$300 Million for Salone Government
The European Union has a whopping $300 million reserved for the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma, which will be used for the implementation of projects meant for the construction of roads nationwide. This was revealed during the recent three day dialogue workshop with Members of Parliament, on the theme: Strengthening the oversight, representative and capacity of Parliament for an effective development assistance delivery in Sierra Leone. The EU was not however part of the dialogue workshop.
Parliamentarians in Sierra Leone are richer in knowledge after taking part in the workshop organized by The World Bank and the African Development Bank as they received information enabling them to know how the international institution operates in granting loans and other aid to countries.
The law makers received a wealth of knowledge which has now given them the opportunity to understand the internal workings of The World Bank and how it maintains its criteria for deserving countries. The workshop which took place in Parliament started on Wednesday, 30th September and ended on Friday 2nd October, saw law makers receiving information which will be of importance to their work, especially while serving as oversight members of the government.
Earlier on, the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Ibrahim Sorie revealed that the workshop was organized by The World Bank and the ADB to provide a review on policies with regards development programmes funded by the two organizations.
Hon. Ibrahim Sorie further stated that apart from the World Bank and the ADB, another organization which has contributed immensely in providing the largest predictable aid in the country is the European Union which he named as the major organization funding the development of road network in the country.
Day one of the workshop involved opening courtesies with statements presented by various personalities and stakeholders including the Speaker of Parliament, the Majority Leader in Parliament, the Minority Leader, Executive Representative of the UN Secretary General, statement by the head of the European Union, the British High Commissioner and USAID.
During the workshop, it was revealed that Sierra Leone’s chance of benefiting from any World Bank loan facility is getting slimmer and slimmer since 2007, and that the nation is gradually loosing her chance as a result of her failure to meet the most important conditions..
According to Mr. Yusuf Bob Foday, an economist from the World Bank who made a presentation on Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, and the instrument known as Performance Based Allocation (PBA), used to allocate available resources to member countries, the government of Sierra Leone has failed to meet the required criteria.
According to Mr. Foday, this instrument is very necessary as it ensures the effective utilization of the resources. He also said that the use of the World Bank’s PBA instrument will encourage governments to embark on sound policy and instrumental reforms that would impact positively with the World Bank.
Mr. Foday said the country performance rating of member countries are annually assessed, using country policy and institutional assessment framework which consists of sixteen criteria grouped within four clusters under the headings of economics management; structural management; structural policies for social inclusion and equity and public sector management and institutions.
According to The World Bank economic analyst, Sierra Leone’s performance in the first three clusters is relatively better, but that the fourth cluster which he said is the most important of all is the area where the country’s performance is worst.
The unit criteria under this cluster includes property rights and rule-based governance, quality of budgetary and financial management, efficiency of revenue mobilization, quality of public administration and transparency and accountability and corruption in the public sector.
“One unit drop down in this area by any country is tantamount to loosing 68% of her chance of benefiting from World Bank loans, and since 2007 the country’s performance in this area is very discouraging; and if it continues the country may lose it chance,” Mr. Foday said.
In his statement the European Union National Authorizing Officer Mr. Sorieba Ibrahim Kanu gave the midterm monitory review which he said was set to enable the process of partnership between the EU and the ACP countries of which Sierra Leone is a member.
Mr. Kanu disclosed that Sierra Leone has been receiving support from the EU since 1997 after the Lome Peace Accord through financing of various projects which he said includes roads, highways including the Freetown-Conakry, and the Kenema-Monrovia highway.
The two remaining days involved presentations.
Areas covered include experience sharing, how The World Bank and the ADB allocates development assistance to low income countries and discussions on the way forward.
This is the first time in the history of Sierra Leone that such a workshop has been organized.
Authors: Johnny Paul and Paul F M Lahai
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2009, https:. All rights reserved.
