NGC Is No Better Alternative, Vote Samura Kamara (Dr.)

By  John Baimba Sesay

Politically speaking, we have heard or seen a lot, a practical case in point being happenings within the SLPP (1&2-NGC). For the sake of clarity, we still will continue with that until elections are conducted and a winner announced, in my political view, in the person of Dr. Samura Kamara, the presidential aspirant of the governing All People’s Congress.

Just two or so years ago there had been a bag full of aspirants, wanting to lead the SLPP to elections; amongst them was Dr. Kandeh Yumkella.  Issues came up around his membership in the Party, with some factions claiming, he was not a registered member of that Party. This was after series of arguments, threats of court actions and the rest. His next move was to form a Party- NGC. In NGC, they now keep talking about ‘change’ though with the Party’s composition, giving a clear indication of it being nothing new but a breakaway from the SLPP. For the records, all those in the NGC have been SLPP strong players before now; nothing new in NGC.

The issue surrounding the NGC’s flag bearer’s dual nationality has brought into his campaign serious credibility challenge. Did he actually renounce his US citizenship? When did that occur?   The public cannot ask for more. They aren’t asking for a pound of flesh, rather, a proof of his renunciation of US citizenship. Interesting times ahead I suppose. That all we could see in the NGC is a reflection of SLPP in the form of membership makes the party no better alternative. The people have rejected SLPP twice and for the NGC to have come again behind the footsteps of SLPP is just not what the people now want. We cannot be told of change by those who never believed in it!

Let us face it; Sierra Leone presently needs a leader that has felt her challenges, one that has contributed to her growth process, and one that could effectively interact with global players and especially development partners. The country needs a leader that has been around her during the trying eras, NOT one that would come just to be talking of policies and making promises that would take centuries to accomplish.  We cannot just rely on smooth talk around one’s UN background. There is more to it about leadership than merely articulating ‘policies’.

Dr. Samura Kamara has been a strategic player in our country’s development process. He has got the required experience and skills a nation like Sierra Leone needs. He is ready to hit the ground running when elected president. He has been for decades, a modest Diplomat and has diligently represented his country globally. He served the International Monetary Fund and the Commonwealth with huge successes. He has managed with much success our financial sector. He has had years of experience in International Economic Cooperation. He has had successful years of interaction with global economic and financial players.  He has been a major player in pushing Sierra Leone’s growth roadmap through the country’s two development trajectories- the Agenda for Change and the Agenda for Prosperity.

Through these two development trajectories, in ten years, President Ernest Koroma’s government successfully changed the country’s infrastructure sector, turning the entire country into a works yard. We saw this through an increase spending on infrastructure and other capital projects. His government undertook the widening of the Lumley-Hill Cot Junction route (3.4Km) into a four lane dual carriageway. In energy, his government increased the national electricity generation capacity. With support from the Chinese, his government worked on Mini-hydro projects at Bankasoka (2MW), Charlotte (3MW) and Makalie (170Kw). President Koroma also ensured a paradigm shift from overwhelmingly depending on donors to being able to fund the country’s own development. He increased Government’s annual direct transfers to Local Councils.

Under his era, President Koroma modernized and increased revenue collection by introducing the automated system- ASYCUD system and tax payer identification numbers in a bid to tackle tax evasion and tax avoidance. In our tax regime, the government successfully broadened the tax base by the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Sierra Leone today is attracting huge investment in the mineral, marine and agriculture sectors with the country becoming an investment option for investors.  At the political front, he ensured an enabling environment with opposition parties freely operating. There has been a free and pluralistic media under the watch of President Koroma with the media playing a contributing role in the governance process.

In the first few months of his administration, Dr. Samura Kamara is committed to securing these achievements.  He is also determined to focus on the role of women and youth through their leadership positions and ensure macro-economic stability with a GDP that continuously should be growing. With his leadership, we are sure of seeing more women in leadership positions, with young people taking centre stage in our governance structure. He is committed to deepening the decentralization process in the country, ensuring an economically stable country, and to expand on our diplomatic engagements, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

It is also refreshing having a young person as running mate to Dr. Samura Kamara and the APC. Hon. Chernoh Bah’s appointment by the APC leadership should be seen as a challenge to the young people, which has been thrown by the Party’s leadership. We should rise to this challenge as young people. We should take the lead in making a better case for their elections. Vote Dr. Samura Kamara for a better tomorrow for there is no better alternative in the other parties as could be seen in the polices of the APC and it flagbearer.

Sierra Leone’s Social Security Sector: the broader scope

By Fadda Bakish

Economists’ simplest definition of social security is that it is a social and economic necessity for development and progress of every nation.

A Nigerian author described social security as largely a collective care arrangement to meet contingencies and other conditions of insecurity due to either deprivations or contingencies or both. Simply put, social security arrangements are collective remedies against adversity and deficiency.

The problem of deficiency is directly addressed through the provision of a basic social security. The two dimensions (deficiency and adversity) are complementary and are closely related to the problem of poverty reduction and development. However, the problem of human deprivation for the majority of the population addressed by the basic social security needs urgent attention. In developing countries, a large percentage of the population is absolutely poor so the greatest challenge is how to introduce the basic social security.

A functional social security system is, therefore, a veritable tool for engendering the bond between government and her citizens, thus promoting political stability and patriotism. Hence, security of life, shelter, food, a guarantee of minimum living wage, care of dependants’ citizen and Senior citizens (aged), unemployment benefits and welfare for the disadvantaged should form a core course of government. This is why Sierra Leone is lucky to have the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), whose presence is felt across the country.

The late President Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (of blessed memories) pushed for the formation of NASSIT having realized that social insurance encompasses broad-based systems that help workers and their families pool risks to avoid loss of income due to retirement, death, disability, or unemployment, and to ensure access to health care. It covers workers for the risks that go hand-in-hand with getting older but are out of one’s control, affect all, and are difficult to plan for.

NASSIT is one of the youngest social security institutions in Africa, but its performance over the years in terms of coverage, fund development, and application of international standards of practice, has been impressive in so much that today it has become one of the clear paths for economic development.

Social Security provides a social protection floor containing basic social security guarantees that will ensure that over the life cycle all citizens of Sierra Leone in need can afford and have access to essential income security at least at a nationally defined minimum level.

What NASSIT wants is that all persons ordinarily resident in the country will have the financial protection to access a nationally defined set of essential services, enjoy income security at least at a nationally defined minimum level through family/child benefits in cash or in kind aimed at facilitating access to education and care; all persons in old age ordinarily resident in the country enjoy income security at a nationally defined minimum level through benefit in cash and/or kind; and all persons in active age groups ordinarily resident in the country who are unable to earn sufficient income enjoy minimum income security through social assistance other social transfer in cash.

After giving a deep thought, reflect and consider the prevailing economic realities that we find ourselves in the country at present and have to come to the incontrovertible conclusion that NASSIT is one of the solutions to our current predicaments in the country, and there is therefore as a matter of urgency to strengthen the social security sector in order to achieve great feats at alleviating and reducing social ills in the nation.

Many Sierra Leonean youths have taken to crime and other vices such as organized crimes in the society, the result of which we are all living witnesses. This is more particularly so because employment opportunities into the public and or private sector of the economy has turned out to be a mirage to many educated yet the unemployed youth, thereby putting many in a state of dejection and frustration. Hence, NASSIT continuous investments in the various sector will help greatly in tackling the problems of youth unemployment.

The NASSIT Social Healthcare scheme, therefore, needs to be accelerated for the benefit of contributors. A comprehensive health insurance scheme will enable contributors or citizens to have access to basic or essential health care benefits through pluralistic delivery mechanisms where the state accepts the general responsibility for ensuring adequacy of the delivery system and its financing. NASSIT should also try as best as possible to enable children to enjoy income security at least at the poverty level through various family/child benefits aimed at facilitating access to nutrition, education, and care.

It should also ensure that some targeted income support is provided to the poor and the unemployed in the active group age and residents in old age or with disabilities enjoy income security at least at the poverty level.

NASSIT should go beyond old age benefits, survivors’ benefits, death benefits, invalidity benefits, disability benefits and such other benefit as may be approved from time to time, unto a broader scope of bringing into effect more investments to boost economic and social benefits.

No doubt that NASSIT provides a foundation of income on which workers can build to plan for their retirement. It also provides valuable social insurance protection to workers who become disabled and to families whose breadwinner dies.

There is the general consensus that the above initiatives are significant steps in the right direction. This should be complemented by sustained public enlightenment and public awareness especially those in the informal sector. In the same vein, there is need to extend the scope of coverage of social security to citizens in that sector. Furthermore, cases of malfeasance in pension fund management should attract the full rigor of the law in terms of prosecution and punishment. Above all, the relevant regulatory authorities should continue to demonstrate a strong degree of commitment to ensure sustained efficiency in the system bearing in mind that once confidence is lacking, people will find ways to avoid contributing, even though their need for social protection may be very high.

Social security in Sierra Leone should be seen as a shared care arrangement designed to meet contingencies and other conditions of insecurity due to either deprivations or contingencies.

Social Security is essentially important for women because they tend to earn less than men, take more time out of the paid workforce, live longer, accumulate savings, and receive smaller pensions.  This is why more women, especially those in the informal sector should be brought on board. They should be well engaged and sensitized on the importance of the social security scheme.

NASSIT officials will agree with me that women make up a major percentage of Social Security survivor beneficiaries.

Some school of thought says women benefit disproportionately from the program’s inflation-protected benefits (because they tend to live longer than men), its progressive formula for computing benefits (because they tend to have lower earnings), and its benefits for spouses and survivors.

Social Security is a particularly important source of income for groups with low earnings and less opportunity to save and earn pensions.

Once someone starts receiving Social Security, his or her benefits increase to keep pace with inflation, helping to ensure that people do not fall into poverty as they age.

In conclusion, social security is a three-pronged insurance program: it insures against loss of income due to retirement, death, or disability. So far in Sierra Leone, the scheme is making every effort to bring a turn-around to the country’s economy. Sierra Leoneans should, therefore, embrace NASSIT because it is a continuous rewarding scheme that makes life simple for all even at old age.

With Kande Yumkella playing the fox with his dual citizenship; the NGC may be decapitated

By Sheriff Mahmud Ismail

There has been a heated debate over the eligibility of dual citizens to contest for parliament and the presidency of Sierra Leone. It all started from a legal opinion by one of Sierra Leone’s prominent lawyers, Francis Gabidon Esq. Gabidon had opined back in October 2017 that according to Section 76 (1a) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leoneans with dual nationalities are not eligible for elected office. Although another legal opinion by another lawyer, Adrian Fisher, had disputed his senior colleague on the matter of the law, the ruling All Peoples Congress APC), in apparent abundance of caution, over a week ago announced that it would not award symbols to anyone with dual citizenship. The APC’s decision has caused tremors within its rank and file but also across the political aisle. Particularly, Dr Kande Yumkella, presidential hopeful of the National Grand Coalition (NGC), a newly registered political party, many of whose members are reportedly dual citizens, appear to have been caught off guard and they are angry.

Reports have indicated that Kande himself has been so rattled that he had to rush to the United States (U.S.) in an attempt to sort himself out of the looming political disaster the issue of dual citizenship has suddenly sprung upon him and his nascent party. He returned few days ago and in an obviously hurriedly convened press conference, Kande admitted to have been carrying an American citizenship, in addition to that of Sierra Leone. But at the same press conference, he also informed that he had renounced his U.S. citizenship to ensure that he satisfies the Sierra Leone Constitutional requirement. What is unclear however, is when he became a U.S. citizen and when did he renounce it.

There is another twist to this puzzle which suggests that Kande may have only ‘Relinquished not renounced’ his U.S. citizenship. According to the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 349 (a)(5): ‘A person wishing to renounce his or her U.S. citizenship must voluntarily… appear in person before a U.S. consular or diplomatic officer, in a foreign country at a US embassy or consulate; and sign an oath of renunciation’

In other words, the person does not need to travel to the U.S. to carry out a renunciation. But the INA goes further to state that:

A person seeking to renounce his U.S. citizenship must renounce all the rights and privileges associated with such citizenship…. …those contemplating a renunciation of U.S. citizenship should understand that the act is irrevocable….and cannot be cancelled or set aside absent a successful administrative review or judicial appeal.

One therefore stands to reason that since Kandeh Yumkella had traveled to the U.S. to sort his dual citizenship conundrum, it is almost certain that he RELINQUISHED rather than RENOUNCED his citizenship. This is deriving from the fact that to relinquish, you need to physically present proof of an ‘expatriating act’. That is, evidence that you are going to undertake political service, for instance, in your country of origin. Also once you can prove that the expatriating act is over, you can re-apply to assume your U.S. citizenship back.

Many observers believe that Kande has not been very honest about his citizenship status, and that he has not treated Sierra Leone fairly. It is posited that first, he abandoned his country when things were hard by renouncing his Sierra Leonean citizenship. After other Sierra Leoneans have done the ‘heavy lifting’  and that he country is about to take off development-wise, he has come back halfheartedly by relinquishing his U.S. citizenship in the hope that if things do not go well for him, he would simply go back and reclaim his U.S. citizenship. It could be recalled that Kande Yumkella has had disclosure issues regarding his registration or the lack of it with the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP). Looking back at his registration drama with the SLPP, the question of (mis) trust remains a challenge for Kande.  “I don’t trust that man, one commentator said on social media.

Already, it has been mooted that some members of the NGC are very unhappy with the lack of transparency of their presidential hopeful over his dual citizenship status and that some have even suggested that Kande be replaced on the ballot. Whether Kande would be able to pull himself from this slippery political quagmire in good time remains to be seen. If he fails to come clean with his members and if he fails the looming legal battle over his eligibility, the NGC may go into the polls without a presidential candidate.

Yumkella’s dual citizenship petition … NEC to decide

Dr. Yumkella, not a happy man

Sierra Leone’s  National Electoral Commission will decide on Monday 29^th January 2018 as to whether the Flagbearer and Parliamentary Candidate for the National Grand Coalition (NGC), Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, is qualify to run as Parliamentary Candidate at Constituency 062 in Kambia District or not.

Sierra Leone’s ruling All People’s Congress (APC) party filed an objection to the parliamentary candidacy of Dr Kandeh Yumkella, an ex UN executive leading the National Grand Coalition party. If the objection is upheld he cannot run for President. The APC Deputy Secretary General Frank Kargbo says they’re also going to the Supreme Court to object to his presidential candidacy. They argue that Dr Yumkella was not a Sierra Leonean at the time of the voter registration having only renounced his dual US citizenship in November, months after registering to vote and be voted for. “We are not aware whether he has relinquished his citizenship or not, all we know is that he was a dual citizen at the time of his registration,” Frank Kargbo said. Dr Julius Spencer, a spokesman for Dr Yumkella, says the grounds of the objection are “frivolous” and that they will soon respond officially.

The 1991 Constitution and the Political Parties Act of 2002 make it illegal for “dual citizens” to contest for political office, and prohibit anyone not eligible for election as a member of parliament to hold an executive position in a political party, and from also making financial contributions to any political party. Section 14 (1) of the Political Parties Act of 2002, in particular, clearly states that, “a political party shall not have as a founding member or a leader of the party or a member of its executive body, whether national or otherwise, a person who is not qualified to be elected as a member of parliament under the constitution.”

Yumkellah claimed few days ago that he had renounced his US citizenship in November 2017, but the All Peoples Congress endorsed candidate for Member of Parliament, Abu Bakrr Sankoh of Constituency 062 alleges in his petition that the NGC candidate is “still a dual citizen and is in violation of Section 76(1a) and therefore not eligible to contest the said elections.”

Sources close to the APC have revealed that a team of lawyers representing Sankoh are already planning to take the matter to the Sierra Leone High Court in the event that the objection is not sustained by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

In a press conference held last week, Kandeh Yumkellah did acknowledge that he had sworn an oath of allegiance to the United States, but said he had renounced the said citizenship. He did not indicate the exact date his US citizenship was renounced, but his campaign staff had earlier revealed to the press that his US citizenship was surrendered in November 2017.

At the press conference, Yumkellah had vowed to fight against any effort to prevent him from contesting the elections.

Yumkellah had fought against the SLPP for more than two years before forming the NGC. In his two years fight to lead the SLPP, he took numerous litigations against the party even when his citizenship status, at the time, precluded him from holding any party position.

I was called to the ACC to identify my signatures …NPAA Acting Executive Director reveals

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

Mrs. Kate M.B. Karemo-Garnett, Acting Executive Director

Mrs. Kate M.B. Karemo-Garnett, Acting Executive Director of the National Protected Area Authority (NPPA) told this press over the weekend that she was called to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as a witness to identify my signatures and not being indicted for corruption. She said upon her arrival at the ACC she noted that her signature had been falsified on most of the documents. “I have never been arrested by ACC but was invited to answer questions and to verify whether the signatures the ACC had on record were really mine or a forgery,” she said, and added that on the documents that did bear her original signature; she signed to receive DSA for a Study Tour to Uganda as part of a six-member delegation from Sierra Leone.

On her personal dealings with officials, the Acting Executive Director pointed out that “I have never carried any relationship other than a professional relationship with officials I work with.” She further clarified that the Minister of Agriculture is not part of the Board and has little influence on decisions made, and that he is only updated on decisions taken by the Chairman and Board of Directors of the NPAA.

“My appointment as Acting Executive Director and the suspension of the substantive Executive Director, Dr. Kolleh A. Bangura was an administrative action taken by the Board of NPAA pending investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission into ineligible expenditure and misappropriation of donor funds,” Mrs. Karemo-Garnett told this press.

She also pointed out that at no point during the investigation of the ACC did the Chairman and Board of Directors of the NPAA attempted to interfere with the investigation and that an update was requested by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and not from NPAA Board. “They have been very eager in working with the ACC to come to a swift and accurate conclusion. I am also not aware of any occasion that the Minister of Agriculture or Chairman and Board of Directors of the National NPAA aided and abetted corruption or corrupt practices of employees at NPAA,” she said, revealing further that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and the Chairman and Board of Directors of NPAA are anxiously waiting to receive from ACC, the outcome / report of the investigation.

On the decision to suspend Dr. Kolleh A. Bangura, Amos D. Kamara and Joseph Sahr Kaifineh on half salary until after the investigation is concluded by ACC, Mrs. Karemo-Garnett noted that it is completely a Board decision without any interference from outside sources or bodies, which is in accordance with the Civil Service Conduct Code, which dictates that it is legal and lawful to put a worker on half pay pending the conclusion of an investigation.

“The signatures on the award of contract clearly show the names of the members of the implementation team that signed and approved the document (Dr. Kolleh A. Bangura (Project Coordinator and Executive Director at the time), Amos D. Kamara (Imprest Administrator) and Joseph Sahr Kaifineh (Imprest Accounting Officer).”

The REDD + and Capacity Building Project was implemented from the 16^th of May 2014 to 15^th May 2015 and extended for four months to 15^th September 2015 with no cost extension. The aim of the Project was to contribute to the establishment of a low-carbon and pro-poor development of Sierra Leone, whilst enhancing the degree of environmental protection and maximizing the benefits offered by environmental services. The project was funded by the European Union – The Operational Programme Estimate (OPE1) Team was responsible for the implementation of the project.