When Sierra Leoneans voted overwhelmingly for “change” in the recently concluded parliamentary and presidential elections, they literally meant that in every sense of the word. Since then, the “New APC” of President Ernest Bai Koroma has devised some urgent policies and implemented some changes. Electricity has been revived in Freetown and its immediate surroundings with some semblance of dramatic changes made in the public and civil service appointments. President Ernest Bai Koroma’s “New APC” has espoused its policy of zero tolerance for Corruption. The impatient Sierra Leonean voters are however waiting to see the results of the zero tolerance for corruption and other policies which will be devised and implemented.
Freetown, the national capital of Sierra Leone, is a relic of its colonial past. Most part if not the entire city is dominated by wooden architecture that was representative of the period between 1790s to 1950s. Unlike the wide streets and tree lined boulevards of cities like Abidjan, Dakar, Ouagadougou and Lome, the streets of Freetown are narrow and there are no boulevards. The city was definitely not well planned and very little has been done to address that strategic shortcoming since the country achieved independence in 1961, it has dramatically increased to over one million inhabitants today.
However, very little significant changes have taken place to deal with the inadequate water supply, poor sewage system, narrow roads that may pass for streets that are clustered with idlers and traces of symbolic modernization as manifested by a few tall buildings (commercial bank, Bank of Sierra Leone, Ministerial and Youyi buildings, Electricity house and the former UNDP building opposite NPA house). Freetown is also a relatively difficult city to access by international visitors. It can take up to seven hours to reach the city of Freetown from Lungi International airport, the same amount of time it would take to fly to London, Brussels or Paris.
It is equally difficult to move from one part of the city to the other. Automobiles and other types of vehicles have literally overwhelmed the city. Traveling from the PZ roundabout on Sani Abacha Street via Kissy Road to ferry junction can take at least three hours during peak travel times. Parking spaces for vehicles are as scarce as the “star of Sierra Leone” diamond. They are virtually non-existent. However, it is significant to observe that the conditions that are affecting Freetown are also found in many other capital cities in the world. This, invariably, has precipitated the establishment of new political capital cities around the world.
Historically, many countries have distinguished their political capitals from their economic/business/commercial capitals. In the United States of America Washington D.C. is the political capital, while New York City is the economic/business/commercial capital. In the Netherlands, The Hague is the political capital while Amsterdam is the economic/business/commercial capital.
This trend is still being practiced today as manifested in Nigeria that has made Abuja its political capital and Lagos as its economic/business/commercial capital. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is now the economic/business/commercial capital while Putrajaya is now the new political/administrative capital. In the Ivory Coasts, Yamoussoukro is the political/administrative capital, while Abidjan is the economic/business/commercial capital. Likewise, Pakistan now recognizes Karachi as its economic/business/commercial capital while Islamabad is the political/administrative capital. This trend is likely to continue as the cities become more and more congested and choked for space.
In light of the above observations, a strong case could be advanced to support the establishment of a new political capital city for Sierra Leone. However, where would the new capital city to be established when there is tribal, regional and politically conscious Sierra Leone? Would the country afford such an expensive proposition and undertaking? What benefits will Sierra Leoneans derive from such a major
This writer is convinced that such an undertaking will worth it in light of the socio-political, economic and infrastructural paralysis that Freetown is subjected to on a daily basis. Freetown can no longer boast of the pristine environment that once adorned its landscape. The hills are now bare, a situation that causes mudslides that destroys both property and human lives during the torrential rains.
It is the view of this commentator that the “Northern Region” will be according to the “New Citizen Newspaper, the most “appropriate place” to establish the new national political capital? There is no regional bias associated with the selection of the Northern region for this honour. While some have argued for the new capital to be established at Kaffu Bullom/Lokomasama chiefdom (Port Loko district) others have maintained the view that Bombali district will be more ideal. The choice of either Port Loko or Bombali district will create the environment for real development to be extended to areas outside the western region. Not only will the Freetown population be reduced but the damage done to the Freetown landscape will be minimized.
The selection of the Kaffu Bullom/Lokomasama area will hopefully expedite the construction of the Freetown – Lungi Link Bridge and entice the unemployed able bodied men and women, who hail from the north to return to their villages and towns to engage in real productive activities. This particular decision will have the potential to engender a sense of optimism that the country may need a positive dose of change.
Finally, Sierra Leone needs a renaissance of a positive outlook. The removal of the country’s political capital from Freetown and its re-establishment somewhere in the Northern region may just be the antidote that will unshackle Sierra Leone’s growth and development. Adequate and acceptable infrastructure, good roads, employment creation and well organized markets will all be the by-products of this move. It is, therefore, time to say good-bye to the gridlock associated with the present national political capital.
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