First Name:ย Alphajoh
Last Name:ย Cham
Email Address:ย ย alphajohcham@yahoo.com
Address:ย 2372 Bankside Circle
City:ย Decatur
State:ย GA
Zip Code:ย 30035
Comments:ย 46th Independence Anniversary of Sierra Leone.ย My Reflections.
Email Address:ย ย alphajohcham@yahoo.com
Address:ย 2372 Bankside Circle
City:ย Decatur
State:ย GA
Zip Code:ย 30035
Comments:ย 46th Independence Anniversary of Sierra Leone.ย My Reflections.
Before, and shortly after independence, Sierra Leone was known as the “Athens ofย
West Africa”. Today, just after 46 years of independence, Sierra Leone is one ofย
the poorest in the world, at the bottom of the UN Human Development Index. Iย
will not go into the statistics here, as most of us are familiar with them. Butย
what I would want to focus on here is the question: what went wrong, and whatย
can we do about.
West Africa”. Today, just after 46 years of independence, Sierra Leone is one ofย
the poorest in the world, at the bottom of the UN Human Development Index. Iย
will not go into the statistics here, as most of us are familiar with them. Butย
what I would want to focus on here is the question: what went wrong, and whatย
can we do about.
As a country, we have abundant material resources require to put Sierra Leone onย
the path of development for economic and social prosperity, and yet can notย
deliver.
the path of development for economic and social prosperity, and yet can notย
deliver.
As a people, we have the human resource with the knowledge, experience, and ifย
you will, the wisdom to manage our natural resources for the benefit of ourย
people, and yet we still can not deliver.
you will, the wisdom to manage our natural resources for the benefit of ourย
people, and yet we still can not deliver.
As a nation, we have the democratic and educational institutions, at least toย
our own standards, for good governance, and yet we still can not deliver.
our own standards, for good governance, and yet we still can not deliver.
So what went wrong? The simple answer, in my humble opinion, is the lack ofย
moral leadership not only at state house, but in all government ministries.
โขย ย A leadership with wisdom, moral character and integrity
โขย ย A leadership that understands the needs of its people and provides for theirย
welfare
It is said: “A society that is morally bankrupt is hollow, and is bound toย
collapse. This is where we are, a collapse nation with no sense of direction.
moral leadership not only at state house, but in all government ministries.
โขย ย A leadership with wisdom, moral character and integrity
โขย ย A leadership that understands the needs of its people and provides for theirย
welfare
It is said: “A society that is morally bankrupt is hollow, and is bound toย
collapse. This is where we are, a collapse nation with no sense of direction.
I cannot imagine, not with any sense of moral conscience: How and why ourย
leaders will drive in Mercedes on pot holes in a dark city, while our kids go toย
school on foot with no shoes on.
leaders will drive in Mercedes on pot holes in a dark city, while our kids go toย
school on foot with no shoes on.
I cannot understand, not with any sense of moral conscience: How and why ourย
leaders will live in “glass houses” with light and running water, while our kidsย
go to bed hungry, and sleep in the dark.
leaders will live in “glass houses” with light and running water, while our kidsย
go to bed hungry, and sleep in the dark.
I still cannot comprehend, not with any sense of moral conscience: How ourย
leaders will despise the most needy in our society like the amputees, theย
victims of the war, and seen as a burden to society.
leaders will despise the most needy in our society like the amputees, theย
victims of the war, and seen as a burden to society.
The sad truth is that we can afford to provide the basic necessities of life:ย
shelter, food and water. But we are just too greedy and selfish to provide themย
for all.
shelter, food and water. But we are just too greedy and selfish to provide themย
for all.
If there is no light or water, let there be light or water for nobody. Then weย
will understand that we cannot afford them as a nation.
will understand that we cannot afford them as a nation.
Now, is all being lost? The answer is no. I think we still have the energy,ย
vision and opportunity to put Sierra Leone back on the track of economicย
development. It is said in the Qur’an (in interpretation) that:ย
“Allah will not change the plight of a nation until and unless its people areย
ready for a change”.
vision and opportunity to put Sierra Leone back on the track of economicย
development. It is said in the Qur’an (in interpretation) that:ย
“Allah will not change the plight of a nation until and unless its people areย
ready for a change”.
The question now is: Are we ready for a positive change? This challenge isย
especially for the youth of Sierra Leone, for our fathers have failed us, and weย
cannot afford to fail our own children. Just as we are holding our fathersย
accountable today, so will our children hold us accountable tomorrow if we fail?
especially for the youth of Sierra Leone, for our fathers have failed us, and weย
cannot afford to fail our own children. Just as we are holding our fathersย
accountable today, so will our children hold us accountable tomorrow if we fail?
So let this year’s anniversary be a year of reflection for a renewed energy andย
determination to put Sierra Leone back on its track to economic development andย
political stability. In whatever we do as individuals, political parties, civicย
and non-profit organizations, let it be first in the interest of Sierra Leone,ย
and then it will ultimately be in our individual interests. One thing we shouldย
have learnt from the decade-long rebel war in Sierra Leone, is the fact that weย
can only survive as a family, a community and a country. Let us all workย
together irrespective of our political philosophy and aspirations, culturalย
diversity, and above all our individual differences.
determination to put Sierra Leone back on its track to economic development andย
political stability. In whatever we do as individuals, political parties, civicย
and non-profit organizations, let it be first in the interest of Sierra Leone,ย
and then it will ultimately be in our individual interests. One thing we shouldย
have learnt from the decade-long rebel war in Sierra Leone, is the fact that weย
can only survive as a family, a community and a country. Let us all workย
together irrespective of our political philosophy and aspirations, culturalย
diversity, and above all our individual differences.
Together we can get to the Lion Mountain, the land of Peace, Unity, Freedom andย
Justice, and we will leave no Sierra Leonean behind.
Justice, and we will leave no Sierra Leonean behind.
May Allah bless Sierra Leone.
Alphajoh Cham
Earned B.SC (Hons) in Zoology at FBC, and M.Sc. (Eng.)in Environmentalย
Management at University of Technology in Germany.
Earned B.SC (Hons) in Zoology at FBC, and M.Sc. (Eng.)in Environmentalย
Management at University of Technology in Germany.
ย
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