By Abdul Bun-Kadri
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary II of the governing All Peoples Congress has on various media of mass communications nation-wide popularized Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma address on Friday 5th December 2014, on the occasion of the State Opening of the Third Session of the Fourth Parliament.
President Koroma’s poignant attachment with compatriots amidst the Ebola outbreak crisis, he maintained, had renewed the hope of compatriots eight months in the fight to eradicate the Ebola Virus Disease that struck in May this year.
Hon. Robin Faley concurred with the statement of President Koroma, saying, in 2013/2014 school year, an estimated 7,000 more students were enrolled than 2012/2013.He talked on the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, telling his audiences, the learning institution, is ready to commence operation and has issued letter to over 2,000 students. Equally so, he continued, several reforms are being implemented in the educational sector, pointing out the establishment of the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology in the Northern Region certified through an act of parliament among other fine policies. Hon. Faley said as a former teacher, he has the authority to explain in detailed about the tremendous gains the country had made under the leadership of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma in the educational sector in terms of improving the condition of service of teachers and other educators.“More teachers are now on the payroll- a total of 2,500 new teachers were put on the payroll between December 2013 and October 2014,’’ he reechoed, adding more students are entering and passing external examinations conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAECE)-93,767 candidates sat the NPSE AND 71,077 passed in 2013 whilst in 2014, 100,508 sat and 76,733 passed.Hon. Faley confirmed that in 2014 WAECE Examination, for the first time in close to decade a candidate from Sierra Leone obtained 8 ‘As’ (8 distinction).
The APC Deputy Publicity Scribe said, as a person that is attached to the young people of Sierra Leone, he was happy that the President did not mice his word to stress the fact that young people constitute the bulk of the country’s population and that there would be no transformation without the full cooperation of the young folks.
He dilated on water-related issues, saying, water is of top most priority to the people to Sierra Leoneans. Water, he emphasized, is life; and that he would ensure he complemented the effort of the President to take water to the rural areas which had been deprived of safe and healthy drinking water for long time as he is now the Chairman Board of Directors of the Sierra Leone Water Company.
He pointed at projects the government is working on to transform the infrastructure of the country. These projects, he pointed thus: “upgrading of Mange-Mambolo-Rokupr roads project 35km; Panlap-Kamakwie-Madina –Oula rehabilitation project-148 \km; rehabilitation of Makeni-Kabala road; Bandajuma-Pujehun road; rehabilitation of roads in Port Loko, Lunsar, Kambia, Moyamba, Mattru Jong,Pujehun,Koidu, among other infrastructural projects across the country.’’
Hon. Faley said it is indisputable that the energy sector under President Ernest Bai Koroma has witnessed tremendous development. He said the vision of the President to provide 1,000 megawatts by 2017 will be achieved.
He intimated his audiences that the country can bounce back after the Ebola, noting, President Koroma’s statement that he believes in Sierra Leone.
In summary, he exactly quoted the President: ‘‘Like we were hailed this year as a symbol of post war recovery, democratic progress, and economic growth, let us be hailed again as an exemplar of post Ebola recovery, stronger health systems, peace, good governance, and development…’’The quotation continues: ‘‘I say this because I have great faith in God and in this country. These are trying times; we must show forth our devotion, our strength and our might. Hon. Faley concluded all should adhere to the suggestion of the President to take a lead in the fight, as he intimated, the optimism of the President, renewed the hope of compatriots that the fight against Ebola will be won very soon.
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