By Alim Jalloh
In a kind of assessment, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Professor David Francis has unequivocally stated that the Government of President Bio firmly remains on track in the delivery of the manifesto commitment. He noted that though there are challenges, yet much progress has been made in laying the foundations for a prosperous Sierra Leone. He reiterated President Bio’s stance that 2020 is a year to consolidate on the achievements and successes of the New Direction Government.
In highlighting key achievements of the New Direction Government he stated that after 12 years of trial, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a United States Foreign Aid agency in 2019 positively assessed Sierra Leone under the leadership of President Bio in the control of corruption, ruling justly and investing in people with pass marks in guaranteeing democratic rights, civil liberties, the rule of law, health and primary education expenditures.
He furthered that the MCC also gave a pass mark to the Government of President Bio in the area of economic freedom, trade policy, gender in the economy and business start-up.
Prof David Francis said the Anti-Corruption Act was reviewed to make it more robust in the fight against corruption adding how the Government of President Bio paid $1.2 billion domestic debt left by ex-President Koroma of the APC.
“In 2019, President Bio launched Africa’s first blockchain and decentralized digital platform under the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) in Sierra Leone,” he outlined maintaining that the Government established and operationalized the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) under the Office of the President.
Other achievements he made mention of were: Translating commitment into action for the construction of the Lungi/Freetown Bridge. Arrangements for the construction of the bridge are far ahead; contributing to human capital development through Free Quality Education for Primary and Secondary education to over two million children in Sierra Leone,
He said they committed 21% of the country’s GDP to the FQE; the first Government in West Africa to provide free quality education across primary and secondary schools; spent 30 billion in the supplying of 26 million text books and other school materials;
“We provided school buses exclusively for school going children, increased salaries of teacher by 30% , controlled Government deficit/borrowing; created a Ministry of Environment in response to the global environmental challenges,” he mentioned.
The Chief Minister stated that they provided sustainable electricity supply to Sierra Leoneans especially in the Western Area, recruited 300 female in the army, first ever in the history of Sierra Leone, commissioned 48 hospitals across the country, approved 106 schools across the country.
He said they supplied 506 ambulances across the country to respond to emergency health issues, commissioned the construction of two universities: one in Bonthe and the other in Kono District; increased salaries of Government workers by 15%; appropriate Le18.3 billion to Freetown City Council to transform Freetown.
“We renovated the Sierra Leone Parliament to a modern level, paid for application forms for students who enrolled into universities; paid school subsidies for all pupils across the country,” he continued.
He said they offered scholarship to university students offering Mathematics, Geography, Agriculture, Biology and Engineering to students across the country, introduced and sustained national cleaning days on the first Saturday of every month, set up Commission of Inquiry to investigate the stewardship of past government officials, approved solar lights to be install at Moyamba District; commissioned the Lumley market and Juba to Atlantic bridge; commissioned the Bo Mattru-Jong Road, the Kenema/Tongo-Fields/Koidu Road , the construction of 68 streets in Kenema, the construction of the Kenema mini stadium, the completion of the Tokeh Peninsula Road.
The Chief Minister also stated how they supported the rehabilitation of the Bo stadium, the rehabilitation of Magburaka Boys School & commissioned the road and clock tower.
Professor Francis said they commissioned the construction of the Magbereh bridge Makeni high way that they are the First government to rule for 9 months without international budgetary support; to raise Le 8.7billion from corrupt politician in six months, commissioned the Milton Margai College Library and Science Laboratory and a drone corridor in Njala, the first in the West African Sub-region
