Bumbuna Is Not The Only Issue

The issue of electricity and its indispensable significance cannot be over emphasized.

Today, it seems as if Sierra Leoneans have no other things to talk about, except Bumbuna. Whatever might be its hindrance must come to reality someday. I firmly believe that there are so many other pertinent issues relating to development that need considerations too. Some of these crucial issue ranges from education, health, agriculture and a well managed social welfare plans for vulnerable citizens of Sierra Leone. It is also worth noting here that most of the issues we lay premium on and see as a pre-requisite to development have been seen by many countries as issues of the past.

Issues ranging from electricity, good roads, constant pipe borne water supply and internal road transport network have been sustained and maintained in countries like Benin, Mozambique, South Africa et-al. For those countries highlighted so far, though they fall under the category of ‘developing’ countries, yet the issue of electricity, pipe borne water and good road network are no longer a priority to them. Even next door neighbour Guinea in spite of the recent political mutiny can boast of a very good road network linking Conakry to the hinterland of the country in Provincial towns like N’zerekoure, Beila, Mamoa, Labe etc.

With us Sierra Leoneans, in the midst of all our valuable mineral resources, we are still grappling to fix some of these basic social amenities to meet the standards of even a developing country like Sierra Leone.

This issue of Bumbuna electricity and the possibility of it being viable has become so monotonous in the ears of so many Sierra Leoneans and it has contributed in creating pandemonium in some quarters of the country.

For God sake and to cry out loud we as Sierra Leoneans have many things to do and be worried about besides electricity (Bumbuna). Let’s take a keen look into other sectors.

We still have a long way to fix these problems. Yes, I know some Sierra Leoneans in some circles might tend to lift an eye brow why should they not be worried about Bumbuna light, considering the long years that have followed its completion since the 70’s.

What I am worried about as a concerned citizen is the way and manner in which Sierra Leoneans have abandoned their work just to labour over one issue of the Bumbuna Light as if there are no other problems to be fixed. I think it is high time we diversified our way of thinking and focus on other sectors that needed urgent attention.

You listen to the radio it is the same-Bumbuna-with one station in support while another is looking for people who text in lambasting statements. It is the type of politics seen only in Sierra Leone.

Areas like education, health and improved maternal health care service all need serious attention. Education which Sierra Leone was renowned for in Africa, in having a University affiliated with Durham University in England has now dwindled in standards to an alarming rate. The past glory of Sierra Leone being the ‘Athens of Africa’ is no longer seen in terms of performance.

I am appealing to the government through the Education Ministry to introduce development courses in the various tertiary institutions around the country and also make it as a compulsory subject for every faculty. This is because those crop of graduates who graduated in the 70’s, 80’s and up to the 90’s and now occupy high positions of trust in the country have not manifested positive aspects as they are mostly engaged in corruption.

The health delivery services in this country are in no good shape. Every day reports flood in and out of the country on high infant mortality rates and high maternal mortality rates. The hospitals around the country are in deplorable conditions, some with no operation theatre especially Kono, Kailahun and Pujehun are all suffering health neglect.

Readers, I tell you with no exaggeration our road networks are in a dilapidated and deplorable condition. And it is of no use to hide the fact that these are some of the major causes for our under development. The road network leading to Kono is an eyesore, and an experience not to be easily forgotten. Imagine a diamond ferrous place like Kono, where you have the presence of almost every nationality around the globe, and a bread basket for the country still grappling to fix its road network.

Lest we create unnecessary hullabaloo about Bumbuna, let us first of all try to put those issues on our agenda for change.

Readers, I want to reiterate that Bumbuna is not the only issue on our Agenda for change.

There are a plethora of development issues that need a face-lift if we are be recognized as a country ready for progress, let alone talk about Bumbuna. Bumbuna will surely come when the time is due. For me particularly, Bumbuna is not something to be worried about but to put more effort to its first phase completion.

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