President Bio’s ‘New Direction’ government has proved otherwise in terms of running Sierra Leone on a new direction path.
Many Sierra Leoneans voted the Bio administration against the backdrop of his solid military background and discipline.
The electorates’ vote was anchored on the resounding achievement the National Provincial Ruling Council (NPRC) recorded in forthrightness and discipline during their transient reign between1992-1996.
The NPRC was a military government that toppled the then ruling All People’s Congress (APC) which had governed the country for 21 years.
It is no gainsaying that President Bio’s ‘New Direction’ government won the March, 2018 elections not for the much trumpeted Free, Quality Education but for his military background which epitomises discipline.
Many Sierra Leoneans were weary of ‘lawlessness,’ ‘clique’ violence, rampant killings and corruption and the free-for-all business pervasive during the Koroma regime.
At that time, the country’s economy was in shambles and an economic recession was almost real fuelled by rampant duty waivers, tax holidays and bad mining laws and agreements.
The ‘New Direction’ People’s manifesto resonated well with Sierra Leoneans at the time. Thus, President Bio who left State House 22 years back after ruling Sierra Leone as a military head of state came back to the house through the ballot box.
Many said the former head of state enjoyed the back-up of the Brits, Sierra Leone’s former colonial power.
Having taken over the reins of state command, President Bio, during his inauguration in May, 2018, promised Sierra Leoneans three peaceful wars: Poverty, Corruption and lawlessness.
Almost two years have gone, and Sierra Leoneans, including those within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) are of the view that the Bio government has recorded nothing regarding their fabulous promises.
Thus, SLPP stalwarts share the belief that President Bio and team have not fared on well. They seem jittery that the SLPP government would return to State House when time is up to seek fresh mandate from the people in 2023.
Despite the fight against corruption where the government is believed to have made some considerable progress, the indicators around the two wars (Lawlessness and Poverty) are far from being won.
Although the government’s local revenue mobilisation drive has greatly improved, the economy is still far from recovering.
The exchange rate is high and the tax regime is very much challenging to many businesses.
Many Sierra Leoneans are convinced that the ‘New Direction’ government has done little in the formulation and implementation of sound financial policies that would usher a turn-around in the country’s economy.
One could infer from the terrible economic indicators that the country still grapples with a high wage bill, domestic and foreign debts.
Opposition Leader of the National Grand Coalition, (NGC) Dr. Kandeh Yumkella has warned the Bio government against over-spending and unnecessary creation of jobs for the SLPP boys.
Hon. Yumkella issued the warning during debates on the ‘New Direction’ supplementary budget in 2018 at the well of Parliament.
The NGC leader also noted that the government is yet to break from the old order as radical economic reforms have not been employed talk less of being implemented.
Hon Yumkellah however suggests that government invests more in the agro-based industries which have the potential to quickly turn around the economy and provide the much- needed jobs.
Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), a civil society organization working around budgetary accountability issues and tax reforms have lambasted the high wage bill and bloated external debts already incurred by the government in just one year in office.
The high wage bills and debts are at direct variance with the aspiration for an effective management of the country’s economy.
The Auditor General’s Report of 2018 and recent revelations of the Africanist Press regarding the economy vis-à-vis the Single Treasury Account implementation have invited a plethora of questions.
By all indications, the ‘New Direction’ administration has not displayed any freshness in terms of management of the economy and Sierra Leone as a whole.
Sierra Leoneans who supported the government within and outside of the party are disappointed since the government has not lived up to the people’s expectations.
As the economic malaise lingers, the main opposition, APC, the then ruling party, feels vindicated.
The opposition says they are in a favourable position in the coming 2023 elections owing to the ‘New Direction’ misrule in two years.
The Misrule could be better expressed in the most popular jargon of the sports world: SCORING AN OWN GOAL.
The raging Corona Virus which has crushed advanced economies is set to deal the last devastating blow with Sierra Leone’s weak and donor-driven economy.
To say the least, The ‘New Direction’s ambitious National Medium Term Development Framework 2019 -2023 is deficit in funding although the plan resonates well with the Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 and the African Development Plan, 2063.