Launching of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and Inauguration of the National Governing Council of the APRM - Thursday 18 September 2008. Keynote Address by His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma,
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone,
MONDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2008,
MIATTA CONFERENCE CENTRE,
Freetown.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is an honour for me to be with you today in support of the Sierra Leone Governance initiative. As you know, the APRM was established by the OAU Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001 in order to create an African-owned and led process to monitor progress in the promotion of democracy and good governance in the continent. The summit adopted a set of codes, standards and indicators to measure such progress and the APRM acts as the vehicle for this voluntary national self-assessment in the four related areas mentioned hereunder:
Democracy and Political Governance Economic Governance and Management Corporate Governance and Socio-Economic Development
I have an ardent support for the APRM initiative, as it provides a consensual mechanism, among participating African countries, for African Political leadership to review progress in the all important area of governance. I participated in the AU summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last February where the Benin APRM report was discussed. As I watched the interaction of my colleague Heads of State in the discussion of the Benin report, characterized by candour, transparency, accountability and a willingness to subject individual countries to in-depth review and analysis of its performance in the great task of providing a better quality of life for its citizens, I became more convinced of the rightness of the APRM initiative. It is therefore with this conviction that I became more than ever before determined to launch the implementation of the APRM process in Sierra Leone, a decision which I hope will be warmly welcomed by all Sierra Leoneans and members of the Diplomatic Coorp. I know, we, as a country and as a people, have taken the basic fundamental steps to ensure proactive and beneficial governance strides in our nation and I have no doubt that we can move forward in the path of good governance.
STATUS REPORT OF THE FOUR THEMATIC AREAS - GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE
I am proud to tell you that Sierra Leone has made important progress in the areas of democracy and political governance, in economic governance and management, in corporate governance and in socio-economic development. As a reflection, let me at this juncture, highlight some of our major achievements that have earned Sierra Leone the enviable position of a success story of a post-conflict country in terms of the distance we have covered in the short years since the end of our brutal civil war:
The 2007 general elections were internationally acclaimed as peaceful, free and fair and we recently conducted a peaceful, free and fair local council elections. We have strengthened the National Electoral Commission to institutionalize and sustain democratic processes and make it more responsive to the new democratic dispensation. We are also supporting the Commission for the Registration of Political Parties, thereby adding greater objectivity and transparency to the elections process. We are supporting the National Commission for Democracy to promote democratic norms throughout society and to develop public-private partnerships to advance democratic pluralism. Our partnership with UNIOSIL has enabled this multinational force to consolidate the peace won in 2002 and we are now in position to manage our own political affairs without external peacekeepers. More recently, a Peace Building Fund (PBF) approved by our multi-donor partners is now injecting funds to further strengthen the pillars of a stable and peaceful Sierra Leone. Cumulatively, these achievements are remarkable for a country, which, until recently was torn apart by war.
Sierra Leone has also received high marks from international monitoring groups for its governance as related to freedom of religion, freedom of the press and respect for basic human rights.
Religion: At a time when religious strife and hatred have led to violence in several parts of the world, with particular reference to Africa, our country can be proud that it remains a model of religious tolerance. I often marvel and find great comfort in Christians who visit and pay their respects to their Muslim brethren at Eid celebrations and at Muslims who join with their Christian friends in observance of Christmas. Such mutual acceptance reflects well on our governance structure and our political leadership who understand that democracy has as one of its tenets, freedom and that freedom of religion is fundamental.
Media: With very few exceptions, we have learned to tolerate dissent and to understand that bad ideas usually fail when exposed to free enquiry. We are proud that we have a rapidly expanding number of independent radio stations and newspapers. Recently, I officially opened Radio unity owned by the opposition party (SLPP). We have two television stations and over 40 newspapers with a wide diversity of views. Vigorous public debate is a foundation of good governance and we welcome it. We must however continue to caution moderation, veracity and prioritizing national interest in media activities. We have a vibrant civil society outfit and have recently launched the Open Government and Attitudinal Change Initiatives, The Anti-Corruption bill recently enacted by Parliament now gives the Anti-corruption Commission the power to investigate and prosecute corrupt practices. Most of the recommendations of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy which I launched recently are included in the revised Anti-Corruption Act. We have also set up a commission of enquiry to probe into financial impropriety discovered by the Presidential Transition Team set up last year.
Human Rights: My Government has also placed great importance on respect for human rights through the genuine efforts taken to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, our support for the Special Court’s efforts to bring justice to the perpetrators of war crimes and by strengthening the integrity of the judicial system. The National Commission for Human Rights has been strengthened to ensure sustained attention to the full range of human rights issues. Human Rights also refer to the rights of women, children and the handicapped. We have made progress in advancing the rights of women to equal access to education; to full participation in the political process and to securing justice for atrocities committed during the war. As long as I am President, I will not tolerate abuse of human rights in this country and I will ensure that all security forces and government institutions are held to a high standard of conduct. After all, if good governance does not mean respect for the rights of our people, then it has little meaning indeed!
Economic Governance and Management
Sierra Leone has substantially improved its economic governance. GNP has been growing at an impressive rate while inflation, although still somewhat high, is under control. The central Bank’s monetary policy has made investment easier while the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has reduced budget overruns, reduced disparities between budgetary policy and performance and ensured that the budget is now presented within a Medium Term Economic Framework (MTEF). The National Commission for Privatization is also working with our donor partners to continue to privatize state-owned properties to improve efficiency and performance while reducing state subsidies to loss-making enterprises.
Our efforts at reducing poverty continue to make progress as witnessed in the preparation of the second generation of the PRSP.
Corporate Governance My government is committed to building partnerships with the private sector in a joint effort to generate sustainable and equitable economic growth. We are approaching the sensitive diamond industry with transparent structures to ensure its operation maximizes returns both for the government and the private investors. In this regard, as a counter to the massive looting of our diamonds whose proceeds were being used to purchase arms to kill our people, Government is committed to implementing the Kimberly Process Guidelines which was endorsed by the UN Security Council and now has general application in many countries.
Government is committed to ensuring the viability of Sierra Rutile Company Limited after the SRL Salondo Dredge incident. Iron ore prospects are high for the resumption of mining activities in the Marampa Mines. I have highlighted these three minerals because of their historical significance to our economy and their great potential for future economic growth. Review of our mining agreements is in progress as I believe Government needs to know what we do with our mineral resources and ensures that mining companies and other corporate entities do not operate without regard to human rights, social responsibility and environmental sustainability.
Furthermore, Sierra Leone attained the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative candidate status on 22nd February 2008 and is now pursuing the compliance stage. The full implementation of the EITI will enable Sierra Leoneans know the quantum of revenue the Government derives from the mining sector and how that revenue is being spent. This helps to promote transparency and accountability in the mining industry and clear misunderstanding between the Government and the citizenry on the utilization of revenue from the mining industry.
Socio Economic Development
When the APRM examines our government’s progress in the areas of socio-economic development, it will find that our institutions, such as the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) have been leaders in post-war reconstruction and in building a bridge from relief to sustainable development. With support from donors plus government counterpart funds, NaCSA and other institutions have helped rebuild schools, clinics, roads, bridges, markets, community centres and the hopes of a nation. The life span of NaCSA has been extended to 2018 and mandate broaden to undertake war reparation activities recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. My government’s priority on providing sustainable electricity and water supply is very high. With the completion of the Bumbuna Hydro Electric Power pretty soon, sustainable electricity will be made available in the entire Western Area and some parts in the provinces. Our Ministries are working diligently with donors to implement projects in the health sector, agriculture, education and food security.
It is with some degree of sadness to note that some of these achievements have been built upon low base of human and physical development that was stymied by poverty and war several years ago, leaving our country second to last on the UN Human Development Index. The APRM will therefore help us consider:
How well we have done in improving food security and what actions government can take to further increase access to food and to improve national nutritional levels? How donor aid can be used more effectively as a catalyst to promote socio-economic development with optimal impact and no wastage? How savings can be made by eliminating duplication and overlap of responsibilities among ministries and more effectively decentralizing government? How we can effectively tailor all our initiatives to fit the Poverty Reduction Strategy adopted by government and make all our policies effectively “pro-poor”? What lessons we can learn from other countries about socio-economic development strategies and how we can apply such lessons to our own circumstances?
Conclusion
The goal of the APRM is to measure our progress in promoting transparency and integrity in governance. Let us now work together to make the APRM a success and our nation a model of good governance that will be the envy of the world.
You would agree with me that to protect the credibility and non-manipulation of the APRM implementation process, it should be guided and directed by a National Governing Council which should consist of members from both state and non-state stakeholder institutions.
It is against this background that I am pleased to have received the list of members that will sit on the National Governing Council from the APRM National Focal Point.
To the soon to be declared members of the National Governing Council, I take this opportunity to inform you that you have generic functions and responsibilities some of which are:
To provide leadership, guidance and direction to the Sierra Leone review process including awareness and sensitization of the citizenry.
To ensure successful harmonization of the thematic reports into a single national review assessment report that reflects the views of Sierra Leoneans.
To ensure timely delivery of the country self-assessment report and the national plan of action.
To ensure the integrity, guidance of the Sierra Leone peer review process by keeping it transparent, inclusive and accountable to the citizens of Sierra Leone.
Even from the few responsibilities of the governing council I have mentioned, as members of the NGC, you now know the full implications including the demand on your time, the costs that may be involved and the personal sacrifice you are being called upon to make.
As a demonstration of my Government’s commitment to implement the process and uphold its credibility, I now take the opportunity to launch the process and inaugurate its governing council.
I thank all of you, government ministers and functionaries, Members of Parliament, the Private Sector, Civil Society, the NGO Community, our Development Partners, the media, the youths, all other stakeholders, for your continued contribution to the implementation of the APRM in Sierra Leone.
I thank you all.
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(20min delay)