Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Monday 7th October, 2019 at SLAJ Secretariat, Campbell Street in Freetown, attended by a galaxy of journalists, Mr. Macauley explained that the SLPP Government of Julius Maada Bio inherited a beleaguered economy devoid of fiscal discipline. He added that the President and his Cabinet as a consequence have made impressive strides in setting the country on a new trajectory.
He informed journalists that the procedure used to arrive at the various scores was a ‘bottom-top’ approach to get the public’s perception about the performance of the ministries under review, adding that the process lasted for sixty days beginning in mid-July and ending in September. He stated that the categories of local people/respondents were drawn from district and chiefdom councils, paramount chiefs and other locals. He added that a range of variables were considered at reaching the various percentages.
According to the Trust Alliance Ministerial Scorecard the ratings are as follows:
Ministry of Finance – 80%
Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs – 55%
Ministry of Agriculture – 80%
Ministry of Health and Sanitation – 55%
Ministry of Justice – 60%
Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education – 60%
Ministry of Water Resources – 70%
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – 60%
Ministry of Planning and Economic Development – 55%
Ministry of Information and Communication – 60%
Ministry of Energy – 55%
Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs – 50%
Ministry of Sports – 50%
Ministry of Transportation and Aviation– 55%
Ministry of Internal Affairs – 55%
Ministry of Labour – 60%
Ministry of Works, Housing and Infrastructure – 50%
Ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries – 50%
Ministry of Political and Public Affairs – 40%
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Government – 45%
Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education – 45%
Ministry of Lands and Country Planning– 65%
Ministry of Trade and Industry – 50%
Ministry of Youth – 45%
Ministry of Mineral Resources – 60%
According to Prince Jacob Macauley, he is a Consultant Economist with the IMF, World Bank and other international monetary and economic institutions. He added that he has also worked as director of various projects in Sierra Leone.
The high point of the press conference was a question and answer session.
