agreements. These include duty-free access to the Mano River Union market of more than 50 million people and the ECOWAS market of over 420 million,” Bio informed the African and Caribbean business leaders.
During his address, President Bio also mentioned government’s huge investment in education aimed at developing the human resource.
“With our vision of transforming the lives of our people through Human Capital Development, Sierra Leoneans have mandated me for a second five-year term,” Bio told world leaders.
Sierra Leone is caught by surprise when the President touches on a project which, many say, fails miserably. Despite the millions of US dollars poured into Free Education initiative, no dividend has manifested itself in the short run and none is also expected in the long run.
For teachers, pupils and parents, the project is not one worthy of celebration as everything remained the same after a five-year roll out.
Infrastructure, (schools), mode of teaching and teaching, terms and conditions of service for the academic workforce still remained as they were. Nothing changed and the same old problems of exams malpractice, petty bribes and other forms of corruption, beggarly salaries, low motivation and morale are still visible in the classroom.
The propaganda that surrounds Sierra Leone’s education has been likened to claims made by President Bio that parents could save USD500 the equivalent of over Le10, 000, 000 (ten million Leones) owing to the Free Education project.
Bio’s claims financial savings became topical within the public especially the parents who are the most disgruntled.
During the Free education scheme, parents paid admission fees and other related charges, buy school materials and sometimes motivate teachers out of their own money with many saying the school system should have been left as it was.
They see no good or gain for government going into such project as no result has been achieved after what many call a wasted five years. In the last days of 2023 which should have marked the end of Bio’s presidency, the project is no longer a government priority as it has been replaced by agriculture which is now Sierra Leone’s flagship project.
The financiers too have downtooled as they are no longer willing to spend a cent on the once cherished project.
But, the truth about the project is kept under the carpet during the Brussels conference with Bio thinking that the business leaders are not privy with the reality in Sierra Leone.
Moving from the investment potentials, Bio also commended those countries who supported Sierra Leone in taking up the non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council saying it is a reflection of the country’s sustained progress in global decision- making and contribution to international peace and security.
The Sierra Leonean President also convinces attendees that his government is legitimate as he presents himself as the true winner of the June polls.
“…I won the June, 2023 presidential elections, campaigning on the significant development achievements of our New Direction Agenda amid leadership in turbulent times with the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis that disrupted global economies,” Bio informed business leaders. Back home, Bio is still not seen the real winner of the June elections as he still battles it out with recognition challenges.
The international community especially the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom have ceased funding Bio’s government which they see as one that is illegitimate.
International and local election observers condemned the election for its opacity in almost every stage of election process particularly the tabulation and tallying process.
Two days after the polls, Chief EU election Observer, Evin Incir said during a press briefing at Raddison Blu Hotel in Freetown that live rounds and teargas were fired at opposition headquarters killing and injuring party members. Although a peace communique is in place, Bio is still under pressure to bring back stolen votes. A cross-party committee which will investigate the election fraud is about to be formed.
The committee will make recommendations after completion of its work and hope for a rerun remains strong among the voters. Until credible election results are announced, Sierra Leone’s peace remain doubtful, and Bio should pretend that all is well with the investment climate when all is not well.