For Poor Performance and InexperienceTrade, Transport and Internal Affairs Ministers To Be Fired

The poor performance of these ministers requires the attention of President Julius Maada Bio for urgent disciplinary action in order to save the New Direction Government’s manifesto promises from failing.
The Trade and Industry Ministry is one of the areas the New Direction government is yet to find a suitable person to occupy. It is clear from the rapid increase in the prices of essential commodities, such as cement and the country’s staple food, rice. The price of a bag of cement is now between Le70,000 and 80, 000 and the price for a 50 kg bag of rice is Le300,000, continue to skyrocket daily nationwide.
This is apparently because the current Minister of Trade, Dr. Hinga Sandi lacks knowledge in heading that ministry when it comes to matters of daily business operations. His administration has only contributed to worsen the economic situation in the country as costs and standards of living have become so appalling because of the daily escalation of the cost of basic commodities which has made the lives of have-not Sierra Leoneans across the country miserable. This poor state of the prices of basic commodities has nothing to do with international trade.
Another ministry that requires similar attention from President Bio is the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is one of the most important ministries that any government desirous to effectively deliver on its promises must pay key attention to since it deals directly with the internal security of the State. Adequate internal security in any country like Sierra Leone is a recipe for peace and tangible development. It can attract credible investors.
However, looking at the current internal security structures and the increase in political lawlessness especially from members of the opposition APC Party, one would have no fear to point out that it is a manifestation of the lack of commitment by the current Minister of Internal Affairs, Edward Suluku to bring this ugly situation to a halt. The opposition APC thrives on this situation and lures it into sending fake news about Sierra Leone to social media in order to scare away even brokers.
Nobody can tell if the Minister of Internal Affairs is the head of security in Sierra Leone considering the spate of lawlessness around the country. The Internal Affairs Minister’s inability to control gang related activities and arm robbery further brings into question his ability to manage the security of the state.
It has even been alleged that recognizing the minister’s inability to effectively control the police force, has made some senior officials in the Sierra Leone Police Force to muster the courage to demand that they be allowed to go on retirement with their official vehicles; some of which cost as much as $ 70, 000 USD, as a part of their retirement package.
The same can be said about the Ministry of Transport and Aviation headed by Mr. Kabineh Kallon, whose name is still rolling in the mud for all the worse reasons; from incompetence to outright violations of the Financial and Intelligence Units (FIU) regulations as well as that of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Some may want to credit the procurement of the school buses to Minister Kabineh Kallon. On the contrary, this medium is aware that President Bio brokered the deal to acquire those buses. Much cannot be pointed out to the Minister of Transport and Aviation as most of what the ministry can boast of as an achievement in this government can directly be accredited to his Deputy Minister, Mr Sadiq Sillah or the head of Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Edward Tiffa Baio.
The people of Sierra Leone voted for strong, hardworking and result oriented government, one that would bring together determined Sierra Leonean professionals that would work towards gainful transformation and not hungry and lazy individuals whose focus is on filling up their bottomless pockets at the expense of the masses.
The New Direction government of H. E. President Julius Maada Bio was elected on the solid platform to transform Sierra Leone from one of the least developed and highly corrupt police states with no regard for constitutionality, price control and progressive approach to national development to one of the most law abiding, economically viable and safe states in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Indeed, a lot of progress has been made, particularly in areas such as the fight against corruption. Thanks to the astute leadership of the young and dynamic Anti-Corruption Commission boss, Francis Been Kaifala who continues to turn upside down anything that smells of corruption!
Similar sentiments can be shared in favour of the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt who is also working tirelessly to give a facelift to the tourism industry in Sierra Leone. There are of course some other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s), including the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) that deserve commendation for the strides that they are making to help the president realize his manifesto promises.
Unfortunately, however, there are other MDA’s whose underperformance warrants urgent intervention from H. E. President Bio in order to keep his New Direction Government from facing the worst political embarrassment in our country’s history. The Ministries of Trade, Industry and Internal Affairs are underperforming which needs the urgent intervention of President Julius Maada Bio to consider firing them. President Bio, the SLPP and his Government MUST start preparing well for the 2023 elections now!