Driving past the infamous Kroo Bay shantytown, I noticed a flat concrete bed
on big steel or concrete pillars that could be used to reclaim much needed land
above water level for one of the markets of my vision. But to work, there must
be a grand compensation plan for the residents here to start a new life
somewhere else, with further incentives for them to start new businesses in the
provinces.
Amid the unaddressed social problems in Sierra Leone, there is a glimmer of
hope in the president's just-launched "attitudinal change" campaign. I attended
the second very inclusive brainstorming meeting that was held to come up with a
road map for the attitudinal change campaign. I hope that a huge government and
citizenry propaganda campaign will soon come out of this effort to help change
the people's mindset about civic responsibility and national allegiance.I took
the opportunity to hold a cordial discussion with Vice President Samuel
Sam-Sumana.
"My critiques were more concerned with experience than my vision. But I asked
them to show me where I could find some experience to buy before I start the
job, if that would have made them comfortable. But apparently, we could not find
a manufacturer or a retailer of experience." Sam-Sumana laughed.
"My being here in this office is a chance that has been given to our
generation to prove itself in restoring the confidence of the people. If I allow
my vision to be blurred by my critiques, I will fail myself, I will fail you,
and I will fail the entire generation that has been given the chance with
governance," he concluded.
At Stop Press, I ran into the secretary general of the Sierra Leone People's
Party. I congratulated him for his show of leadership during the elections. Then
I drew his attention to what is happening in Kenya and asked if the S.L.P.P. had
shown courage in handing over the reins of government to the winner of the
elections for the second time. He said that that he was very concerned that the
new government might not adhere to the example the S.L.P.P. has set. But a woman
I spoke with on the street thought differently. "The people of Sierra Leone are
wiser than we may imagine … no party is going to be able to derail democracy in
the country anymore," she reassured me before walking away proudly.
On Jan. 30, I attended a People's Movement for Democratic Change weekly
meeting. The venue was packed full with supporters and party executives. I had
not imagined that so many partisans would gather in one place just after the
elections. From what I saw at the party's Hanna Benka-Coker office, the P.M.D.C.
is strongly resisting being absorbed by the All People's Congress -P.M.D.C.
coalition.
I was impressed with how the supporters of the three parties—the A.P.C., the
P.M.D.C., and the S.L.P.P.—go about their business amicably in all the
government offices on a daily basis. In fact, the A.P.C. presence in many of
these offices is at the political appointee level. Amazingly, their working
relationship with their bitter election rivals is commendable. Perhaps it could
be marketed as a commodity to the rest of Africa.
It is understood that Sierra Leone needs to copy good economic development
policy models from successful developing nations. There is no need to reinvent
the wheel when you can just put your shoulder to it and turn the shaft of good
governance.
Commentaries 
At Stop Press, I ran into the secretary general of the Sierra Leone People's
Party. I congratulated him for his show of leadership during the elections. Then
I drew his attention to what is happening in Kenya and asked if the S.L.P.P. had
shown courage in handing over the reins of government to the winner of the
elections for the second time. He said that that he was very concerned that the
new government might not adhere to the example the S.L.P.P. has set. But a woman
I spoke with on the street thought differently. "The people of Sierra Leone are
wiser than we may imagine … no party is going to be able to derail democracy in
the country anymore," she reassured me before walking away proudly.
