Sierra Leone becomes the first country in Africa to launch a transparency web portal to ensure a more open and accountable Government

President Ernest Bai Koroma - Open and transparent governance

The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, has taken the unprecedented step to launch a transparency web portal, the first in Africa, to facilitate a more transparent and accountable government to the people. This is the first time in the history of Africa that any head of state has taken this bold and necessary step to make his government and himself open to scrutiny, challenging all Sierra Leoneans to be monitors and contributors to the work of Government, and provide the people direct access to himself and government on questions of accountability and transparency, and the working of his administration. The people of Sierra Leone around the world would be able to give feedbacks and communicate directly to government to ensure public participation in the running of the affairs of state and collaboration at all levels of decision making. As the APC government of President Ernest Koroma prepares for a second term in office, the Head of State is keen on providing an unprecedented level of openness in Government at the heart of his agenda for change which has been the defining strategy to move the country from a donor-driven economy to one that can sustain itself.

Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, must be commended for his Africa Governance Initiative that has helped to strengthening the government’s capacity to deliver programmes that will change ordinary people’s lives for the better, from public services and rural development to infrastructure and job creation. The AGI has also been recently launched in neighbouring Guinea, with presence already in Liberia and Rwanda. Blair’s faith in the Sierra Leone President’s commitment in delivering change to his people continues to pay off with the government making significant strides in nation building.

In launching the website, President Ernest Koroma said “My Fellow Sierra Leoneans, today marks another opportunity to demonstrate to this great nation my administration’s commitment to transparency and open government. Upon taking over the governance of this country in 2007, I committed to you that my administration will run the affairs of government as an effect enterprise; creating an open and progressive society that will improve the lives of every Sierra Leonean through ideas and action. To demonstrate my commitment to transparency and open government;

¨ I have become the first President in the history of our great nation to declare his assets;

¨ I have created the Open Government Initiative (OGI) in the Office of the President to ensure that we take government to the grassroots;

¨ and on April 27th in my 50th Anniversary speech to the nation, I challenged all Sierra Leoneans to be monitors and contributors to the work of Government.

The Head of State continued by saying “Today, I am proud to say that to support my challenge to you in April; I have sanctioned the creation of the Transparency Sierra Leone portal where Government will make accessible to the general public, information on all “Agenda for Change” development projects; creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. The Transparency Sierra Leone portal will also provide access to a user community site where citizens could dialogue with Government by posting comments, suggestions and ideas to improve decision-making; allowing an alternative medium for rapid response feedback and communication to promote a more transparent and accountable Government. Other mediums of engagement with the general public will also be available to capture the feedback and input of non-internet users within our communities to ensure public participation and collaboration at all levels. More significantly, the Transparency Sierra Leone portal will be an avenue for Sierra Leoneans to have direct access to the Presidency and Cabinet to highlight issues, provide suggestions and recommend innovative ideas to enhance service delivery in all sectors of Government”.

The President went on to emphasise “I believe that real progress will be achieved only through innovative solutions borne of open collaboration and dialogue. Transparency Sierra Leone will provide an opportunity for innovative ideas to be shared that would otherwise be lost and buried in the graveyards of genuine Sierra Leonean minds. We are a government of action and visible achievements. Because of our commitment to implementation, our nation has begun a remarkable transformation. Our programs in Infrastructure, Energy and Water, Health, Agriculture, Education and Private Sector are visible everywhere. We are constructing roads everywhere, building medical stores in every district; providing free medical services to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five and turning farms to viable businesses in every region. We have disbursed funds to local councils in every district than has ever been done in this country; and we do this irrespective of which party controls them. We are a government of inclusive service delivery.

In concluding, Dr Bai Koroma said, “Ladies and gentlemen, all of us, without exception, share the responsibility to transform our great nation, and now, each in our own way, must join the transformation that has begun and be public monitors to progress. Access the Transparency Sierra Leone portal at www.transparencysierraleone.gov.sl and dialogue with government. Together, we will go forward in the service of our great nation, and together we will build Sierra Leone. Thank you and God Bless Sierra Leone!

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