A renowned civil society activist and the Executive Director for Health, Democracy and Development in the country Robert Kondema Kargbo has presented his organisation’s position on President Bio’s one hundred days in office.
Mr. Kargbo described President Bio’s election victory as one that witnessed the abuse of the state security apparatus by the then ruling APC. He noted that the messages of change were cardinally engrafted in the President’s pledge to fight social injustice, political intimidation and create an inclusive society and the provision of free Primary and Secondary Education amongst others have resonated well with the electorates.
Mr. Kargbo welcomed the move by the new government to inject discipline in the management of the financial resources of the state a path which he emphasized should be maintained towards diversifying the economy.
The civil society activist maintained that President Bio’s 100 days have been fraught with serious citizens concerns over political instability. The Bio government and the main opposition APC, he further noted, have not found common ground to work together.
‘’To a greater degree, citizens perceive the APC as not willing to accept the reality that they are in opposition. On the other hand, the SLPP will naturally not allow any obstacles on its way to implement programmes that will meet the high and mostly unrealistic expectations of the populace,’’ he observed.
At the cross roads of these extremes, Mr Kargbo went on, conflict is bound to be the order of the day until the leadership of both parties agree to work together in the interest of the country and within the prescriptions of the 1991 Constitution.
The Fight against Corruption
On the fight against corruption, the civil society activist affirmed that the 100 days of President Bio has brought the greatest hope ever in the history of Sierra Leone and provided the platform for democratic engagements among political parties on issues of accountability and stewardship in governance.
The Executive Director noted that President Bio’s initial determination to fight corruption is palpably not questionable. He averred that The Governance Transition Team Report seems to provide a clear path to set a precedent to,
‘’…break from the impunity of the past and introduce a new path towards seeing politics as a national service and not a conduit for looting state wealth,’’ he lamented.
He called on the new Government to amend the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 within the next 90 days to make provision for public declaration of the assets and properties of the: President and First lady, Vice President and wife, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors and Deputy Ambassadors, Administrative Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Heads of Parastatals and senior management staff, procurement officers and Accountants including all middle level staff in MDAs. This is with a view according to him to accelerate the fight against corruption, in line with the Citizen’s Manifesto published by a consortium of civil society organisations prior to the 2018 elections.
Inclusion and National Cohesion
On inclusion and National cohesion Mr. Kargbo and his organisation view as useful information what the GTTR has detailed as “regional dimension of workers in various agencies and parastatals” to describe the disparities in terms of tribes and regions in the composition of staff within state institutions.
He encouraged the new government to ensure that it does not develop a pattern in which tribal and regional divides are palpably seen in the new parastatals.
‘’We shall endeavour to follow the pattern of appointments, recruitments and redeployment of senior officials in key state institutions’’, Robert Kargbo strongly noted.
Hiking Prices of Food Stuff
He stated that the rising prices of food stuffs in the country are worrying due to the low earnings of the average Sierra Leonean while calling on the government in the short term to put in place the mechanisms to stabilize prices through a deliberate policy.
The Need for Transition Law
He also called on President Bio to enact a Transition Law as recommended by the GTTR. He suggested that this law should be enacted within the first six months along the trajectories of fighting corruption while calling for the process to be participatory and transparent involving all political parties.
He opined that the government’s proposal to create an ethics office is an issue for consideration since according to him there is a Civil Service Code, the Procurement and Anti-Corruption Acts as well as other human resources management policies in MDAs noting that what has been lacking was disciplined leadership and enforcement of law.
The Energy Sector
He concluded by commending what he referred to as a marvellous job by the current Minister of Energy who has ensured that existing contracts are reviewed and transparency around the processes leading to the separation of NPA into EGTC and EDSA including the shareholders are ensured.