By Aminaash Nyande Brima,Information Attaché,Sierra Leone Embassy,Rabat, Morocco
On Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education hosted President Julius Maada Bio at the first National Town Hall held at the Bintumani Hotel Conference Centre in Aberdeen, West of Freetown. President Bio is the first leader in Sierra Leone to hold a National Town Hall, providing citizens with the opportunity to directly ask their leader questions. The objective of the town hall was for the President to explain the progress his government has made one year after his re-election in the June 24th, 2023, Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Council elections.
The town hall aimed to facilitate dialogue between the people of Sierra Leone and the President, which is a critical part of accountability. As a leader who believes in transparency, President Bio decided to face the people to explain what his administration has accomplished in the past year. Composed and in control, the President responded to all questions posed by the citizens. This event also allowed him to gauge public reactions to the government’s nationwide development initiatives.
President Bio addressed several key issues, including the Free Quality Education Project, Human Capital Development, the fight against corruption, peace, and national cohesion. The discussion focused on four thematic areas: Foreign Affairs, Economy and the Big 5 Game Changers, Peace and National Cohesion, and Civic Call to Action.
It is no secret that President Bio’s first five years in office witnessed transformative changes in education, the fight against corruption, agriculture, and the rebranding of Sierra Leone’s image on international platforms.
FIGHTING CORRUPTION:
President Bio’s commitment to fighting corruption has led to significant actions by the Anti-Corruption Commission, which has arrested and prosecuted numerous corrupt officials. The Commission has recovered over thirty-eight billion Leones from corrupt individuals since 2018. President Bio’s administration does not shield any public figures from scrutiny, ensuring fair investigations and prosecutions for all involved in corruption.
EDUCATION:
The Free Quality Education Project, launched by President Bio in 2018, has resulted in a significant increase in student enrollment in government and government-assisted schools nationwide. The government continues to cover tuition fees for pupils attending Primary, Junior, and Senior Secondary Schools. Female students pursuing science courses have received substantial support from the government.
The Bio administration has recruited over six thousand teachers and reassessed five thousand, ensuring they receive appropriate salaries. More than one hundred schools have been constructed to accommodate the increased enrollment. The government also provides teaching and learning materials to over eight thousand schools. Additionally, over five thousand principals and vice principals have been recruited, and by September this year, the government plans to commission over one hundred newly constructed classrooms. Through negotiations with the Trade Group Negotiating Council, the government has increased the salaries of over thirty-five thousand teachers by 45%.
HEALTH:
In the health sector, the government has recruited over five thousand health workers, including medical doctors, nurses, and clinicians. New hospitals and Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) have been constructed, making healthcare more accessible. Hundreds of health workers have been issued Pin Codes, ensuring their integration into the government payroll system.
AGRICULTURE:
The government, with support from the European Union, has aided farmers through the Boost Agriculture and Food Security Project, providing cash and various seedlings to increase local production. Rice production has significantly increased, with President Bio himself participating in rice cultivation to support the Feed Salone Project. The private sector has also joined these efforts, as seen with Pee Cee and Sons’ recent onion harvest in Port Loko district, aimed at ensuring a steady supply of onions and reducing imports.
INFRASTRUCTURE:
Under President Bio’s administration, numerous roads have been constructed, including in the townships of Kenema, Bo, and the Moyamba Junction to Moyamba town roads. The Limkokwing to Regent road, Hill Side bypass Road, and Phase One of the Kpetema-Mattru Jong Road Project have been completed, with Phase Two contracted to Pavi Fort Construction Company. Other feeder roads in Freetown and various parts of the country have also been completed.
Through a World Bank-funded project, several bridges are being constructed to replace hand-me-down ferries, addressing accessibility challenges faced by communities in the South-Southeast and Northwest during the rainy season.
ENERGY:
President Bio has significantly increased energy generation and supply, installing solar panels and mini grids in many previously unserved communities. The first gas power plant in Kissy community was commissioned, providing about 150 megawatts to Freetown and its environs. The CLSG project has expanded electricity access in seven districts. The government has also shown commitment to paying KarpowerShip, which supplies electricity to Freetown.
NATIONAL COHESION:
Despite challenges over the years, including post-2023 general elections, the government signed a peace agreement with the main opposition APC in June 2024 to foster national unity. President Bio’s administration agreed to eighty percent of the recommendations in the tripartite committee’s report, demonstrating a commitment to reviewing and ensuring transparency in the electoral system. Emphasizing the importance of peace and stability, President Bio called on Sierra Leoneans to maintain the nation’s peace and stability, underscoring that as long as he remains President, he will prioritize peace and stable governance.
President Bio’s statement reflects his dedication to the rule of law, democracy, and good governance. His efforts for peace and stability date back to his days in the military, showcasing his longstanding commitment to Sierra Leone’s development.
