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President Koroma after 2012

Author: Pa John Baimba Sesay - Freetown

I hold the view that President Ernest Bai Koroma is too serious in the fight against corruption, a cancer that has eaten into the fabrics of society. I only would refer readers to the ACC Act 2008 to detect the seriousness that President Koroma attaches to the issue of corruption. When he came into office, one of his major governance promises was to ensure the fight against corruption gains the seriousness it deserves and to date, President Koroma has lived up to my expectations. The fact that the ACC now functions independently is an indication of President Koromaâ€™s seriousness in the fight against corruption.

I wrote few months ago that ex-President Kabba (h) should be credited for setting up a number of institutional reforms like the ACC, IMC, NRA et al but the fact remains, when we try to compare the commitment of our ex-President to that of our current President regarding the fight against corruption, there is every reason to conclude that President Koroma has made serious impact than Kabba (h). Granted that a number of high profile cases were charged to court by the ACC during the era of President Kabba (h), it is also of no secret, that at one point the ACC almost became a political weapon, thus almost discrediting the image and integrity of the commission. However, our ex-President did make some efforts and I would always commend him for that especially for setting up the ACC.

May I also say that the press has taken a different shape in Sierra Leone especially insofar as the fight against corruption could go. It has continued to give its support to the government and to the ACC. Looking at the way the press is now taking on governance issue, I just would need to Â reflect on what Ritchard Tamba Mâ€™Bayo in a work, titled â€˜Press and Politics in Africaâ€™ wrote . In looking at the political authority and the transformation of the press in Sierra Leone, he referred to the days of JS Momoh when he (Momoh) called on the media to help him manage the country in an acceptable manner, and in so doing, by not only criticizing but offering possible recommendations. That was exceptional and the end result was devastating for some political figures.Â

When the media started exposing crime, corruption and societal ills, it had an adverse effect on the chances of some Ministers holding onto power and that was also how the press, seemingly helped in bringing down the APC government of JS Momoh. This is a different story insofar as the Presidency of President Koroma could be discussed. Â So far, the media has been helpful to the government of President Koroma in pushing for governance issues.

Let us look at few issues. From the look of things, President Koroma is well placed to win the 2012 elections, taking into account his efforts in the fight against corruption and in providing electricity. So far, President Koroma has succeeded in winning the confidence of the populace of this country and when viewed from a traditional African politics, a serving President most often will have the chance of being elected for a second term and this is certain for President Koroma. Bush was not appreciated for his invasion in Iraq but he was re-elected; Kabba (h) got re-elected in 2002â€¦

President Koroma is, no doubt a man of the people; only recently, he was in Kissy, east of the capital, to commission the construction of 30 streets in the city and the reception he got from people in that part of the city was just too exceptional.Â Again, Ernest is a grass root politician and just like the party he is leading, he knows how to handle all classes of people, be they educated or not.Â With a Koroma candidacy, the APC is sure of being re-elected come 2012. He has built the needed charisma and trust for the APC. Trust me. But what awaits the APC after 2012, you may want to ask.

Practically, the APC should be thinking of an â€˜APC in governance after Ernest Koromaâ€™. By 2017, President Koroma should have retired from mainstream politics and this means, having a better retirement after his Presidency. Definitely we would not expect a Siaka Stevens type of political transformation wherein, Momoh was made President when he was not expecting such. President Koroma is an astute politician, no one can challenge that. He can handle party issues well.

Recent happenings, especially as related to the fight against corruption have indicated the displeasure of some party supporters who see the ACC as witch-hunting the party. I totally would disagree with that view. The ACC was not created to embarrass a particular party and President Koroma never gave Tejan Cole more powers to embarrass a given person but rather to fight against corruption. And we must applaud President Koroma for that.

In whatever shape or form we may want to debate such an issue, it is obvious that there are serious political implications tied to making the ACC totally powerful, but this is needed for a post war country like ours where corruption largely accounted for the over decade long civil war we went through. Now, to prevent the ACC from becoming too power is simple by minimizing corrupt practices. When once that is done, we are fine; Tejan Cole will have less to doâ€¦

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President Koroma after 2012

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