SPECIAL REPORT – How did Sierra Leone in 2009 has failed the economy and the gradual process of growth
2009 was a remarkable year for Sierra Leone. As the dust hypothesis Ernest Koroma office set up just before mid-2008, the financial crisis strikes World Series leaving unforeseen problems national interests involved.
In late 2008, the universal effect of depression was much felt in the countries it flows through virtually each facet. LED status as a donor of a fund taken only reality reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed during the decade of civil war, Sierra Leone faces a crucial test that requires a good head on confrontation to appease.
Economy
For players in the economic circle of Sierra Leone, 2009 began with great expectations, especially after that President Koroma was revealed last year that he intended to run the nation business in a friendly way.
However, despite this statement, there has been little improvement in the economic sector and Sierra Leone in 2009.
With rising raw material costs and a weak Leone, Sierra Leone expect a change in 2010 because signs reported by the economy due to rising world prices and a weak national currency, similar to the importing country to greater difficulty for the majority of the citizens of Sierra Sierra, most of whom still live below the poverty line.
Watch According to the economy, Sierra Leone remains extremely poor (per capita GDP) and gross inequalities in the distribution revenue in 2009.
Its annual report states: "While Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, agriculture, fisheries and agriculture and fisheries, their physical and social infrastructure and facilities is not well developed and serious social unrest perpetuated to hamper economic progress. The fate of the economy depends on maintaining internal peace and continue to receive substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to counter the serious trade (imports and exports) of imbalance and supplement government revenues. "
2009 also has shown that a country plagued by many problems of transportation, lack of adequate infrastructure and the threat of armed robbery will face enormous challenges in their efforts to comply with its economic prospects.
Many foreign investors and even the citizens of Sierra Leone in the diaspora have always thought about striking a monstrosity in Lungi international airport, which sometimes host first visit included potential investors and the oppressive darkness. Besides this, the thorny problems of the passage to Freetown.
Robbery ruled in 2009 the people's business orientation, mostly foreigners.
Although Bumbuna is almost in place and ongoing implementation of electricity is a major problem for business in 2009, especially small-scale enterprises that most can not afford the daily cost of feeding and maintenance of its generators.
Despite moving into the ranking of The World Bank and IFC Doing Business 2009-156
among 181 countries, the challenges in Sierra Leone remains difficult two local and foreign entrepreneurs.
According to the African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2009 data, Sierra Leone has grown relatively strong growth in 2008 GDP of about 5.4% despite high oil prices then.
The GDP grew 6.3% in 2009 and is expected to increase 5.5% in 2010. The OAS welcomes Sierra Leone for this action, despite our reliance on imported food and oil in an era of rising world prices.
This is why Main numerous calls on the Government to increase its agricultural budget and the commitment in the coming years once it had reduced its heavy spending on electricity through the program.
Agriculture accounted for 58% of GDP in 2007 and grew by 5% in 2008 and 2009 (against an increase of 14% in 2007). Sierra Leone remains a net importer of foodstuffs despite the high share of agriculture in GDP and employment. The sector has been traditionally dominated by subsistence agriculture and suffers from a number of constraints, including management of private production and marketing, poor infrastructure (particularly roads), preventing market access, weak extension services that affect the provision of training and information to farmers, irrigation and shortage of funds, and storage facilities for the poor.
In addition, weak institutional capacity, including access to information undermines the formulation of policies and coordination of stakeholders. Critics also argue that the rural land system, which excludes the operation, which inhibits investment land is collective or family.
In 2009, the Government, in coordination with WFP and other stakeholders, has made efforts to address these problems and boost agricultural productivity by promoting the use of equipment and supplies, irrigation expansion, to provide services post-harvest (storage, soil nuts, rice mills and threshing) and feed plants and slaughterhouses, the creation of community banks and financial services associations and infrastructure improvement of marketing through construction and rehabilitation of feeder roads and community markets.
Despite these moves, hundreds of tractors and other equipment are still being distributed to farmers who deserve and the WFP warned that Sierra Leone would not be able to cope and maintenance of these equipment.
Sierra Leone also has significant marine resources, over 560 kilometers of coastline. Fishing takes place in industrial and artisanal. But widespread poaching territorial waters of Sierra Leone is a major problem in 2009 in what was considered a just ridiculous, questions were raised about how a judge in September 2009, a fine of foreign fishing vessels and 26 crew caught fishing illegally in waters of Sierra Leone, a sum of $ 155,000 – which represents less one-twentieth mandatory penalties for poachers prohibited from fishing in 1994 (Management and Development) Act.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry Marine Resources, Sandi Paul was incensed by the small fine and told reporters that the lax enforcement of the law would only encourage poachers and destroy Saucy some potential revenue for the government.
Services accounted for 34% of U.S. GDP in 2007. After having contracted by 6%
in 2007, services were restored in 2008 with 5% growth.
The financial sector continues to expand in 2009 with the number of commercial banks rises to 14. Many questions were raised about the strength and effectiveness of these commercial banks, a positive thing that have been successful in achieving many of the recruits graduates unemployed in the nation.
Tourism is currently very limited, but growing and shows potential. The government has a crucial role in planning and promotion of the sector, including improving the country's external image and attractiveness as a tourist destination.
More fundamental limitations include the poor infrastructure, especially electricity, and access difficulties to the country from Lungi international airport, only accessible by boat or helicopter.
Although some of these actions, the nation is still far from replicating a major campaign to promote tourism, as is done in countries like Ghana and Gambia. Clearly, more must be done in the international promotion, restoration and maintenance of tourist attractions in the country.
Industry Assembly constant growth of most industries in the country are more structural stayed in most of the content is imported and then packaged or assembled here.
Manufacturing accounted for only 2% of GDP in 2008 and should be in the same region in 2009, reflects the low level of developing countries industrial.
The sector has experienced tremendous growth in 2009 and that means continued reliance on imported foreign products which is bad for the economy.
Mineral Resources of Sierra Leone are the diamonds, rutile (titanium ore), bauxite, iron ore and gold. However, the importance of mining in Sierra Leone is underestimated in national accounts. Mining is more than 90% of export earnings. It is also the second largest employer providing employment about 300 000 people. The semi-industrial production of Kimberlite diamonds began in 2003.
Before that, diamond production has been largely out on a scale of physical and environmental hazards. A high proportion of miners still live in poverty in 2009, hampered by problems of access to funding and markets.
The establishment of property rights guaranteed to minors and their families is also an enormous challenge. To remedy this situation, the Government established a mining cadastre to provide information on land rights and use. However, in 2009, many workers complain that in the past the Government and the Ministry of Labor does little to increase their state of services in a difficult working environment, they were.
To ensure close monitoring, The Government continues to participate in the certification of diamonds, the Kimberley Process, which aims to combat the trade in conflict diamonds.
Also participated in the Initiative Industries Transparency, which aims to improve management of mineral resources publishing information on income government's natural resources. Changes in the structure of the Ministry of Mines was established and the Government intends to strengthen regulations.
The mining sector in Sierra Leone still faces several challenges, including the implementation of legal and regulatory framework.
However, it was a particular news positive for iron ore sector as a mining exploration company, minerals from Africa, announced in July it expected $ 2.6 billion cost capital in the flagship iron ore project in Tonkolili and production should begin in 2013.
The estimate includes capital costs for the mine and the construction of a railroad and a deepwater port. This is good news for the local economy benefits.
Taxation is also a growing source of government revenue was affected by a serious setback when the majority of businesses nationwide have established a united front against the government announced as Goods and Services Tax (GST), saying his leadership introduction to higher prices for goods and services.
One of the businessmen who have criticized the GST, Mr. Ibrahim Sesay, said in a joint seminar with the RNA Natioanl Authority's revenue in July 2009 that if President Koroma did not adequately review the GST and to avoid what he called "the experience of Ghana, and many businessmen will flee from Sierra Leone to neighboring countries.
The NRA continues to assert that importers pay less tax under the GST. Whatever the case, 2009 could be considered when the government was forced to walk back to a system of taxation, it was established.
Despite the emergence of a global recession in late 2008, government statistics and projection OAS believes that real GDP grew by 5.4% in 2008 to 6.3% and 5.5% growth expected for 2009 and 2010, respectively.
In 2008, growth was mainly due to an increase 8.2% in private consumption made possible by increased agricultural production in 2007 and 2008 and this trend should continue in 2009 and 2010.
Training Gross capital formation is expected to grow faster than consumption in 2009 and 2010 more than doubled its growth rate from 2008 to 12.1% in 2009 and further expanded in 14.3% in 2010. In particular, public investment expected to triple by 2009 to increase by 15.2% to private investment expected to be slightly lower to 11.1%.
In As such, the gross capital formation is expected to contribute 1.1% to real GDP growth in 2009 and a growth of 1.3% in 2010 if it remains low compared with the effect of growth of total consumption.
Moreover, the trade deficit widened in 2008, exports fell 2.6% and imports rose by 10.4% in the exercise of an impact of 3.4 point negative impact on GDP. The global downturn should press down exports, remittances and foreign aid that cause the trade deficit to widen further.
The most positive news for the economy this year was the announcement of the discovery of oil in Sierra Leone. Despite its economic viability is yet to demonstrate the Government of Sierra Leone have begun to benefit the discovery of some of the bidding companies are already paying for research three-dimensional (3D surveys).
The controversy has already started to shoot Anadarko Petroleum critics accusing not help the economy of Sierra Leone, helping them not to the local economy when the company all the way to Senegal for the purchase of goods and services that would have been easily done in Sierra Leone.
Recent reports also exposed and a gap between company Anadarko Ornato Nigeria Petroleum from the excavated area in the oil fields are expected to find.
More important, however, there was also the Nigerian company by Anadarko which had already begun drilling for oil and to provide statistics without a single in Sierra Leone.
They warned that this was a dangerous sign because the onboard staff can provide data or statistics. Although Raymond Saidu Kamara has joined the oil station, there are still serious questions to ask and clarify issues in 2010 and before that most new citizens of Sierra Leone to start making lots of revenue generated by oil.
The challenges ahead will be to consolidate growth and address the risk factors of conflict such as widespread unemployment and poverty. Increase in inflation, which was a concern mass in 2009, is as important as its great impact affects the majority of Sierra Leoneans who are low income people.
The year 2009 ends with increase prices for commodities, just as the dollar continues to increase and importers are having a field day price increase, citing the rise of dollar as the reason for its action.
2009 can be considered as a year of disappointment for most consumers who woke up every morning to go to retailers only to find a price driven from their usual products.
Media review
Since the 80, the media played a crucial role in the socio-political scene in the country, but this year may be considered a turning point that has always existed between most journalists and the elite of the country's decision.
The arrival of Umaru Fofanah to Helms SLAJ Journalists Association Sierra Leone, which was announced as a good choice for most professionals and the media denounced by pro-government and anti-APC to the base, life wasted no time in making good his campaign promise to support the elimination of certain heinous defamatory and seditious libel section V of the Public Order Act 1965.
In March 9, 2009, SLAJ presented an impassioned closing argument before the Supreme Court in which the lawyer representing lawyers argued SLAJ Yada Williams Association for the repeal of criminal defamation law and SLAJ considered seditious act inconsistent with the Constitution of 1991 the countries.
As expected, the highest court in the country, not SLAJ took a path of war and in June 2009 declared a news blackout last week in the judiciary. The combination marks the inaction of the Supreme Court as "a miscarriage of justice" to the association that might tend to be repeated against other individuals or associations.
The ban was later extended SLAJ has been edited by exemption from the Sierra Leone Bar Association later.
This was the most insidious and most notable among the most remarkable bodies of the nation's media and the judiciary since the death of the editor of the end of the FDP, Harry Yansaneh.
However SLAJ was very clever at diverting some of the pressure on the government of President Koroma, whose promoter has argued that there was no reason for sounding the emergency alarm SLAJ arisen because the government is yet to condemn any journalist in the law.
Adding to this pressure, then SLAJ the war of words directly with serious IG Police, Acha Kamara, has shown an air of challenge and delivered a petition to the Ombudsman, Edmond Cowan, and Office of the President for what he said in response to the failure of the Supreme Court to issue a ruling in the case of the Association for the repeal of the law of defamation criminal and sedition.
Journalists who have supported the movement, however, with the support of his meeting with the mediator, who has accepted his request.
However, an interesting twist to these protests and confrontations is leading to a new division within the media, with some professionals of the media Fofanah brand and its administration to the radicals, with a different agenda.
Among them are Philip Neville, editor of The Standard Times and David Tam Baryoh Citizen Radio, which has openly condemned the taking SLAJ Fofanah in the wrong direction.
2009 is an eventful year for the media in Sierra Leone called kidnapping / arrest of a journalist by police in the north of the capture of women journalists in Kenema Manja Soweis Balam-Samba and some other members Bondo secret society to report on the alleged practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Variety of dramatic events surrounded by reporters.
As usual in Sierra Leone, the media is not immune to political bickering that goes on inside. But this time was two in the nation's main political parties took to the war in the media.
The controversial decision by Vice President Sumana Sat close both the SLPP and the decision radio stations APC has created a heated moment that led to a confrontation between the government and SLAJ.
SLAJ directly accused President Fofanah the government of violating freedom of expression and set a bad precedent by closing radio stations. While some media have made clear red alert on the implications of this decision, there was also a genuine belief that the two stations were inciting hatred and violence similar to what the notorious Radio Mille Collines in Rwanda did in 1994-95.
There were tragedies for Media this year also have journalists lost some members, including the oldest member of SLAJ short Jocelyn Samuel Augustine, affectionately called Sam short and bowing gracefully, at the age of 85 in January 2009 10.
Sports
2009 was not only a good year for sport in Sierra Leone. Much has been done for the nation's most popular soccer game, but unfortunately for most of us, our beloved Leone Stars were eliminated from all international competitions.
Football in Sierra Leone many problems encountered in 2009, although the advance of the new Premier League Commission must not be underestimated, but is much more to do.
For the first time in Sierra Leone, an organization SLFA independent of the ineffective functioning of the league and clubs to give more power and revenues in case of expropriation door and offers from sponsors.
Situations Arbitration has also improved and there is less controversy. It was perhaps a flexible joint consisting of renowned professionals who took the initiative and effectively address the issues raised during the league.
According to the FIFA 2009 is the worst year football history of Sierra Leone, the country went from 40 seats back in their rankings in July, which is the worst in history went to the country. All I just hope that 2010 will be marked in relation to another 2009.
Or on the contrary, critics in 2009 reported the absence of good management and infighting within SLFA the nation's Olympic Committee as the cause of some of the huge complex problems that continue to hamper these sports.
Take, for example SLFA whose president, Nahim Khadi has been outside the country for most of 2009, there were considerable funds in 2009 of the CAF and FIFA, but what we really have done with him?
This decline even forced former president SLFA, Justice Tolla Thompson to express concern in 2009 on the management of the football academy in Sierra Leone when he described the Academy, the United Kingdom as a white elephant, and asks the new Premier League Council to do something before collapsing altogether.
Another great moment in sport in Sierra Leone this year was the participation of Ola Sesay in the world of athletics meetings Berlin 2009. Although he could not capture a medal, Sesay proud to Sierra Leone as it has established a major challenge in the series of classification in the long jump class with the best athletes in the world.
While most Sierra Leoneans do not understand the game of cricket not the national team has done better than any other sport in 2009. The game brought praise to Sierra Leone but the sour Organ point when our flickering hope of taking part in the FIFA U-19 were finally put torest when the team failed to Canada before the end of September, the deadline 5 the ICC.
Officially, it was reported that the visa applications for equipment have been delayed, local media reported that the Canadian Consulate in Ghana has denied visas to the players on the field that There were fears that some of them will not come home.
However, despite the laurels of The Crickets SLCA Association Sierra Leone in recent years, nothing has been done by the previous government to lift the ban Kingtom crashed into the oval by the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 2004.
But in 2009 gave way to 2010, there is hope in some quarters that at least some kind of renewal is in the National Olympic Committee and the Council of Football.
And as Director of Sports, Bai Kabia, told the parliamentary oversight on Education, Youth and Sports, the 1964 Act of Parliament which created the National Council Sports law should be reviewed if the sport is taking a different turn in the country.
About the Author
Muctaru Wurie is a Sierra Leonean born writer who grew up in Freetown at a time the war in Sierra Leone reached it peak.
Growing up in the eastern part of the capital city, Muctaru said he was inspired to writing when he was a kid attending the Cathedral Boys Primary School, as they used to have various writing sessions & essay in which he usually excelled.
He later attended the St Edwards Secondary School and then Fourah Bay College where he had a BA Honours in Mass Communications. Since then he has written on almost all aspects of Sierra Leonean society, sometimes taking a critical look at issues that are mostly deemed as taboo in the country.
Muctaru’s works have been published in various publications from All Africa.com, Sierra Eye Magazine to Fourah Bay College Journal – Aureol Torch.
He has also edited The New Tempo and Kalleone Newspaper. Muctaru has worked in the humanitarian field also, acting as a Communications Officer for Handicap International Sierra Leone and The Mohamed Kallon Children’s Foundation (MKCF).