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1 SIERRA UPDATE | WINTER 2010 Editorial editorial Sierra Leone: Rising Again! Sierra Leone: Contents Rising Again! he Trade and Investment con- The government of President Koroma to change the face of Sierra Leone Editorial 3 London Mining 18 ference in London recently is is a credible one. All the more reason is still a long way to go. We should Sierra Leone: Rising Again! “FINALLY GETS THE GREEN LIGHT” Ta powerful indicator that the our international friends are staking continue to encourage donors to fulfill Government of President Dr. Ernest their integrity, and even their precious their commitments. Bai Koroma is setting the pace for lives, on behalf of our President. It’s Time To Rise Again 4 Banking Boom! 20 We are desperate to rise once again! Donors fall in love with Sierra Leone …the more, the merrier economic growth in Sierra Leone. However, with these successes We believe this is the time for the rest gained, we call on our government Have a wonderful reading. ■ Facts & Analysis: 6 New Man In The Block! 21 of the world to start looking at Si- not to go to bed and sleep. The battle WHO PLEDGED WHAT IN LONDON …introducing Edward Mohamed Turay erra Leone from a future perspective rather than from the perception of the Sierra Leone Conference 2009 9 SL Parliament Clocks 2 22 country’s past. Consultative Group Meeting London, November 19, The current Sierra Leone Parliament, elected in Au- 2009 gust 2007 to serve for five years, is now two years old. As a nation we have every reason to live a decent life just as our president No more sacred cows! 10 Bombali Takes Plight 23 says we have no reason to be poor. ACC Commissioner reports progress in the fight Jamal Jalloh with out-going Sierra Leone’s High Com- against corruption missioner to the UK We are a peaceful nation blessed with abundant natural resources which we Special Commentary 12 Demonstrating & Transparency 24 have just showcased during the in- Looking Beyond The London Conference It sounds unusual for a Sierra Leonean leader vestment conference. We therefore call on foreign investors Guest Writer 13 to make better use of this opportunity WHERE THE APC HAS MADE THE DIFFERENCE so that the people of Sierra Leone will in turn benefit. Transforming the road network 14 Transforming the road network is the key to achiev- We are also calling on our Donor part- ing President Ernest Bai Koroma’s dream of achieving ners who have made pledges during food sufficiency through agriculture. the CG to fulfill their commitments – this, no doubt, will change the lives of The Gulf Penetration 16 our people in meeting with standards The government of President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma set by the United Nations Human De- seems to have impressed the authorities in the United velopment Index. Arab Emirates We have deliberately reported the road projects, the success so far gained in electricity and other devel- opmental projects in order to inform the world what we’ve been doing with donor funds. President Koroma looks ahead to a SIERRA UPDATE | WINTER 2010 3 brighter future for Sierra Leone It’s Time To Rise Again It’s Time To RiseDonors fall in love with Sierra Again Leone udging by the positive consen- the country he is acting as unpaid ad- Prince Charles says his presence at opment partners unanimously make sus at the recent Trade and In- vocate for. the conference is a show of endorse- commitment to support President Ko- Jvestment conference in London, ment and support for Sierra Leone. He roma’s initiatives to take the country Sierra Leone is perhaps in her opti- Sierra Leone means much to Mr. makes a brief spell at the conference forward. mum moment since Independence. Blair having done part of his primary shaking hands and rubbing shoulders schooling days in the tiny West Afri- with the Sierra Leonean leader as well Harping on her success in the energy A visionary leader with the political will can country and his father a former as some of the delegates at the con- sector, especially the recent commis- to pursue well-meaning programs, an lecturer at Fourah Bay College, Uni- ference. sioning of the Bumbuna Hydro Elec- economy with a lot of prospects even versity of Sierra Leone. tric Project, in fighting corruption and in the face of the global financial cri- Other international dignitaries such drug trafficking, Sierra Leone for the sis, an honest desire to reduce de- Prior to the conference, Mr. Blair tells as business tycoon George Soros first time in its engagement with donor pendence on aid, the discovery of oil the London Stock Exchange about and representatives from the World partners calls for the latter to provide offshore, a revamp of the energy sec- business potentials available in Si- Bank, the Commonwealth, the United support and leave implementation in tor, a robust stance against corruption erra Leone and why foreign investors States of America, and DFID applaud the hand of the Government. and drug trafficking, a peaceful and should turn attention to the country. Sierra Leone for its resilience in com- stable country- all put together is put- ing out of conflict and thriving towards “Give us the support and leave the im- ting the West African country in the At the London conference, Mr. Blair economic development. plementation into our capable hands,” limelight for the right reasons. is full of excitement as he comes on says Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister, and off the conference centre. He The United Nations recognize Sierra Dr. Samura Kamara. “Sierra Leone is an exceptional coun- describes the Sierra Leonean Head Leone as an example for other nations try – it is a great country with rich of State, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, as around the world to learn from. Nevertheless, Sierra Leone needs to potentials … I encourage all of you a visionary whose leadership can be sustain her new found love lust with to go down there and see for your- trusted. On the economic front, Sierra Leone’s the donor community. The Govern- self the business potentials available economy continues to grow at about ment is therefore looking forward to in the country,” says former British Apart from the high turn-out (attract- four percent annually even in the face January 2010, when it meets with Prime Minister Tony Blair during the ing a cross section of the international of the global financial crisis, while the donor partners in Freetown to review two day conference. Mr. Blair is in the diplomatic and business community) rest of sub-Saharan economies grow the effectiveness of aids coming into heat of his electioneering campaign high profiled dignitaries- including at about 1.3 percent. the country to ensure that the widely for the European Presidency, but he Britain’s Prince Charles and Her Maj- respected Koroma administration is President Koroma looks ahead to a squeezes some precious time to at- esty the Royal Highness of the United The general feeling now is Sierra Le- able to implement projects without tend the event which is very dear to Arab Emirates- grace the event. one stands a good chance to leap delays in the release of donor funds. ■ into economic prosperity as all devel- brighter future for Sierra Leone 4 SIERRA UPDATE | WINTER 2010 SIERRA UPDATE | WINTER 2010 5 Facts & Analysis: WHO PLEDGED Facts & Analysis: WHAT IN LONDON he sixth Sierra Leone No doubt, the message was clear as the Consultative Group government has maintained a good Meeting was successful record for development and commit- Also, in attendance was a high Tin the sense that the community ment to nation-building. There cer- profiled team of the Sierra Leone of donors partnering with Sierra tainly appears no bolder a statement Agriculture Company. Leone in its development pursuit to have come from the man who pre- The team included Kevin Godling- made unprecedented pledges to the sides over the nation’s economy if the ton, Hon Angad, Lincoln, S Marr, process of nation building. economic indicators were not as prom- Lord Rama And with Paul Denis WHO PLEDGED WHAT IN LONDON popping in for a short. Striking too was the presence of ising as could be in the middle of the Introduction During the VIP re- non traditional donors, including global economic crisis. It puts to rest presumptuous lackluster performance ception. Both Kevin and Angad Australia , for the first time to have Had bilateral talks with Tony Blair attended the consultative confer- of the economy. Presumably Centered around in- vestment opportunities in Sierra ence on 19 November 2009, at the Drawing on the premise of hope, com- Leone Before making a presenta- Queen Elizabeth Conference Cen- mitted leadership and strengthened ap- tion at the conference on Behalf tre in London . proach to development, the following Of The Sierra Leone Agricul- ture. Underpinning the impressive key commitments were made, among others: planned donor interventions is the IMF: support will continue under undoubted and applauding strides WORLD BANK: a major outcome of Sierra Leone’s share of the G20 con- being made by President Koroma the conference was the setting up of tributions, including when a new in the spheres of governance, infra- a multi donor trust fund for infra- IMF-Sierra Leone arrangement is structural development and service structural development to be held in renegotiated under in March 2010, delivery within only two years since trust by the World Bank. In addition as the current framework expires in elected president. to its invigorate commitment, the May 2010. World Bank will be leading a multi The president’s Agenda IRELAND: shall contribute to pro- For Change sets the donor conference in Freetown early grammes for nutrition and improve- tone ahead of the 2010 at which fine details would be ments of maternal projects, agri- round table en- worked out regarding project iden- culture, and access to agricultural tification – on the part of Sierra Le- gagement out- which more than doubles the 1.3 percent market for small scale rice produc- the recent past under the PRSP smooth change of government, one – and the donors making good lining a well for the rest sub-Saharan nations, the cel- ers; and will contribute £200,000 to one, amidst admiration of the Sierra Leone, it was recognised their promises.