Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE, Mayor of Freetown
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In reviewing the theme, I felt that it was important to start with a look back into history. To ask the questions “what are we independent from?” and “why are we independent?”
Independence from colonial rule is often met with the implicit assumption that colonizers were singularly invested in the furtherance of their own agenda, at the expense of those who are colonized.
For the people who were colonized, valuable resources were extracted from our lands to fuel the advancement of foreign empires with little or no consideration for where those valuables came from. So, with independence naturally comes a collective expectation that the wealth of our nations would be directed to the growth and prosperity of our people.
In the case of Sierra Leone, today, 64 years later, we look back and review the reality of this assumption.
- GDP per capita at independence was estimated at around $140–$160 USD (1960 prices).
- Sierra Leone had one of the highest GDPs per capita in West Africa at the time.
- Sierra Leone is a country endowed with amazing natural resources: minerals, arable land, forests, rainfall, beautiful landscapes, rich history and culture. Our education system produced excellent results, and we continue to export talent today.
We have great deal to be proud of. We saw the end of an 11-year brutal civil war and became an example of post war democratic transitions. We contained a deadly Ebola pandemic with fewer deaths per infected than our neighbors in Liberia and Guinea.
We are known around the world for our religious tolerance in a world where religion polarises so much and is ostensibly the cause of many wars.
But the reality is that 64 years later, this potential has not been realised.
A comparison is sometimes made to countries like Singapore and Malaysia who had similar levels of GDP per capita to Sierra Leone at independence. But Today GDP for Singapore and Malaysia stands at over five hundred billion USD and over four hundred and seven billion united states dollars respectively, whilst for Sierra Leone the GDP stands at below nine billion united states dollars despite our significant natural resource endowments.
As we reflect on our independence today, I believe that there are actions we should take and attitudes we should adopt that will help to close the gap between where we are and where we hoped we would be at 64 years of independence:
- Vision and continuity: Having a national vision that is not just centrally articulated in plans & publicity events, but one that is embraced, supported, and implemented nationwide through effective decentralization & community engagement. No one is left behind in the mobilisation and development of the nation. With the inevitable changing political tides, a national plan, adhered to, will lead to progress over the years, instead of facing the risk of undo good actions and plans.
- Clear Roles: Focused, measured and monitored delivery of that vision requires clear and appropriate mandates, along with clearly defined responsibilities that avoid overlaps and potential friction between various Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as Local Councils. All our efforts must be complimentary to each other.
- Leadership: One that inspires and encourages domestic innovation and homegrown leadership in the private sector. Growth CANNOT & will NOT come through reliance on donor aid. Foreign support can only serve as temporary bridges, much needed long-term sustainable jobs can only come from the strengthening of the ecosystem around micro, small and medium size enterprises for wealth creation.
- True Value: Education is valued not for simply acquiring a “piece of paper” which has led to examination irregularities (with pupils and students going through educational institutions as opposed to the educational institutions going through them). True value learning is focused the growth of minds, encourages innovation and job readiness.
- Competency: Competence and professionalism being embraced in all spheres of the society. The understanding and appreciation of this value leads to a better quality of life for ALL members of the community. When doctors, teachers, drivers, nurses, firefighters and civil servants meet a high level of required skill, the entire nation enjoys the benefits daily.
- Expression & Creativity: Encouraging productive freedom of expression fosters accountability and transparency in the delivery of government services. It further encourages creativity in engaging of the people as stakeholders in national development.
- A space to function: No nation can prosper without leadership that guarantees the independence of all the arms of government, ensuring that checks and balances can exist within state institutions in delivering services to the people.
- Civil Voice: Civil society organisations through which citizens participation is enhanced must remain outside the purview of the government control. The press, a critical component in fostering democratic governance and in holding leaders to account, must be allowed to be independent, operate in a free and open space.
As Sierra Leone marks 64 years of this independence, we stand at yet another crossroad.
Whilst acknowledging our challenges, we recognize the immense strength and potential that we have as a people. But we need to move beyond potential, we need actions that guarantee a future where every young person in our country has access to quality education and meaningful employment opportunities, empowering even the least to contribute to national development.
And we must live in a Sierra Leone where transparent governance fosters trust, where health and social services uplift communities, along with inclusive and sustainable growth. Our national prosperity must be seen, felt and tasted by all citizens of Mama Salone
The path forward involves harnessing our rich human capital, investing in infrastructure, and fostering innovation and unity.
I remain confident that with people-centred leadership, Sierra Leoneans can and will transform these challenges into opportunities, emerging as a nation defined by progress, a nation that converts hope to reality. It is my hope that this symposium will inspire us to take the actions that will make the understanding and reclaiming of Salone day a national and a natural response of all citizens.
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