SPECIAL REPORT – How to Sierra Leone, conducted during 2009 Error Economy or gradual process of growth
2009 was a banner year for outstanding Sierra Leone. As the dust of Ernest Koroma Assumption of office has just been resolved in mid-2008 the global financial crisis hit, leaving number of unforeseen issues of interest national game.
By late 2008, the universal effect of depression was much felt in the country so that spans virtually every facet. As a donor led state with a background of only dealing with the reality of rebuilding its infrastructure destroyed during the decade of civil war, Sierra Leone faces a crucial test that requires a solid head on confrontation to quell.
Economy
For players in the economic circle of Sierra Leone, 2009 began with high expectations, especially after President Koroma, a year earlier had revealed that he intends to run the nation, in a business amicably.
However, despite this statement, there has been little improvement in the business and the economic outlook in Sierra Leone in 2009.
With the rising costs of commodities and a weak Leone, Sierra Leone's hope for change in 2010 as the signs indicated by the importing country based economy, along with rising world prices and a weak national currency, equivalent to an increase in challenges to most of Sierra Leone most of whom still live below the poverty line.
According Seeing the economy, Sierra Leone remains a desperately poor country (in GDP per capita basis) with tremendous inequality in income distribution as in 2009.
Its annual report report states: "While Sierra Leone has important mineral, agricultural, agricultural, fisheries and agriculture and fishery resources, its physical and social infrastructure and facilities is not well developed and major social disruption perpetuated to hamper economic progress. The fate of the economy depends on maintaining internal peace and receiving important perpetuated foreign aid, which is essential to counter the serious trade (imports and exports) the imbalance and supplement government revenues.
2009 also showed that a country beset by various problems of transportation, lack of adequate infrastructure and the threat of armed robbery faces enormous obstacles in their efforts to fulfill its economic outlook.
Many foreign investors and even Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora still have a thought striking on a monstrosity in Lungi international airport, sometimes welcome visitors for the first time including potential investors with the overwhelming darkness. Moreover difficult problems that cross into Freetown.
Armed robbery reigned supreme in 2009 targeting business people, mostly foreigners.
Although Bumbuna is almost up, electricity is a major problem for business people in 2009, particularly small firms most of whom can not afford the daily cost of fueling and maintenance of its generators.
Despite the rise in the classification of World Bank and IFC Doing Business 2009 Report International 156
among 181 countries, the challenges in Sierra Leone remain difficult for local businessmen and foreigners.
According to the economic outlook for Africa (OAS) 2009 data, Sierra Leone had a relatively strong growth in 2008 with a GDP increase of 5.4% Estimated despite high oil prices then.
GDP rose by 6.3% in 2009 and is projected to increase by 5.5% in 2010. The OAS congratulated Sierra Leone this performance in spite of our dependence on food imports and oil at a time of rising world prices.
That's the main reason numerous appeals to the Government to increase its agricultural budget and commitment for the coming years after it would have reduced their spending in the strong current electricity program.
Agriculture accounted for 58% of GDP in 2007 and grew by 5% in 2008 and 2009 (down from an increase of 14% in 2007). Sierra Leone remains a net food importer despite large share of agriculture in GDP and employment. The industry has traditionally been dominated by subsistence agriculture and suffers of a number of limitations including private management of the production and marketing, poor infrastructure (especially roads), which impedes access to markets, weak extension services that prevent the provision of training and information to farmers, irrigation and limited funding, and facilities poor storage.
In addition, weak institutional capacity, including access to information, undermines the policy and coordinating the activities of stakeholders. Critics also argue that the system of rural land tenure, which opposes free tenure inhibits investment land is communal or family ownership.
In 2009, the government, in coordination with WFP and other interested parties, made efforts to address these problems and to boost agricultural productivity by promoting the use of equipment and supplies, extending irrigation, providing services for post-harvest (storage, drying plants, rice mills and threshers) and feed mills and slaughterhouses, the creation of community banks and financial services associations and improve marketing infrastructure through the construction and rehabilitation of feeder roads and markets of the community.
Despite these moves, hundreds tractors and other equipment have not yet been distributed to farmers who deserve and WFP has warned that Sierra Leone would not be able to cope with maintenance and upkeeping of these teams.
Sierra Leone also has significant marine resources, a 560 km-long coastline. Fishing takes place in the industrial and artisanal level. However, widespread poaching of the territorial waters of Sierra Leone was a major problem in 2009 with what was seen as a true travesty of justice, questions were raised about how A judge in September 2009 a fine of foreign fishing vessel and 26 crew members caught fishing illegally in waters of Sierra Leone, a sum of $ 155,000 – Which is less than one-twentieth of the mandatory penalties for poachers of fish banned in 1994 by the Fisheries (Management and Development) Act.
Secretary At the Ministry of Marine Resources, Paul Sandi, was outraged at the small fine and told reporters that such lax enforcement of the law would only encourage hunters furtive and potentially destroy a part blatant government revenues.
Services accounted for 34% of the country's GDP in 2007. Having made 6%
in 2007, services were restored in 2008 with 5% growth.
The financial sector continues to expand in 2009 with the number of commercial banks increased to 14. Although questions have been raised about the soundness and efficiency of these commercial banks, a positive thing that they have succeeded in achieving many is recruitment of unemployed graduates in the country.
Tourism is currently very limited, but growing and shows good potential. The government has a critical role to play in the planning and promotion of the sector, particularly in improving the country's external image and attractiveness as a tourist destination.
More key constraints include poor infrastructure, especially electricity, and access difficulties to the country from Lungi international airport, which only is accessible by boat or helicopter.
Although some of these actions, the country is still short of replicating a huge campaign to promote tourism as it has in countries like Ghana and Gambia. Obviously, much remains to be done in the international promotion, restoration and maintenance of places of tourist interest across the country.
Industry growth remained steady in most industries over the country are mounting structures in which the Most of the contents are imported and packaged or assembled here.
Manufacturing accounted for only 2% of GDP in 2008 and is expected to be in the same region for 2009, reflecting the low level of industrial development in the country.
The sector has witnessed much growth in 2009 and that continued reliance on the foreign media imported goods which is bad for the economy.
The mineral resources of Sierra Leone are the diamonds, rutile (titanium ore), bauxite, iron ore and gold. However, the importance of the mining sector in Sierra Leone is underestimated in national accounts. Mining accounts for more than 90% of revenue export. It is also the second largest employer, employing approximately 300, 000. Semi-industrial production of diamonds in kimberlite began in 2003.
Before then, diamond production was largely conducted on a small scale with environmental and physical risks. Much of the miners craft are still living in poverty in 2009 hindered by problems of access to finance and markets.
Establish secure property rights for these miners and their families is also an enormous challenge. To solve this problem, the government established a mining cadastre to provide information on the rights of the land and use. However, in 2009, many workers complain, as in the past that the government and the Ministry of Labor are not doing much to improve their condition services in the work environment were difficult.
To ensure strict control, the government continues to participate in the Kimberly Process diamond certification aimed at combating the trade in conflict diamonds.
He also participated in the Transparency Initiative Extractive Industries that seeks to improve management of mineral resources through the publication of information on government revenues from natural resources. Changes in the structure the ministry of mines are planned and the government intends to strengthen the regulations.
The mining sector in Sierra Leone still faces several challenges, including the implementation of legal and regulatory framework.
However, there was a particularly positive news for the iron ore sector as mineral exploration company, African Minerals announced in July it expected to receive $ 2.6 billion in capital expenditures in its flagship ore Tonkolili iron project and the anticipated production to begin in 2013.
Projected capital expenditures include the cost of the mine and the construction of a railway and a deepwater port. This is good news, because the local economy is set to benefit.
Taxation is also a growing source of revenue for the government was affected by a serious setback when the majority of the nation's business people to establish a united front against the government as announced in goods and services tax (GST) saying that its introduction will lead to increased prices of goods and services.
One of the businessmen who criticized the GST, Mr. Ibrahim Sesay warned in a joint seminar with the Revenue Authority Natioanl the NRA in July 2009, that if President Koroma fails to review the GST and to avoid what he calls the "experience Ghana ", many businessmen will flee from Sierra Leone to neighboring countries.
The NRA argued that importers pay less tax under the GST. Whatever the case is of 2009 might be seen as the year that forced the government to backtrack on a tax system that was about to institute.
Despite the emergence of the global recession in late 2008, government statistics and projection OAS believes real GDP grew by 5.4% in 2008 to 6.3% and 5.5% growth expected for 2009 and 2010, respectively.
In 2008, growth was mainly due to an increase of 8.2% in the private consumption possible by increased agricultural production in 2007 and 2008 and this trend is predicted to continue in 2009 and 2010.
Gross capital is expected to grow faster than consumption in 2009 and 2010, more than double its growth rate from 2008 to 12.1% in 2009 and expand further 14.3% 2010. In particular, it is expected that public investment to triple in 2009 to increase by 15.2% with private investment expected to be slightly lower than 11.1%.
As such, the gross capital formation is expected to contribute 1.1% real GDP growth in 2009 and 1.3% growth in 2010, although it remains low regarding the effect of total consumption growth.
Moreover, the trade deficit widened in 2008, exports fell 2.6% and imports increased by 10.4% has a 3.4 point negative effect on GDP. The global recession is expected to put downward pressure on exports, remittances and foreign aid causing the trade deficit to widen further.
The most positive news for the economy this year was the announcement of the discovery oil in Sierra Leone. Although its economic viability has not yet been proven, the government of Sierra Leone have begun to benefit from the discovery of some of the companies Bidders and pay up to polls dimensional (3D surveys).
The controversy has already started shooting with Anadarko Petroleum, accusing critics of failing to support to the economy of Sierra Leone for not helping the local economy when the company went all the way to Senegal to purchase goods and services that should have been easy to done in Sierra Leone.
Recent reports from the media are also exposed gap between Anadarko and a company of Nigeria, prayerful oil on the part of the area carved into the oil deposits are thought to be.
More importantly however, there were also charges the company Nigerian Anadarko had already begun drilling for oil and give statistics in the absence of one of Sierra Leone.
They warned that it was a dangerous sign because the onboard staff can give the data or statistics. Although Mr. Raymond Saidu Kamara is said to have joined the petrol station, yet There are serious questions asked and issues to be clarified in 2010 arises and before most citizens of Sierra Leone to begin asking about the whereabouts of the revenue generated oil.
The challenges ahead will be more growth and addressing the ongoing risk factors for conflict such as widespread unemployment and poverty. Increase in inflation, which was a massive concern in 2009, is also important as far-reaching impact affecting the majority of Sierra Leoneans who are low-income people.
The year 2009 ends with rising commodity prices, simply because the dollar keeps rising and importers are field day with higher prices, citing the rise of the dollar as the reason for its action.
2009 can be seen as a year of disappointment for Most consumers who woke up every morning going to retailers only to find a price rose from its usual products.
Media communication in the review of
Since the 80s, the media has played a crucial role in the socio-political scene of the country but this year can be seen as a watershed that has always existed between most journalists and elite decision in the country.
The Umaru Fofanah arrival of the Helms Journalists Association of Sierra Leone SLAJ was billed as a correct decision by most media professionals communication and wept by government as an anti-APC to the nucleus, saw him lose time to make good his campaign promise to help the extraction of some of the hateful and seditious libel sections V of the Public Order Act 1965.
On 9 March 2009, SLAJ presented a passionate argument end to the Supreme Court in which lawyers representing SLAJ Yada Williams defended the case of the association for the repeal of the law of criminal defamation and sedition, SLAJ an act considered inconsistent and 1991 Constitution.
As expected, the nation's highest court did not give in SLAJ took a path war and in June 2009 declared a ban on news week in the judiciary. The association called the inaction of the Supreme Court as "a denial justice "to the association which might have the tendency to repeat itself against other individuals or associations.
The ban was subsequently extended SLAJ exemption was amended by the Sierra Leone Bar Association later.
That was the biggest confrontation and most notable among the nation's most notable body mass media and the judiciary since the death of the late FDP editor, Harry Yansaneh.
However SLAJ was very good at diverting some of the pressure on the government of President Koroma, whose proponents argue that there was need for urgent alarm SLAJ arises because the current government is yet to convict any journalist of the Act.
Adding to this pressure, SLAJ after the war of words with the IG directly Serious Police, Acha Kamara, proved challenging and delivered a petition to the Ombudsman, Edmond Cowan, and the President Office of what he said was a reaction to the refusal of the Supreme Court to issue a verdict in the case of the Association for the Repeal of the Criminal Law of seditious libel.
Journalists who supported the movement, however, were encouraged by his meeting with the Ombudsman that it accepted his request.
However, an interesting twist on these events and the clashes that led to another division within the media, with some professionals of the media brand and its management Fofanah radicals with a different agenda.
Notable among them are Philip Neville, the executive editor of Standard Times, and David Tam Baryoh Radio Ciudadana, who openly criticized SLAJ Fofanah to take a wrong direction.
2009 is an eventful year for the media in Sierra Leone since the so-called abduction or arrest of a journalist by Police in the north of the capture of women journalists in Kenema, Manja Balam-Soweis Samba and some other members of the Bondo secret society for allegedly reporting on the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Variety of dramatic events, surrounded by reporters.
As is common in Sierra Leone, the media communication is not immune from the political debates going on inside. But this time, were two of the nation's main political parties which led the media war.
The controversial decision by Vice President Sam Sumana to close both the SLPP and the decision APC radio stations created a heated moment that led a confrontation between SLAJ and government.
Fofanah SLAJ president directly accused the government of undermining freedom of expression and set a bad precedent by the closure of radio stations. While some in the media on red alert clearly states the consequences of that decision, had also a genuine belief that both stations were inciting hatred and violence similar to the notorious Radio Mille Collines in Rwanda did in 1994-95.
There were tragedies to the media as journalists also this year lost some of its members, including the most senior member of Mr. Samuel Jocelyn Agustin SLAJ short, short affectionately called Sam who graciously retired at the age of 85 years in January 2009 10.
Sports
2009 was a good year for success does not sport in Sierra Leone. Much had been expected for most popular sport in the country, football, but disappointing for most of us, our dear Leone Stars were eliminated from all international competitions.
Football in Sierra Leone found many problems in 2009, although the advance of new Premier League Board should not be underestimated, but much more to do.
For the first time in Sierra Leone, a different body of running the league ineffective SLFA and give the clubs more power and gate receipts collection and offers from sponsors.
Arbitrage situations also improved and there is less controversy. This was perhaps the flexible board composed of renowned professionals who are actively and effectively to address issues arising during the league.
According to FIFA 2009 is the worst year in the history of football from Sierra Leone as the country went from 40 seats in its ranking back in July, which is the worst movers to the country. All I just hope that 2010 will be markedly different 2009.
Or vice versa, the critics in 2009, have highlighted the lack of adequate management and infighting within SLFA the nation's Olympic Committee as the cause for some of the huge complex problems that still hinder these disciplines sports.
SLFA Take, for example, whose president, Nahim Khady, has been outside the country for most of 2009, there were ample funds in 2009, as the CAF and FIFA, but what really has been doing with him?
This decadent SLFA even forced former President, Justice Tolla Thompson's voice of concern in 2009 on the management of the Sierra Leone Football Academy, when he described the Academy of Spain as a white elephant and called the new Premier League Board to do something about it before they finally collapse.
Another high point in Sierra Leone, the sport this year was the participation of Ola Sesay in the world of athletics meetings in Berlin in 2009. Although could not capture a medal, Sesay proud to Sierra Leone as saying a tough challenge in the series of classification in the category of long jump with the best athletes in the world.
While most Sierra Leoneans do not understand the game of cricket, the national team did better than any other sport in 2009. The game was praised for Sierra Leone, but the climax was spoiled when taking our hopes flickering part in the U19 World Cup were finally put torest when the team failed to arrive in Canada before the end of September until the ICC 5.
Officially, stated that applications for visas for the team was overdue while local newspapers reported that the Canadian Consulate in Ghana were denied visa players on the basis that there is concern that some of them will not come home.
However, despite the laurels won by the Sierra Association Crickets SLCA Leone in recent years, nothing has been done by the previous government to lift the ban on the oval crashed Kingtom by the International Council of Cricket (ICC) since 2004.
But in 2009 gives way to 2010, there is hope in some quarters that at least some type of renovation will take place in the National Olympic Committee and the administration of football.
And as the Director of Sports, Bai Kabia, told the parliamentary oversight Committee Education, Youth and Sports, the 1964 Act of Parliament which created the National Sports Council Act should be reviewed if the sport is taking a different turn in the country.
About the Author
Muctaru Wurie is a Sierra Leonean born writer who grew up in Freetown at a time the war in Sierra Leone reached it peak.
Growing up in the eastern part of the capital city, Muctaru said he was inspired to writing when he was a kid attending the Cathedral Boys Primary School, as they used to have various writing sessions & essay in which he usually excelled.
He later attended the St Edwards Secondary School and then Fourah Bay College where he had a BA Honours in Mass Communications. Since then he has written on almost all aspects of Sierra Leonean society, sometimes taking a critical look at issues that are mostly deemed as taboo in the country.
Muctaru’s works have been published in various publications from All Africa.com, Sierra Eye Magazine to Fourah Bay College Journal – Aureol Torch.
He has also edited The New Tempo and Kalleone Newspaper. Muctaru has worked in the humanitarian field also, acting as a Communications Officer for Handicap International Sierra Leone and The Mohamed Kallon Children’s Foundation (MKCF).
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