These were the exact words of one of Sierra Leone’s finest presidents, the late President Dr. Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah (ATK) of blessed memory as he was handing over governance to His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma (EBK) on the 15th of November 2007 in Freetown.
With the above statement, it is so clear that the EBK led All People’s Congress (APC) government inherited a very healthy economy from the ATK led Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) government.
It is further clear that Sierra Leone was never poor and its economy was very much sufficient to take good care and cater for its population which is too small to be trapped by the politically man-made poverty. It is currently trapped in poverty to the detriment of the majority all the huge resources notwithstanding.
The argument put forward by the APC that Ebola is responsible for destabilizing the country’s economy is not true and totally deceitful.
This is because even before Ebola, a good percentage of Sierra Leoneans were suffering excessive poverty, lack of sufficient food, poor shelter and poor health, among other basic amenities a government must provide its people.
The argument also put forward by the APC that road construction is responsible for destabilizing the country’s economy should be taken with a heavy dose of salt.
The late President Kabbah in his handing over statement said: “The following roads have either been constructed or are under construction: the Koribondo-Blama-Gendema Ferry Road in the South; Makeni-Kamakwie road in the North; Kurobola-Kabala axis and the Masiaka-Makeni road also in the North. Work is in progress on several other roads such as the Masiaka-Bo road mainly in the South and the Tokeh-Lumley road in the Western Area, thereby completing the Waterloo-Freetown/Peninsular road. Funding has been secured for several planned road projects such as the Bo-Kenema road; Kenema-Koindu road; Makeni-Matotoka road; Matotoka-Koidu road; the Rogbere Junction-Pamelap road; the Songo-Moyamba road and the Moyamba-Moyamba Junction road. With regards to the Hillside Bye-Pass Road that will run behind Pademba Road Prison and exit behind Kissy Road Cemetery, delay in starting this project has been too long with protracted negotiations with property owners.”
If this is clear and clean, then what is this fake bluff about roads and the billions of our inherited Leones being used to make them?
According to a political analyst: “If the APC wants to ascertain the details behind their fake claim let them provide the platform for the ACC to investigate government earnings during and before Ebola; road construction should also be opened to investigation to ascertain whether government expenses are commensurate with current gains or development.”
Late President Tejan Kabbah wasn’t mining iron ore but was able to save our economy and set up well established democratic institutions plus a 500 billion Leones reserve.
It is high time Sierra Leoneans start asking questions and force the APC government to put their “mumu” tactics aside and explain to its people the current status of the country’s economy. This is especially now that civil servants are beginning to go months without salary.
