Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma became the first head of state to declare his assets to the country's Anti-Corruption Commission.The issue of corruption has long been being echoed by industrialized nations as part and parcel of African culture and ideology.
Most African Leaders from the sub-continent have horded billions of dollars into foreign bank accounts due to their lack vision of how to galvanise their people. In Sierra Leone this has lead to perpetually failure within their communities specifically in human and structural development, the ramification of which would linger for many generations to come.
Some Industrialized Nations in the north relishing this opportunity of ample cash flow for their economic development, have encouraged connive and at times turned a blind eye to corrupt leaders in the south continual plundering Africa’s wealth.
We must accept that corruption is a two way process involving a giver and a receiver which has now become a way of life for many leaders in Africa, it is estimated that corruption cost the African continent over a 150 billion dollars a year. That is money that could have been spent on health education and building up the rural economy.
As awareness of issues surrounding corruption has intensified in the world, some African nations like Sierra Leone are now beginning to change their laws to make it harder for corrupt officials to stash stolen money in foreign banks.
President Earnest Bai Koroma has shown great courage and exemplary leadership by leading the fight against corruption for the rest of Africa to follow.
Developed Nations in the west now have a positive role to play, in promoting good governance and to monitor poorer economies.
It is time for governments of the Third World to sit up take stock and become responsible by creating jobs for their people and local communities need to engage their leaders by mobilizing public action.
Real development in Sierra Leone is unlikely to change poor people’s lives if there is not an injection of foreign direct investment into the economy and a halt to continual perpetual cycle of bad governance.
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9 comments:
That is Great. I hope all those corrupt ministers go to jail and I wish it was possible for President Koroma to garnish their money in those foreign bank accounts and use it to rebuild the country.
Michaela
Good article and very to the point Ayo. I do believe that significant efforts are being made in this area in Sierra Leone. we must all remember, however, that the task is an enormous one and try to root it out systematically avoiding the tendency to simply fill the cracks.
Kevin Metzger
Good!
The story about our President's declaration of his assets.
I found them very useful and compelling> It shows a lot of depth and pathos in your conception of the poverty argument in Africa
As a matter of fact, I learnt about it from your blog. Please keep on focussing on issues arising from that country and make it a little more personal if you like. So that there can be more coverage. We are so alarmed and frustrated by that country's begrudgingly poor status we are all burning embers for want of change in that country!!!
Augustine Mansare
We all accept that change in some capacity is needed in Sierra Leone; the question is what strategies can be adopted by the current government to free our people from grinding poverty.
Are there any bright Ideas out there???
If you ask my candid opinion I'll say we need only one change in Sierra Leone. Our analysis of our country reveal nothing less than a history of poor leadership and bad governance over a sustained period of time.
The problem is we no longer have a corporate culture in Sierra Leone. Materialism and greed have become the bedrock upon which society ... Read Morevalues and extols a man. so corruption had taken roots.
The bible says righteousness exults a nation but sin is a reproach to it. If you'll excuse my sounding religious but I think a major change we need to see in our country is the exercise of principle of leadership by example in all cadres and enthusiasm in the provision of the human resource capability.
Augustine Mansare
Change can only be possible when you have the option to choose from. We have surpressed and destroyed nearly all our role models and success story which should have been the beacon of light to have emulate or copy from by example? We need to shift from the old loosing ways to a new and dynamic process in line with the digital concept to radically facilitate a new golden age of business and corporate culture with a positive attitude of tolerance and unity of purpose.
Syl Juxon Smith
Bravo for Bai Koroma and Sierra Leone!
San Francisco, California, US
Yeah I agree with what you are saying but our governments are just as corrupt. They could have done so much more to help third world countries but they are more worried about investing in weapons to fight wars which will line their own pockets!
It is left to ordinary people to support charities and that doesn't solve the problem as it is not charity that is needed. Like you said it is the government in these countries which need to give back to the people and invest in health care etc.
South, UK
You write very well.
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