Zainab Bangura & Sierra Leone’s ‘new’ image
Sometimes around August of last year, I wrote a piece on Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Relations, Zainab Bangura, in relation to her work in that ministry and the extent to which, at the time of writing that piece, she had gone in maintaining a sober international relation for the country.  Part of what I wrote in the piece states, that the ability of a country to sell its image at the international front may be paramount in re-branding the image of that country. I have decided to reproduce the said article, with slight addition to see if she is still the person I referred to in August 2009. (Photo: Pa John Baimba Sesay)
The vital role of the press in the socio-economic development of a state need not be overstated. The press ensures the sustainability of democratic values.  In a work titled ‘Communication and Change in the Developing Countries’, edited by Lerner et al, it is argued that ‘…yet as weak as the journalistic tradition is, the press cannot aspire to its developed ideals without engaging in a critical analysis of how the other institutions in the society are developing…’ Indeed this is applicable, when viewed from the perspective of the crucial role that the media has in the development process of Sierra Leone. President Koroma can better tell what it means when you are media friendly, especially as a politician.
Let us be practical here; President Koroma’s election was based on a number of factors, among them the media factor; he enjoyed a very good relationship with the media when he was in opposition. President Koroma was elected on a platform of change and that change; we have seen in recent times. Almost constant supply of electricity; the fight against corruption has gained the desired momentum with a number of high profile cases charged to court; political accountability now at the helm of state governance as the President would once in awhile explain to the nation, through the media what occurs in governance and the Minister of Information and Communication has so far proved to be a reliable source of government information. There is the Open Government Initiative-here politicians are taken to task by their constituents…a novel idea in Sierra Leone’s governance pattern.
We have heard of an ‘Agenda for Change’ and the change we have been seeing. Pushing for a change is a process and not an event. I got a copy of the March edition of NewAfrican Magazine from the Sierra Leone Post Office and I was fascinated to read a piece on South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, especially talking about change, after 20 years of South Africa’s freedom from apartheid. Pusch Commey, looking at the realities on the ground in South Africa wrote that there has been an increase in the number of households with electricity which practically moved from 50 to 80% and that ‘there has been an expanding black middle class…’ There are other areas the author referred to above looked at, but he is of the view that most of the improvements in South Africa ‘are cosmetic!’ as the wealth created is not circulated.Â
Zainab Bangura, selling Sierra Leone abroad
My point here is, it took South Africa some good 20 years for its citizens to see most of the changes they were advocating for and yet, some say, much has not happened. In Sierra Leone, 8 years after our civil war, we can feel the impact of change. When President Obama assumed the leadership of the United States of America, he capitalized on the need for ‘Change’ in America and for him, with the support of Americans; they can achieve the needed change. President Ernest Bai Koroma, in the small Sierra Leonean West African state came into political stardom with the slogan for change, this the ‘Agenda for Change’
Generally, change does not come over night or even if it comes over night, the ingredients needed to sustain that change could not be readily available at a given point in time. President Obama’s theory of change for the Americans will definitely not be achieved in a day; it will take time, years and perhaps it could not even be achieved under his regime. This is also the same with the current political regime in Sierra Leone, with Ernest Bai Koroma as President.
But thank God, we have transformed ourselves from a bloody nation to a peaceful one, from a donor driven one to a nation that is at it best trying to stand economically on its own and from a nation that had the scares of a civil war on its conscience to a nation that has almost forgotten about those scares. We have also seen how we have made undertakings that we should re-brand the image of this country and this; we are doing gradually since ‘Rome was not built in a day’. We are progressing and we are making strides; I definitely will not succumb to claims that we are not moving as a nation. We are!!! We have continued to showcase our potential as a country in terms of investments and tourism and this will also go a long way in increasing donor confidence on Sierra Leone.Â
At the international relations front, much is now happening. Although the light is not that clear, but there is light at the end of the tunnel that one day, Yenga will be resolved.  Peaceful and diplomatic solution is the best of several options insofar as resolving the Yenga issue could. And this is why I want to commend the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. She has always tried to maintain our good relationship with our sister countries and even other countries at the international level. She has so far demonstrated some level of diplomatic maturity in handling the Yenga issue – working and lobbying behind closed doors within the sub-region just to achieve an amicable solution.
Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair has demonstrated tremendous influence to help rebuild the economy of the country through particularly tourism. Zainab Bangura, I am of the view must have played a role in that drive. And I think we’ve got to give her that credit. Zainab Bangura may have made a difference in this direction. She has scored some political goals and that deserves some commendation to her.
She has successfully turned the faces of our foreign missions and even the ministry’s headquarters which was an eyesore not only to the local public. That beside, through her relentless efforts, she had been able to establish three other missions for the country – Brazil, Senegal and Kuwait. I am of the strong view, that Zainab Bangura has a very decent track record both locally and internationally and it is that reputation that is helping her take the country the direction it is heading towards now.
She has a good relationship with Transparency International and has also worked with UNDP. She was a key player in the 1996 Bintumani Conference which called for a return to democratic governance for Sierra Leone. She is a crusader against corruption and no wonder that she founded the National Accountability Group after the elections of 2002. She has been an influential figure in the present government and she has as a matter of fact being at the forefront in the Public Relations aspect for Sierra Leone. As a foreign Minister, she has always been out selling the image of the country. We have got a new image as a result of our good foreign relations and we must maintain that image for the good of all.
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