Looking for the Missing Leones? Start at State House and the Presidential Lodge
Written by Dr. Kelfala Kallon
When then presidential candidate Ernest Bai Koroma promised to take Sierra Leone back to the days of Siaka Stevens and Joseph Momoh, not even a psychic would have predicted that he meant taking the country back to currency shortages and the “toe-line” for basic necessities of that era. Thus, I was shocked by the news of the massive currency shortage that the country went through this past Christmas season.
And so it goes on regardless...NEC and APC's dismissals of critical issues
Written by Puawui - Dr Sama Banya
It is one thing for the APC leadership to continue to treat our legitimate concerns with indifference bothering on absolute contempt. But when that kind of attitude is extended to a representative of the international community, then definitely something is seriously wrong which may not be in the interest of our country. The U N Envoy who recently had audience with our head of state his Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma reportedly raised a number of issues with him pertaining to governance.
Charles Margai Calls for the Impeachment of President Ernest Bai Koroma if...
Written by New People National Correspondent
As the expected ICC evidence collection mission about the main cause of political violence in Sierra Leone draws closer, the leader of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) has added his voice to global demands that no less a person than President Ernest Koroma be held directly responsible for an impunity that is not only resurfacing only under his regime since the war ended in 2002, but also for the deaf ears which President Koroma continues to give to international demands for his swift action in immediately heeding the recommendations of relevant communiqués and enquiries into political violence since he assumed power.
A Litany of Corruption, Cocaine Gate, Timber Gate and False Hopes of Change...APC Style
Written by Mohamed Lamin Janneh
That the Ernest Koroma government shamelessly seeks a second term is testament to their casual indifference to the ideals of good governance, moral responsibility, and social justice for Sierra Leoneans. As 2011 rounded off, it was the same story as it started off. The All People’s Congress (APC) government of Ernest Koroma was embroiled in yet another massive corruption scheme which, as always, it showed no hesitation to tell Sierra Leoneans it will not fully investigate and punish perpetrators.
What is the meaning of this Mr. President?
Written by Puawui - Dr Sama Banya
A pro APC government newspaper carried the following headline in its Tuesday January 25 edition which it said were uttered by his Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma when he launched the ongoing Biometric registration exercise at the Brima Attouga stadium last Sunday afternoon. "those who perpetrated the violence in Kono and Bo will not participate in the November elections." As if to authenticate its story the newspaper carried a photograph of the head of state delivering his statement while he was surrounded by party officials and cronies.
President Koroma Continues to Pay Deaf Ears to Donors Concerns about Political Violence as ICC Plans a Visit to Sierra Leone
Written by New People National Correspondent
Nearly a month ago, key donor partners investing billions of dollars on Sierra Leone’s development spoke with one voice in relaying directly to President Ernest Bai Koroma the urgent need for his violence tainted regime to halt his painful delay in implementing recommendations of the joint political parties’ communiqué in 2009, the Shears-Moses report on political violence from 2007-2010 and the Kevin Lewis report on Bo and Kono political violence in 2011.
NEC still has much to do especially in the Western Region
Written by Puawui - Dr Sama Banya
The much publicized National electoral Commission’s voter registration exercise should have started with a bang, particularly in the western urban area of Freetown. To this observer however it began with less than a thud and this should be a cause for concern to all, but more so for the ruling APC party which had won all the Parliamentary as well as the local government council seats bar one. Could it be because Monday January 23 was only the first day and that it would pick up as time goes? That would be a too simple and misleading answer.
Incumbency has an uncanny way of sending people’s memory on vacation thereby putting them out of touch with the reality. Before the 2007 elections, Ernest Koroma promised Sierra Leoneans heaven and earth and vouched to eradicate all those vices that had plagued the country’s vicious political cycle for several decades.
