Yvonne’s Vision

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr Vision 2028 Driving Sierra Leone’s Transformation: From Hope to Reality

Sierra Leone is a country endowed with amazing natural resources: minerals; arable land; forests; abundant rainfall; oceans teeming with fish; and beautiful landscapes. It has a rich history with vibrant and diverse cultural traditions. Our education system was once the envy of Africa, attracting students from neighbouring countries.  

Sierra Leone is a country endowed with amazing natural resources: minerals; arable land; forests; abundant rainfall; oceans teeming with fish; and beautiful landscapes. It has a rich history with vibrant and diverse cultural traditions. Our education system was once the envy of Africa, attracting students from neighbouring countries.  

Sierra Leone has great potential but today, after 64 years of independence, Sierra Leone is ranked amongst the five poorest countries in the world[1]. Our development trajectory has been stymied and was significantly thwarted by the 11 years civil war. The Ebola Pandemic also temporarily derailed the Agenda for Prosperity which former President H. E. Dr Ernest Bai Koroma had begun to chart. 

At this juncture I wish to acknowledge the great work of former President H. E. Dr Ernest Bai Koroma and to thank him for the considerable progress made by our nation during his Presidential tenure.

But today the people of Sierra Leone are hungry – 28.4% of the population is undernourished; 26.3% of children under five are stunted; and 10.1% of children die before their fifth birthday[2]. Approximately 70% of Sierra Leone’s youth face underemployment or unemployment, and about 50% are either illiterate or lack necessary skills. Furthermore, Sierra Leone is experiencing an alarming level of illegal drug use, robbing our youth of the productive futures that they deserve. In spite of these challenges, Sierra Leoneans are constantly referred to as “resilient” people. However, beneath the smiling faces of these “resilient” people, there is real pain.

But there is also HOPE.

Hopes for economic growth and jobs

Hope that must now be converted to reality to give our people a future in which jobs are created for our youth by inspiring and actively encouraging domestic innovation and homegrown leadership in the private sector. Economic growth cannot and will not come through reliance on donor aid. Foreign support should serve as temporary bridges; much needed long-term sustainable jobs will only come from strengthening the ecosystem around, and promoting wealth creation through, our local micro, small and medium size enterprises.

Hope that must now be converted to reality to give our people a future in which economic productivity is facilitated by much needed public infrastructure investments in energy, water, roads and climate action. Continuing with the legacy of former President Koroma whose road construction program opened up the country, enhancing connectivity and hence economic productivity, an expansive public infrastructure programme is required as a foundation for and an enabler of economic growth whilst responding to the impacts of climate change.

Hope that must be converted to reality to give every young person in our country access to quality education and skills development that will enable them to access meaningful employment and/or entrepreneurship opportunities. Education that is tailored to and aligned with identified economic growth sectors so that our youth are workforce ready.

 

Hope that must be converted to reality where affordable, accessible and effective healthcare ensures the health and wellness of Sierra Leoneans so that the quality of life and the productivity of every Sierra Leonean rises. Our health and wellbeing can only be guaranteed through the provision of adequate health facilities in rural and urban areas and the development and strengthening of health systems and capacity.

 

[1] https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/poorest-countries-in-the-world

[2] https://www.globalhungerindex.org/sierra-leone.html

Vision Pillars

ECONOMIC
GROWTH

Enabling Environment SME Growth
Outcome:
Job Creation

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Climate Action, Power, Water, Roads
Outcome:
Economic Productivity

EDUCATION &
SKILLS

Quality, Workforce Ready, Youth Outcome:
Employment & Entrepreneurship

HEALTH &
WELLNESS

Affordable, Accessible, Effective Outcome:
Quality of Life

"The path to converting hope to reality is one that requires people-centred leadership. It necessitates an ambitious but achievable long-term national vision that is not just centrally articulated in plans and publicity events, but one that is embraced, supported, and implemented nationwide through effective decentralization and community engagement. Converting hope to reality involves harnessing our rich human capital both in country and in the diaspora and fostering unity nationwide. Join me in this journey to convert hope to reality, so that our national prosperity will be seen, felt and tasted by all citizens of Mama Salone."