President Koroma’s Kono package
Have we not, the required political leadership in the last over half a decade, when it comes to Sierra Leone’s quest for development? The answer to this is a definite yes, with specific reference to the type of political leadership provided by President Ernest Koroma.
Political leadership, as suggested by Taketsugu Tsurutani may be viewed as the directing center…of all actions and decisions pertaining to the political universe. He further submitted that it is the brain of the political system as it “mediates between the organic needs of the system and the forces of its environment; it determines how the functions of the various constituent parts will be coordinated; it arbitrates as to how government itself ought to behave under a variety of circumstances; and it attempts to regulate the relationship between the government and the governed…” (Read Taketsugu Tsurutani’s work, titled, The Politics of National Development…Political leadership in Transitional Societies” page 26)
Given the above and discussing such from practical happenings in Sierra Leone from the framework of the political leadership that has always been provided by this administration, it is but truthful to submit, that for decades, but for the election of President Koroma, we were lacking in terms of getting an effective political leadership in moving Sierra Leone to the apex of development. We are today talking about sustaining the legacies that will be left behind by the Koroma administration, in the coming years. As a ‘Koromaist’ (courtesy One Drop) myself, I will fear not to climb mountain tops to shout and speak of the good things that have occurred in Sierra Leone in the last couple of years.
Given that President Koroma and his administration have kept doing all they could in meeting the socio-economic needs of the average Sierra Leonean, it is acceptable to suggest that encouraging grades have been scored in the areas of infrastructure; in energy generation and distribution; in protecting and empowering the vulnerable in society; in empowering especially women; in enhancing peace security and ensuring a political plural society as well as a media friendly environment and generally depending on the country’s democracy and rule of law.
When infrastructure is discussed especially in relation to roads, it is a known fact that the Koroma government is the only one to have practically embarked on the largest road rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction ever in the country’s history. Discussing this will take into account the resurfacing of the Makeni – Matotoka Highway and the Bo – Kenema Highway; the completion of the Masiaka – Bo Highway; the rehabilitation of 600km of feeder roads in Port Loko, Kambia, Pujehun and Kenema Districts; rehabilitation of twenty five (25)km of selected streets in Freetown; rehabilitation of a combined total of 250km of streets in all of the 12 districts headquarter towns and Lunsar township; and the reconstruction of the Freetown–Conakry Highway. It is therefore worthy to now start suggesting that infrastructure will remain strategic and prominent amongst the series of legacies we will continue to discuss in a post Ernest Koroma governance period, especially when much was not given to this sector by the government of then President Kabba(h).
But there is an encouraging development in recent times, as related to happenings in Kono land. Kono’s role in the country’s progress cannot be overstated; it remains to be amongst those regions referred to as the country’s breadbaskets and also accounting for a largest portion of our mineral wealth. Politically, Kono is well placed today in Sierra Leone. This is how that part of the country is well positioned when it comes to the economic viability of Sierra Leone. And because of the strategic role that Kono keeps playing toward Sierra Leone’s growth, the Koroma administration has continued to give great attention to this part of the country.
The recent signing ceremony of the Matotoka-Kono road project further strengthens President Koroma’s determination to foster development in every corner of Sierra Leone, not least Kono. As stated by the President himself during the signing ceremony at State House on the 24th May, “Kono is a very important district to this administration” and as such the road project will serve as a strong message of the level of development ongoing in the country. The Kono package, as presented by President Koroma recently at State House is a manifestation that his administration is very much determined to move the country forward. A nation that meets her infrastructural needs is one that is poised to develop. It also shows this administration is one that cares about the Kono man for which we should commend ourselves. A timely Kono package, I must hasten to say.
John Pa Baimba Sesay, in Freetown
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