Sierra Leone’s statesman, former President Ernest Koroma, has made a commitment to advocate for ‘soldiers of peace’ in Africa who will be engaged to contribute in building their nations’ and the continent’s infrastructure in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The establishment of an African Peace Engineering Corps is a proposal that seeks to dedicate a small % of soldiers to *wage peace and not war* and has been commended around the world as the way to go for the continent’s peace and development.

World renowned experts in peace keeping and reconciliation who participated in a meeting of the minds came up with the visionary idea during a working peace dinner at the 2019 Horasis Leading Global Change Meeting held in Cascais, Portugal.

The former President, who was speaking to the BBC for the first time since stepped from office in 2018, was VERY clear that his role is to rally round his former peers in the continent to consider the proposal.

“There’s a huge potential in utilising the various expertise lodged within the ranks of the military in building social infrastructure even at peace time but ultimately, it is a decision for African leaders to make”, the former President emphasized.

Former President Ernest Koroma, well regarded among his peers across Africa, says he would dedicate his retirement to this initiative until it comes to fruition by engaging at the subregional level with ECOWAS and then at the continental level with the African Union.

The team of notable experts in peace and reconciliation who presented the idea to Sierra Leone’s former President include:

Mr.Stephan Hecht – Chief Executive Peace Maker, Million Peace Maker (Canada) https://www.millionpeacemakers.org

Ms Isabel Maxwell, Ambassador, Shared Studios (USA) https://www.sharedstudios.com

Canon Sarah Snyder, Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser for Reconciliation (UK) The Rose Castle Foundation https://rosecastle.foundation

Mr. Jasper Zimmermann Center for the Future Peace Quest (Germany)

Franya E Cabral Ruiz, President of Solid Investments Group , Cross-Cultural Facilitation

www.solidinvestmentsgroup.com

“Horasis was founded on the principle that tackling the world’s most pressing economic, social, and political issues necessitates productive dialogue and collective collaboration,” said Frank-Jürgen Richter, Chairman of Horasis.

The Horasis Global Meeting provides a platform to explore and foster cooperation, impact investing and sustainable growth.

This year, politicians and business leaders met to debate policies on globalization. Over the four-day event, talks were held on sustainable development, populism, climate change, cryptocurrencies, the next financial crisis, immersive technologies, diversity in the workplace, the fourth industrial revolution, the post-truth era, halting sexual harassment, modeling sustainable migration, and blockchain.

The Tejan Kabbah Foundation for Peace and Democracy has called at State House to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and to congratulate him on his first anniversary in office.

Ambassador Alie Bangura, who led the team, explained the motive behind the formation of the Foundation, noting that it was mainly in honour of the hard work of late President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who played an important role in the democratic consolidation of Sierra Leone.

“On behalf of the Tejan Kabbah Foundation for Peace and Democracy, I congratulate you on your elections and on your one year anniversary in office as President of the country. We want to officially launch the Foundation and we want to ask your kind permission, as President of the country, before we can invite former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia who were contemporaries of the late president, who also helped strengthened the democracy of Sierra Leone,” he said.

In response, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio thanked the leadership of the Tejan Kabbah Foundation for holding the fort since the death of the former president who, he said, the country would always remember for the role he played in transforming the country into a democratic state.

“This is a good initiate and I am in support of its official launch. We owe it all to the late President Tejan Kabbah for the role he played in this country. I was Head of State that ushered him as democratic president and I know his valuable contributions and sacrifices. We have to give honour to whom it is due,” he noted.

The President also stated that it was worthwhile to honour people who had sacrificed for their motherland, particularly during those dark days of Sierra Leone, and pledged to support in whatever way for the Foundation to continue to contribute to nation building.

Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who oversaw the end of the country’s brutal 11-year civil war, died in Freetown on Thursday 13 March 2014 at 82, served twice as the third President of Sierra Leone, from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007. An economist and attorney by profession, Dr. Kabbah spent many years working for the United Nations Development Programme.

The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Thursday 11th April 2019 debated and unanimously approved the Thirty-Third Report of its Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, chaired by the Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma.

After approval, the Presiding Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas congratulated the nominees and wished them well in pursuit of their various appointments.

The following presidential nominees were approved by Parliament:

I. Prof. (Dr.) Sahr Moses Gevao-Chairman, Sierra Leone Council for Post-Graduate Colleges of Health Specialities
II. Dr. Sama Sahr Monde-Chairman, Agriculture Research Institute Council
III. Mr. Abdulai M. Bangurah-Chairman, Political Party Registration Commission
IV. Alhaji Ing. Alpha B. Savage-Member, Board of Directors, SALWACO
V. Alhaji Mohamed B.A Timbo-Member, Board of Directors, GVWC
VI. Mr. Michael A. Kendor-Member, Board of Directors, Petroleum Regulatory Agency
VII. Mr. David M. Gegbai-Member, Board of Directors, SLRA
VIII. Mr. Jackson Kamara-Member, Board of Directors, Sierra Leone Local Content Agency
IX. Mr. Abubakarr Kamara-Member, National Youth Commission
X. Mr. Joseph Lamboi-Director-General, Sierra Leone Correctional Service and
XI. Mr. Dennis K. F Harman-Deputy Director-General, Sierra Leone Correctional Service

Seconding the motion, the Leader of NGC, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella called on the nominees to do well in their appointments and observed that Parliament had approved over 200 nominees to serve as change agents for the attainment of policies and programmes embedded in the New Direction. He also said that “it will not be business as usual”, and called for effective and efficient service delivery in the areas of water, road construction and agriculture. He called on Mr. Bangurah to remain apolitical in the discharge of his duties, particularly noting neutrality and the need to urgently solve some of the teething issues that are plaguing the Political Party Registration Commission.

Hon. Hindolo M. Gevao of SLPP recognized Prof. Gevao for playing a leading role in the development of the health sector in the country, adding that “his nomination is never a mistake by President Bio”. He also described Mr. Lamboi as “a committed and focused person” and encouraged him to emulate his predecessor for the work he had done for the improvement of the correctional centers across the country, adding the all the nominees are “competent and qualified” for the positions to which they have been nominated by President Bio.

Hon. Alusine Kanneh of SLPP and Chief Whip of Parliament said that “I have no doubt that Mr. Lamboi will do the necessary things to improve the conditions of inmates in the correctional centers”, and called for the protection and maintenance of their human rights. He also informed the House that “the conditions of prisons in Norway is far better than most houses in Freetown”, and recognized the work of “Legal B” in Kenema whom he said the people in that part of the country had wanted to reward him with a mayoral position.

Hon. Mohamed Bangura of APC described the nominees as “competent and qualified” for their appointments and called on Mr. Bangurah to review the PPRC Act for enactment by Parliament to strengthen its mediation role with powers of enforcement.

Hon. Lolloh Tongi, an Independent MP from Kailahun commended President Bio for recognizing and appointing competent and qualified “Kissi sons” to serve in high offices of State, adding “I am a little bit disappointed because there is no woman among this batch of nominees”.

Hon. Rebecca Y. Kamara of C4C described the nominees as “highly qualified” and called on the Government “to empower and provide the nominees with all the necessary resources to execute their duties diligently”.

In rounding the debate, the Acting Leaders of Government Business and the Opposition, Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma and Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo respectively endorsed the nominees and encouraged them to do well in their various appointments for the development of the country.

The Head of Audit Sierra Leone, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce, on the 10th April 2019 undressed both the Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa and the Financial Secretary, Sahr Jusu, by sharply contradicting what both had previously told newsmen at a Press Conference and by extension the public that during the tenure of the main opposition APC Party a whopping sum of 1 Billion Dollars was misappropriated. Besides, the Finance Minister ordered that those who were mentioned in the Technical Audit Report of pilfering the said amount must repay the amount in three months’ time.

Interviewed over Radio Democracy Good Morning Sierra Leone Program the eloquent and professional Auditor General, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce lay bare the fact that there is nowhere it is mentioned in the report that such an amount of money was pilfered or squandered.
She noted that the composition of the special audit was highly professional adding that her office lacked the capacity to conduct certain technical audits hence she invited renowned audit experts to help.
When it was mentioned that it is being mooted in some quarters that particular individuals of the four institutions that were audited were not contacted she replied by stating that they audit institutions and not individuals further maintaining that even if shortcomings were discovered in some departments of those institutions, where officials who were there are no longer working, it is the responsibility of the Heads to make available relevant documents. She highlighted that before the auditing was conducted they notified the targeted institutions.
The Auditor General reiterated that the Audit Service Sierra Leone issued circularization letters but the response was very poor, thereby making it impossible or difficult for the auditors to reliably confirm some balances for some of the institutions audited.
“One of the reasons why people find themselves drawn into adverse findings in audits is because they fail to produce and/or retire documents on how they spent public money but they now have an opportunity to do so in Parliament”, she pointed out.

“The Managements of both Sierratel and NASSIT failed to respond to the draft technical audit reports within the required timeframe (i.e. 15 days), in accordance with Section 93(3) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016. This negatively impacted the audit process which all parties concerned were aware of the limited timing that had been allocated for the exercise,” she revealed.
Quizzed as to why she first submitted a summary of the Technical Audit Report to the Ministry of Finance instead of Parliament as stipulated Lara Taylor-Pearce stated that she was mandated by President Maada Bio to conduct the Technical Audit and therefore thought it fit that after completing the task she must first report to the Executive Branch of Government particularly the Ministry of Finance but however she confirmed that the full report has been tabled before Parliament.
In a related matter the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Thomas issued a warning to the Auditor General to first table audit reports before Parliament and not to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“I am warning all MDAs to keep off the audit report and if they obstruct the work of Parliament it is contempt of Parliament,” he sternly stated.
It was noted that the Minister of Finance does not have the legal authority to order individuals to refund public funds as it does not fall within his purview and it is only Parliament or the courts that are mandated to do so
There is a particular school of thought holding the view that the Minister of Finance, JJ Saffa and the Financial Secretary. Sahr Jusu, have both blundered big time by telling a lie and by extension damaged the integrity of the SLPP led administration headed by President Julius Maada Bio adding that it is a failed attempt to discredit the opposition All Peoples Congress Party. “It is very unimaginable for a whooping sum of 1 Billion Dollars to be squandered or chopped within three years by few people named in the Technical Report,” Mahmoud Sesay an Accountant of long standing experience said vehemently.
It is mooted that for the embarrassment that both Saffa and Jusu have caused the SLPP Government they will soon be shown the exit door although the party is now struggling to do damage control.

Commentary

The revelations being made at the Commissions of Inquiry; the recovery of huge sums of money by the ACC; the administrative and managerial excesses, lapses and gross professional incompetence revealed by the Special Technical Audit; the dismal annual Audit Department Reports on how MDAs willfully misuse funds clearly show that President Bio cannot go far in the New Direction without the active cooperation and participation of a dynamic, committed, patriotic minded national civil service.
The civil service is the backbone of the State. It can support or undermine a country’s entire system of governance. Donors recognize this important fact and have tried to promote civil service reform in the countries they are providing aid to. However these attempts have all too often been limited in success.
There are eight principles key to effective civil service reform that builds on the five principles of the Paris Declaration: local country ownership; donor alignment to local objectives; harmonization of donor processes; focus on results, and mutual accountability between donors and aid recipients. These principles are:
1. Appreciate the long term nature of reform.
2. Focus on the timing and sequencing of reform activities.
3. Ground reform in analysis.
4. Ensure national ownership of the development process.
5. Involve a broad range of stakeholders.
6. Co-ordinate with other donors.
7. Decide whether systematic or incremental reforms are appropriate.
8. Determine clearly what the most common barriers to effective civil service reform are and how they can be overcome
Barriers to successful civil service reform include:
1. Political will – Political will is the greatest single challenge to civil service reform. If political leaders are not invested in reform then donors are unlikely to make any major headway. Political will is so important to civil service reform because the civil service is fundamental to the political system to the extent that change cannot take place without the agreement of the most powerful players. They are essential both in terms of ensuring reforms continue over the long term and as a source of accountability. Furthermore civil service reform can be politically costly upfront and as such politicians are unlikely to persist with it unless truly committed.
2. Patronage – Political patronage often leads to vested interests that see the civil service as a source of personal gain through pay, promotions, and employment status. Such interests are likely to see any reforms to the civil service as a threat to these benefits. Similarly, many within the civil service benefit from being able to dole out public money, jobs, and other contracts and are unlikely to willingly give up such powers.
3. Weak institutions – Systems with weak institutions will often lack the drive necessary to push reforms through. Weak institutions are often associated with a lack of civil society, and thus external pressure for reform may be absent. Furthermore if the rule of law is weak in the country as a whole, it may well be weak within the public service. This can mean that policies are not properly elaborated and that employees are not aware of their rights and responsibilities. Reform processes in systems of weak governance start from a lower point and have more to accomplish.
4. Sustainable reform – Civil service reform can be costly in terms of time and money, and many countries undergoing reform could not afford to undertake it without donor support. However donor support cannot be indefinite and donors therefore need to ensure that the reforms can continue once their funding is focused elsewhere.
5. Lack of an analytical framework – The data and evidence necessary to conduct an analysis of civil service reform is not always easy to come by. Conducting research, such as a census, to determine this necessary information can be a costly and time-consuming process. Consequently it is often difficult to find a baseline against which to measure progress. Furthermore many analysts argue that it is impossible to measure progress in civil service reform due to the many factors that affect developments.
6. Donors – The final challenges are created by donors themselves. Short budget cycles, staff rotation, and priority shifts can lead to a lack of stability. Furthermore donors often do not coordinate with each other as well as they could.

Paying a congratulatory visit to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House on Wednesday 10 April 2019 members of The Body of Christ Sierra Leone commended him for his remarkable approach to governance one year since his election as President of Sierra Leone.

President of the Pentecostal Churches, His Grace Bishop Archibald Cole, said as moral guarantors they were biblically mandated to engage the leadership on a time-to-time basis, with the aim of ensuring development in the country, noting that they were delighted at the prospects of developments based on efforts the government had made so far.

He described the launch of the Free Quality Education programme as a laudable step by the government, adding that that would lay a perfect foundation for development and as well provide opportunities for the less privileged in society. He also commended the President for his stance in the fight against corruption, saying that corruption was an impediment to the development of the nation.

“Your Excellency, we take this opportunity as the Body serving as moral guarantors in this nation to assure you of our readiness to work with you and your government in the New Direction. It is on that note that we wish to put on record our heartiest and sincerest congratulation to you and your government for banning masquerading of mask devils along our streets during Holy days and holidays.

“We are highly gratified, again, by your government’s recent banning of initiation into secret societies and it is our hope that such a ban will go a long way in respecting the human rights of citizens in this country. I salute you on the great strides you have taken in the fight against corruption and the results so far achieved. The successful launching of the Commissions of Inquiry is demonstrative of the positive efforts you have personally invested in fighting this cancer in our society,” he said.

He said another gratifying effort was the President’s clarion call for action against the high incidents of sexual violence, especially the sickening malaise of adult men abusing innocent girls and children, saying that they were in full support of whatever action being taken to curb the menace.

On his part, President Bio said he was happy to meet with members of the faith-based group, adding that as spiritual leaders they owed a lot to the country. He said his government was involved in many activities because, for far too long, a lot had gone wrong. He noted that there was a need to recover from those wrongs, which required collective work and energy.

He said the need for providing quality and accessible education could not be overemphasised. He reiterated his belief that the Free Quality Education programme would only be successful with the involvement of everyone, noting that parents were integral to the initiative because they play the moral guarantors’ role. He stressed that the universal access to education for pre-primary, primary and secondary education policy should not be seen as a programme exclusive to the government but should be considered as a project that belonged to the people.

President Bio also mentioned that few individuals had labelled his fight against corruption as a witch-hunt but he emphasised that he had a clear conscience that the fight was in the best interest of the country, noting that development would not thrive where there was corruption. He stated that by closing the financial loopholes in the country, his government had been able to achieve a lot by internally generating huge resources to support social programmes.

“The fight against corruption is not about any one person. It is also about us sitting in positions today because we know someday we will be called to give an account of our stewardship and that in itself is a deterrent. We are serious about this fight and there will be no sacred cows. The fight is something we cannot do alone, so we need you as spiritual leaders to be preaching about it in your different platforms. Your voices are not small and you can make an impact,” he urged the religious leaders.

Youth Affairs Minister, Hon. Mohamed O. Bangura received an outstanding recognition from visiting Armed Forces from Ghana, Zambia, Niger, Togo and Nigeria.
Receiving thirteen (13) students and six (6) instructors from the rank of Major, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and General, the Minister said he inherited a huge challenge in the youth sector but his focus was to change the thinking pattern of the youth towards governance and their country in particular.
“With my team, I have been able to design and develop a lot of programmes and projects that will help address the problem of youth unemployment,” he said, whilst describing the situation as a ticking time bomb.
Outlining his Ministry’s vision in line with the UN Youth Strategy, he said the Ministry has the Youth Commission and National Youth Service (NYS) designed to empower and capacitate the youth to be self- reliant in society. He said even those who are not graduates will be absorbed in the Car Wash and Youth in Entrepreneurship Projects.
He used the occasion to urge African leaders to see African youths as partners in national development and not bag carriers.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs-Andrew Lawrence Sorie heartedly welcomed the team and said most of those projects have just been developed.
He described some of the projects as quick impact projects intended to have an immediate effect on reversing the growing unemployment rate and to bring back dignity to youth.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that President Bio’s focus on youth uplift mentality is geared toward empowerment today and positioning for the future.
“This is what visionaries do,” he concluded, and assured that they will fully implement those projects in line with the President’s New Direction administration.
Speaking on the need to foster inclusive and sustainable development agenda for Africans, the team leader from Ghana, Moses KwadzoBeick-Baffour, said, “I am very much impressed with your leadership style and I am sure if these projects are well implemented, it will be able to cushion the unemployment gap in your country.”
He admitted that Africa is faced with a lot of challenges and those challenges would continue to have security implications if left unattended. That, according him, needs vibrant political will from African leaders.
Commending President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership, Major SouleymaneOusmaneSalifou from Niger said their stay has been successful with an impressive hospitality from the host country.

Experts from the Anti -Corruption Commission, ACC, have called at State House to update His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio on the ongoing crafting of the fourth generation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

The 2019-2023 Strategy, which is the fourth after the expiration of the third generation of 2014-2018, seeks to map out the vision aimed at focusing on the efficient delivery of public services, mainstreaming anti-corruption measures and strengthening the public sector to confront the scourge of corruption.

During the meeting, Director National Anti-Corruption Strategy Secretariat, Nabilahi Musa-Kamara, said the meeting with the President was part of the ongoing consultation regarding the crafting of the document. He said the issue of corruption was very critical to the development of the country, adding that they were aware of the commitment already demonstrated by President Bio in the fight against corruption.

He said since its establishment in 2000 the ACC had experimented with the implementation of three National Anti-Corruption Strategies. He said they had gone across the country and had engaged almost every sector of the society on what people should expect to see in the Strategy in years to come. He noted that the ACC was both nationally and internationally obliged to develop or maintain effective anti-corruption policies from the participation of everyone within the context of its legal system.

“The ACC has put together a team of competent citizens to provide leadership in the crafting of the Strategy. The purpose of this meeting is to get the views of the President in terms of what should get into the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. Essentially, the Strategy is a prevention mechanism to address corruption. We have engaged all political parties and they all have accepted the fact that corruption is endemic in our country. We have gone throughout the country and the fight against corruption has received wider acceptance,” he said.

In his response, President Bio thanked the ACC and the Team of Experts for doing a great job. He said corruption was a menace to the development of the society and was a security threat, adding that the political will to fight corruption was not only about making statements but it was more about taking actions, which he had demonstrated so far.

“I am happy that all the other political parties have accepted that corruption is endemic. We will not only make statements but also give the necessary freedom and support to all the institutions fighting corruption. I have spoken quite a lot about this and to the best of my knowledge I have given the support to all the agencies to fight corruption and we are supporting the Audit Service Sierra Leone to be able to come up with their reports every year.

“When I spoke about science, technology and innovation, it is about how we can prevent and how we can reduce the human contact because it is only when people are in touch with it that they can steal. If we can effectively use science and technology in the systems and processes to have little human interfaces it will be possible for us to control corruption. We will not hesitate to deal with anyone found wanting of corruption,” he said.

Commissioners of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone have on Wednesday 10th April, 2019 subscribed to the oath of office before His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio at State House.

Speaking on behalf of the Commissioners at the swearing in ceremony, the Chairperson of HRCSL, Patricia Naasu Ndanema said their appointment was to speak out on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone and to hold right holders accountable for violations of human rights.

The Chairperson assured the President of their capabilities and capacities in the protection and promotion of human rights and called on all to work towards the realization of rights in Sierra Leone.

Whilst congratulating the Commissioners, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio assured them of government support in the discharge of their duties. The President also informed them that they were meticulously chosen to serve the country and therefore, they should set the standard expectations to protect human rights of all in the country.

The Commissioners are:

Patricia Naasu Ndanema, Chairman. Lawyer Victor Lansana, Vice Chairman, Hassan Samba Yarjah, Commissioner, Simitie Lavaly, Commissioner and Dr. Gassam Abess, Commissioner.

The new Electoral Commissioner for Southern Region and Judicial and legal Service Commissioners have subscribed to the oath of office before His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio in Freetown.

Section 32 sub-section 6 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone provides that: “A member of the Electoral Commission shall before assuming the functions of his office take and subscribe before the President the Oath as set out in the Third Schedule to this Constitution”.

Commissioner Edmond Sylvester Alpha thanked President Julius Maada Bio for the trust and confidence reposed in him. He assured the president and the people of Sierra Leone that he would work assiduously with the leadership of the National Electoral Commission, NEC, for effective teamwork, adding that he would help to provide a level playing field for all political parties and stakeholders and to conduct credible, transparent and impartial elections in the country.

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio congratulated Commissioner Alpha and admonished him to perform his duty with all amount of professionalism that would help build national cohesion and strengthen the democratic principles of the country.

“My government will give NEC the necessary support that is required for the effective functioning and conduct of a free, fair and transparent election that will help strengthen our democracy. I congratulate you once more and I wish you well in your new office,” President Bio said.

In another related event, Section 140 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone provides that: “There shall be established a Judicial and Legal Service Commission which shall advise the Chief Justice in the performance of his administrative functions and perform such other functions as provided in this Constitution or by any other law”.

To that end, Justice Reginald Sydney Fynn, President of the Court of Appeal and Lawyer Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley, recently appointed Solicitor General, took the oath of office. They thanked the President for the opportunity to serve at the judiciary and the country, adding that they would work very hard to maintain and uphold high standards at the judiciary, which they described as an important ingredient towards the success of a country.

The President congratulated the two and urged them to dispense justice to everyone in a transparent manner, noting that justice was an important component of a democratic state.