SPECIAL REPORT – How Sierra Leone carried out during 2009 failed Economics or gradual growth process

2009 was a very notable for Sierra Leone. As the dust of Ernest Koroma course of its mandate was the solution to mid-2008 the global financial crisis hit, leaving number of issues of interest not provided national game.

By the end of 2008, the universal effect of depression was strongly felt in the country in a way that goes beyond almost facet all. As been driven by donors with a fund of only dealing with the reality of rebuilding its infrastructure destroyed during the civil war a decade duration, Sierra Leone faced a crucial test that requires a solid head-to quell the fighting.

Economy

For players in the economic circle of Sierra Leone, 2009 began with high expectations, especially after President Koroma had revealed last year that it intends run the nation in a way favorable to business.

However, despite this statement, there has been little improvement in the business and the prospect Sierra Leone's economy in 2009.

With the rising costs of commodities and a weak Leone, Sierra Leoneans in the hope of a change in 2010 because the signs indicated by the economy based on imports of the country, along with increasing world prices and a weak national currency, equivalent to an increase difficult for most citizens of Sierra Leone, most of whom still live below the poverty line.

Watch As the Economy, Sierra Leone remains an extremely poor country (on a per capita GDP), with tremendous inequality in income distribution as in 2009.

Its annual report stated: "While Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, agricultural, fisheries and agriculture and fishery resources, physical infrastructure and social services is not well developed and the major social ills perpetuated hinder economic progress. The fate of the economy depends on maintaining of inner peace and perpetuated received important support from abroad, which is essential to counter the serious trade (imports and exports) and complement imbalance government revenues. "

2009 also showed that a country beset by several problems of transport, inadequate infrastructure and the threat of theft armed robbery will face enormous obstacles in their efforts to fulfill its economic outlook.

Many foreign investors and even citizens of Sierra Leone in the diaspora now have a powerful thought about an eyesore in the Lungi International Airport, sometimes welcome visitors for the first time included potential investors with the vast darkness. In addition to the difficult problems crossing into Freetown.

Armed robbery reigned supreme in the 2009 guidance business people, mostly foreigners.

Bumbuna Although it is almost up and running, electricity is a major problem for entrepreneurs in 2009, especially the small scale of most enterprises which can not afford the daily cost of fuel and maintenance of its generators.

Despite in the rankings of the World Bank and IFC Doing Business Report 2009-156

among 181 countries, the challenges in Sierra Leone are be difficult for local entrepreneurs and foreign.

As the African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2009 data, Sierra Leone, grew fairly strong in 2008 with GDP growing by an estimated 5.4% despite high oil prices below.

GDP rose by 6.3% in 2009 and expected to increase by 5.5% in 2010. The OAS congratulated Sierra Leone for this action despite our dependence on food and oil imports at a time increase in world prices.

That's the main reason many calls on the government to boost its agricultural budget and the commitment for the next years after that would have reduced their spending power in the strong current program.

Agriculture accounted for 58% of GDP in 2007 and grew by about 5% in 2008 and 2009 (down from an increase of 14% in 2007). Sierra Leone remains a net importer of food in spite of much of agriculture in GDP and employment. The sector has traditionally been dominated by subsistence agriculture and suffers from a number of limitations including the private management of the production and marketing, poor infrastructure (especially roads), which impedes access to markets, weak extension services that impede the provision of training and information to farmers and the financing deficit irrigation, and poor storage facilities.

In addition, weak institutional capacity, including access to information undermines the policy formulation and coordination of the activities of stakeholders. Critics also argue that the tenure system rural land, which is opposed to freehold, inhibits investment in land is communal or family ownership.

In 2009 the government, in coordination with WFP and other interested parties, made efforts to address these problems and to increase agricultural productivity by promoting the use of equipment and supplies, ranging from irrigation, services post-harvest (storage facilities, drying plants, rice mills and threshers) and feed mills and slaughterhouses, building community banks and financial services associations and improve the marketing infrastructure through the construction and rehabilitation of feeder roads and markets community.

Despite these moves, hundreds of tractors and other equipment have not yet been distributed to deserving farmers and WFP has warned that Sierra Leone would not be able to meet the maintenance and upkeeping of these teams.

Sierra Leone also has significant marine resources with a coastline 560 km long. Fishing is carried out at industrial and artisanal fisheries. But widespread poaching of the territorial waters of Sierra Leone is a major problem in 2009 and what was seen as a mockery of real justice, questions were raised about how a judge in September 2009 a fine of a foreign fishing vessel and 26 crew members caught illegally fishing in the waters of Sierra Leone, a sum of $ 155,000 – which is less than one-twentieth of the mandatory penalties for poachers fish prohibited by the 1994 Fisheries (Management and Development) Act.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine Resources, Paul Sandi, was outraged at the small fine and told reporters that such lax enforcement of the law would only encourage poachers and spicy potentially destroy part of government revenues.

Services accounted for 34% of the country's GDP in 2007. Having contracted by 6%

in 2007, services were restored in 2008 with growth of 5%.

The financial sector continues to expand in 2009 with the number of commercial banks increased to 14. Although questions have been raised about the strength and efficiency of these commercial banks, one positive thing that have been successful in achieving is a greater number of unemployed graduates in the nation.

Tourism is currently very limited but it is growing and shows good potential. The government has a critical role to play in planning and promoting the sector, particularly in improving the image country's external and attractiveness as a tourist destination.

More fundamental constraints include poor infrastructure, electricity, in particular, and difficulties of access to the country's Lungi International Airport, which is only accessible by ferry or helicopter.

Although some of these actions, the nation is still short of playing a pro-tourism campaign by countries such as Ghana and Gambia. Obviously, much remains to be done in the international promotion restoration and maintenance of places of tourist interest around the country.

Industry growth has remained constant since the majority of industries the country are mounting structures in which most of the contents are imported and packaged or assembled here.

Manufacturing accounted for only 2% of GDP in 2008 and was expected to be in the same region for 2009 which reflects the low level of industrial development of the country.

The sector has not witnessed much growth in 2009 and that means continued reliance on foreign imported goods which is bad for the economy.

resources Sierra Leone minerals are diamonds, rutile (titanium ore), bauxite, iron ore and gold. However, the importance of the mining sector in Sierra Leone is underestimated in national accounts. Mining accounts for more than 90% of export earnings. It is also the second largest employer, employing about 300, 000 people. semi-industrial production of kimberlite diamonds began in 2003.

Before that, diamond production is carried out largely on a artisan-based environmental and physical risks. Much of the artisanal miners still live in poverty in 2009 hampered by problems of access to finance and markets.

The establishment of property rights guaranteed by these miners and their families is also a huge challenge. To resolve this problem, the government established a mining cadastre to provide information on land rights and usage. However, in 2009, many workers complain about the same as in the past the government and the Ministry of Labour is not doing much to increase services provided in the work environment were difficult.

To ensure strict control, the government continues to participate in the Kimberly Process Diamond Certification aimed at combating the trade in conflict diamonds.

Also participated in the Initiative for the Extractive Industries Transparency, which aims to improve the management of mineral resources for publishing information about government revenues natural resources. Changes in the structure of the ministry of mines have been laid and that the government intends to strengthen regulations.

The mining sector Sierra Leone still faces several challenges, including the implementation of legal and regulatory framework.

There was however very positive news for the sector iron ore and the mineral exploration company, minerals in Africa, announced in July it expected $ 2.6 billion in capital expenditures in its flagship Iron ore production in Tonkolili project and is expected to start in 2013.

The estimated capital costs include the costs of the mine and construction of a railroad and a deepwater port. This is good news because the local economy that can benefit.

Taxation is also a growing source of government revenues was affected by a serious setback when the majority of the U.S. business people to create a united front against the government's much-heralded goods and services (GST), saying its introduction will lead to higher prices for goods and services.

One of the businessmen who criticized the GST, Mr. Ibrahim Sesay, said in a joint seminar with the NRA Natioanl Revenue Authority in July 2009 that if President Koroma did not adequately review the VAT and avoid what he calls the "experience Ghana ", many businessmen will flee from Sierra Leone to neighboring countries.

The NRA still argue that importers pay less tax under the GST. In any case, 2009 could be viewed as the year that the government was forced to roll back a tax system that was about to institute.

Despite the onset of world recession in late 2008, government statistics and projection OAS believes real GDP grew by 5.4% in 2008 to 6.3% and 5.5% growth in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

In 2008, growth was mainly due to an increase of 8.2% in private consumption may through increased agricultural production in 2007 and 2008 and this trend is expected to continue in 2009 and 2010.

Gross capital formation is forecast to increase faster than consumption in 2009 and 2010, more than double its 2008 growth rate to 12.1% in 2009 and expand further to 14.3% in 2010. In particular, public investment is expected to triple in 2009 increased by 15.2% with private investment expected to be slightly lower at 11.1%.

As such training, gross capital is expected to contribute to 1.1% real GDP growth in 2009 and 1.3% growth in 2010 but remains low in relation to the effect Total consumption growth.

Moreover, the trade deficit widened in 2008 exports fell by 2.6% and imports rose by 10.4% exert a negative 3.4 points of GDP. The global recession is expected to put downward pressure on exports, remittances and foreign aid, making the deficit further expand trade.

The most positive news for the country's economy this year was the announcement of the discovery of oil in Sierra Leone. Although its economic viability has not yet been proven, the government of Sierra Leone has already begun to benefit from the discovery with some of the bidding companies are already paying up for surveys dimensional (3D surveys).

The controversy has already started shooting with Anadarko Petroleum, accusing critics of failing to support the economy of Sierra Leone for not helping the local economy when the company went all the way to Senegal to purchase goods and services that should have been easy to do in Sierra Leone.

Recent media reports also exposed communication gap between Anadarko and a Nigerian company, prayerful Oil, around the area carvings in the oil deposits are thought to be located.

More important, however, there were also charges of the Nigerian company that Anadarko had already started delivering oil and statistics in the absence of a single citizen of Sierra Leone.

They warned that it was a dangerous sign because the crew can give any information or statistics. Although Mr. Raymond Saidu Kamara is said to have joined the petrol station, there are still serious questions to be asked and to clarify issues arising in 2010 and before that most Sierra Leoneans start asking about the whereabouts of the revenue generated by oil.

The challenges going forward will be to consolidate growth and address the ongoing risk factors for conflict, such as unemployment and poverty. Increase in inflation, which was a massive concern in 2009, is also important as far-reaching impact affecting the majority of Sierra Leone are low-income people.

The year 2009 ends with the rise of commodity prices, simply because the dollar continues to rise and importing have a field day price increases, citing the rise of the dollar as the reason for its action.

2009 can be seen as one year of disappointment for Most consumers who woke up every morning going to retailers only to be confronted with a price rose from its usual products.

Pages in review

Since the '80s, the media has played a crucial role in the socio-political scene in the country, but this year can be seen as a true watershed that has always existed between most journalists and the ruling elite in the country.

The arrival of Umaru Fofanah the drivers of the Journalists Association of Sierra Leone SLAJ was announced as a right decision by most media professionals, and mourned by supporters government as an anti-APC to the core, saw him without time to make good his campaign promise to help the removal of the defamatory and seditious libel hateful V articles of the Public Order Act 1965.

On March 9, 2009, SLAJ a thrilling final argument before the Supreme Court in which a lawyer representing SLAJ Yada Williams argued the case of the association for the repeal of the law of criminal defamation and sedition, an act regarded as incompatible SLAJ 1991 Constitution the country.

As expected, the nation's highest court did not give the SLAJ took a path of war and in June 2009 declared a one-week media blackout on the Judiciary. The partnership marks the failure of the Supreme Court as "a denial of justice" to the association which can have a tendency repeated against other individuals or associations.

The ban was later extended SLAJ amended by exempting the Sierra Bar Leone later.

That was the biggest battle and most notable among the majority of the nation's outstanding physical media and the judiciary since the death of the late editor of FDP, Harry Yansaneh.

SLAJ however was very good at diverting some of the pressure on the government of President Koroma whose proponents argued that there was need for urgent alarm bells SLAJ arises because the present government is to convict any journalist of the Act.

Add to this pressure, SLAJ after the war of words with the IG directly grave of Police, Acha Kamara, proved challenging and delivered a petition to the Ombudsman del Pueblo, Edmond Cowan, and the President of office by what he said was in reaction to the failure by the Supreme Court to deliver a verdict in the case of the Association for repeal of seditious libel and criminal law.

Journalists who supported the movement were encouraged however, by his meeting with the Ombudsman, who accepted the request.

However, an interesting twist on these events and confrontations that gave rise to a new division within the media, with Some media professionals Fofanah brand and its administration of the radicals with a different agenda.

These are included the Philip Neville, Executive Editor Standard Times and David Tam Baryoh Radio Citizen who openly criticized SLAJ Fofanah to take in the wrong direction.

2009 is an eventful year for media in Sierra Leone since the kidnapping call, or the arrest of a journalist by police in the north of the capture of women journalists Kenema Balam-Samba Manja Soweis and some other members of the Bondo secret society for allegedly reporting on the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Variety of events dramatic, surrounded by reporters.

As usual in Sierra Leone, the media is not immune from the political discussion that goes on the inside. But this time, was the nation two main political parties which led the media war.

The controversial decision by the Vice President Sam Sumana to close both the SLPP and the decision APC radio stations created a heated moment that led to a confrontation between SLAJ and government.

SLAJ president accused directly Fofanah government of undermining freedom of expression and set a bad precedent for the closure of radio stations. While some in the media clearly stated warning red on the consequences of that decision, there was a genuine belief that the two stations were inciting hatred and violence similar to what the famous Radio Milles Collines in Rwanda did in 1994-95.

There was a tragedy for the media journalists also this year as it lost some members, including member SLAJ older Mr. Samuel Jocelyn Agustin short, affectionately called Sam who graciously gave up short at the age of 85 years on January 10, 2009.

Sports

2009 success was not a good year for sport in Sierra Leone. Much has been referred to the discipline of the nation's most popular sport, soccer, but disappointing for most of us, our beloved Leone Stars were eliminated from all international competitions.

Football in Sierra Leone found many problems in 2009, although the advance of the new Board of the Premier League should not be underestimated, but there is much more to do.

For the first time in Sierra Leone, a different body SLFA the ineffective running the league and clubs to give more power and the box office door and offers from sponsors.

Arbitrage situations also has improved and there were less controversial. This was perhaps a flexible joint composed of renowned professionals who actively and effectively address the issues arising during the league.

According to FIFA 2009 is the worst year in the history of Sierra Leone football as the country moved 40 places back on its classification in July which is the worst moving company in the country. All I just hope that 2010 will be a markedly different from 2009.

Or vice versa, critics in 2009 have highlighted the lack of proper management and infighting within SLFA the nation's Olympic committee as the cause for some of the major problems complex that still hinder these sports.

Take for example SLFA whose president, Nahim Khady, has been out of the country for most of the year 2009, there have been huge funds in 2009 from the CAF and FIFA, but what has actually been doing with him?

This decadent even forced former SLFA President, Justice Tolla Thompson to express concern in 2009 on the management of the Academy of Football in Sierra Leone, when he described the Academy of Spain as a white elephant and called the new Premier League Board to do something about it before the collapse finally.

Another high point in Sierra Leone Sport This year was the participation of Ola Sesay at the world athletics meetings in Berlin 2009. Although she failed to capture a medal, Sesay brought pride to the Sierra Leonean put on a great challenge in the series of classification as long-jump to the best athletes in the world.

While most citizens of Sierra Leone did not understand the game of cricket, the national team was better than any other sport in 2009. The game brought praise for Sierra Leone, but the highlight was when our bitter flickering hope of taking part in the Under-19 World Cup were finally torest job when the team failed to arrive in Canada before the end of September ICC 5 deadline.

Officially, said visa applications for the computer is overdue, while local media reported that the Consulate Canada in Ghana denied visas based players to be feared that some of them return home.

However, despite the laurels won by the Sierra Leone Association SLCA crickets in recent years, nothing has been done by the previous government to lift the ban crashed into the oval by the Council Kingtom International Cricket (ICC) since 2004.

But in 2009 leads to 2010, there is hope in some quarters that at least some form of rejuvenation will take place National Olympic Committee and the football administration.

And as the Director of Sports, Bai Kabia, told the parliamentary oversight Committee Education, Youth and Sports, the 1964 Act of Parliament which created the National Sports Council Act should be reviewed if the sport is taking a course 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).