By Titus Boye-Thompson :
For those who have had the privilege of interacting with him, President Ernest Bai Koroma exudes a most magnificent persona. He is a good listener. So good that sometimes you would be pardoned for thinking that he has ignored every word you have said. In truth, it is just his nature to listen and take note of whatever you say. He has, in the recent time, taken an extra step to be attentive. He now takes down jottings as you speak to him. He does this because, conscientious as he is, he wants to ensure that he keeps the salient points of your conversation on record, and to note any action points that you would require of him. This is very good management practice. As an aspect of time management, it is commendable that such a practice has now spread to his close aides.
Having regard to his keen sense of purpose, it was uncompromising when President Koroma first mooted prosperity as an objective goal, for it was greeted with derision at some quarters. However, his commitment to the concept thus far can only but change the minds and positions of skeptics. To understand the scope and context of prosperity that President Koroma envisages for Sierra Leone is to be apprised of a man with a vigor that inspires dedication and commitment to duty. He makes the opportunity to serve as real as NATCO biscuit. You can hold it in your hands and crack it, the only thing is that you cannot tell where it will break up. This brings to mind the football allegory to politics. It is a validation of his astute understanding and delicate handling of politically sensitive issues that President Koroma has for all intents and purposes earned the allusion as a World’s best at what he does. In the event, if prosperity is a goal, no one can be as guaranteed to score than President Ernest Bai Koroma. It is therefore necessary to understand the measure of his vision by an in-depth assessment of his persona and thus grasp an understanding of why this man can so self assuredly promise prosperity to Sierra Leoneans
President Koroma inherited a failed PRSP strategy paper, rejected by the UN in 2006. When the APC Party came into power in 2007, the new Government was obligated to review the PRSP 2 that had been rejected by the United Nations as substandard and inadequate to the needs of Sierra Leone or in fact below the threshold for what could easily be addressed as tangible proposals for addressing poverty in post conflict Sierra Leone. At the instance of being swept to power, President Koroma had already proffered to the people for Sierra Leone, the APC Manifesto with which he won their mandate. Astute as he is, President Koroma directed that the review of PRSP 2 take into cognizance the APC Manifesto which indeed had been endorsed by the people of Sierra Leone through the ballot box. In the event, no other PRSP, the World over can be attested to have had such veracity of acceptance by the people whose life it claimed to affect or indeed enjoy that level of legitimacy. So it was that the APC Manifesto which was aptly called the Agenda for Change was reviewed alongside the PRSP 2 on its second submission and thereby ascribed as the “Agenda for Change – Sierra Leone’s poverty reduction strategy paper 2.” Consequently, the acceptance in its entirety of the second submission of Sierra Leone’s PRSP 2 was an indictment of the previous SLPP Government and by extension, a validation of the APC Manifesto as a well thought out document that outlined key goals for Sierra Leone to tackle poverty and achieve self sustaining growth.
The speed with which President Ernest Bai Koroma moved to secure his vision under the Agenda for Change can only attest to his drive and commitment to make a difference in the lives of every Sierra Leonean. The improvement in energy generation and domestic electricity, the improvements in the rule of law and the institutions that underpin our democracy, the new roads constructed all over the country, improvements in education and health – specifically with the introduction of the free healthcare for pregnant women and lactating mothers all attest to a man who is dedicated to keeping his word. He has on many occasions demonstrated that he does not lie, so when he says that if elected, he will do more for Sierra Leone, he must be trusted to be telling the truth.
The launch of the Agenda for Prosperity on Friday 12th July 2013 is a manifestation of a President keeping to his word. He made an open declaration to commit to doing more than what he achieved under the Agenda for Change. This promise of prosperity is enshrined in the country’s poverty reduction strategy paper 3, a commitment to the world via the UN system of organizations that Sierra Leone is ready to tackle its obligations under international commitments to work towards reducing poverty as the central plank of its economic development aspirations.
The Agenda for Prosperity is a thorough commitment which, for the first time, and in many cases Sierra Leone is the first country to mainstream gender issues as key constraints to economic growth and through practical interventions addressing inequality, argues for parity between men and women, boys and girls. The President’s vision to expand the boundaries of opportunity to young people is also a central aspect of this aspiration and in the Agenda for Prosperity, the gauntlet has been laid down for young people to take control of their destinies, assume positions of authority and excel in skills and technologies that will make this country a great nation.
The launch of the Agenda for prosperity is an open invitation for progress. It asks of every Sierra Leonean to do something positive towards making this nation a progressive one. No one could ask for more. President Ernest Bai Koroma has done his own part to ensure that he makes good on his promise. As he has delivered on his words, let us all now move towards that prosperity he has promised us and in the process enjoy this great Nation, this land that we love, our Sierra Leone.
Posted by Cocorioko Newspaper on July 11, 20130 Comment
By Titus Boye-Thompson :
For those who have had the privilege of interacting with him, President Ernest Bai Koroma exudes a most magnificent persona. He is a good listener. So good that sometimes you would be pardoned for thinking that he has ignored every word you have said. In truth, it is just his nature to listen and take note of whatever you say. He has, in the recent time, taken an extra step to be attentive. He now takes down jottings as you speak to him. He does this because, conscientious as he is, he wants to ensure that he keeps the salient points of your conversation on record, and to note any action points that you would require of him. This is very good management practice. As an aspect of time management, it is commendable that such a practice has now spread to his close aides.
Having regard to his keen sense of purpose, it was uncompromising when President Koroma first mooted prosperity as an objective goal, for it was greeted with derision at some quarters. However, his commitment to the concept thus far can only but change the minds and positions of skeptics. To understand the scope and context of prosperity that President Koroma envisages for Sierra Leone is to be apprised of a man with a vigor that inspires dedication and commitment to duty. He makes the opportunity to serve as real as NATCO biscuit. You can hold it in your hands and crack it, the only thing is that you cannot tell where it will break up. This brings to mind the football allegory to politics. It is a validation of his astute understanding and delicate handling of politically sensitive issues that President Koroma has for all intents and purposes earned the allusion as a World’s best at what he does. In the event, if prosperity is a goal, no one can be as guaranteed to score than President Ernest Bai Koroma. It is therefore necessary to understand the measure of his vision by an in-depth assessment of his persona and thus grasp an understanding of why this man can so self assuredly promise prosperity to Sierra Leoneans
President Koroma inherited a failed PRSP strategy paper, rejected by the UN in 2006. When the APC Party came into power in 2007, the new Government was obligated to review the PRSP 2 that had been rejected by the United Nations as substandard and inadequate to the needs of Sierra Leone or in fact below the threshold for what could easily be addressed as tangible proposals for addressing poverty in post conflict Sierra Leone. At the instance of being swept to power, President Koroma had already proffered to the people for Sierra Leone, the APC Manifesto with which he won their mandate. Astute as he is, President Koroma directed that the review of PRSP 2 take into cognizance the APC Manifesto which indeed had been endorsed by the people of Sierra Leone through the ballot box. In the event, no other PRSP, the World over can be attested to have had such veracity of acceptance by the people whose life it claimed to affect or indeed enjoy that level of legitimacy. So it was that the APC Manifesto which was aptly called the Agenda for Change was reviewed alongside the PRSP 2 on its second submission and thereby ascribed as the “Agenda for Change – Sierra Leone’s poverty reduction strategy paper 2.” Consequently, the acceptance in its entirety of the second submission of Sierra Leone’s PRSP 2 was an indictment of the previous SLPP Government and by extension, a validation of the APC Manifesto as a well thought out document that outlined key goals for Sierra Leone to tackle poverty and achieve self sustaining growth.
The speed with which President Ernest Bai Koroma moved to secure his vision under the Agenda for Change can only attest to his drive and commitment to make a difference in the lives of every Sierra Leonean. The improvement in energy generation and domestic electricity, the improvements in the rule of law and the institutions that underpin our democracy, the new roads constructed all over the country, improvements in education and health – specifically with the introduction of the free healthcare for pregnant women and lactating mothers all attest to a man who is dedicated to keeping his word. He has on many occasions demonstrated that he does not lie, so when he says that if elected, he will do more for Sierra Leone, he must be trusted to be telling the truth.
The launch of the Agenda for Prosperity on Friday 12th July 2013 is a manifestation of a President keeping to his word. He made an open declaration to commit to doing more than what he achieved under the Agenda for Change. This promise of prosperity is enshrined in the country’s poverty reduction strategy paper 3, a commitment to the world via the UN system of organizations that Sierra Leone is ready to tackle its obligations under international commitments to work towards reducing poverty as the central plank of its economic development aspirations.
The Agenda for Prosperity is a thorough commitment which, for the first time, and in many cases Sierra Leone is the first country to mainstream gender issues as key constraints to economic growth and through practical interventions addressing inequality, argues for parity between men and women, boys and girls. The President’s vision to expand the boundaries of opportunity to young people is also a central aspect of this aspiration and in the Agenda for Prosperity, the gauntlet has been laid down for young people to take control of their destinies, assume positions of authority and excel in skills and technologies that will make this country a great nation.
The launch of the Agenda for prosperity is an open invitation for progress. It asks of every Sierra Leonean to do something positive towards making this nation a progressive one. No one could ask for more. President Ernest Bai Koroma has done his own part to ensure that he makes good on his promise. As he has delivered on his words, let us all now move towards that prosperity he has promised us and in the process enjoy this great Nation, this land that we love, our Sierra Leone.
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