Ebola don go, leh we make Salone grow!
The President's Recovery Priorities
Message from His Excellency, President Ernest Bai Koroma at the launch of the second phase of the President's Recovery Priorities.
Last year, while we worked in partnership against the Ebola epidemic, we simultaneously tackled the resultant economic crisis. The slump in the price of commodities had added to the economic costs of Ebola, and plans for our recovery included the need to establish a more resilient foundation for Sierra Leone’s future. The first phase of our recovery process ended on 31 March 2016 and an independent evaluation has found that good progress has been made.
But we also acknowledge that there is still work to be done to put our economy back on the path of full recovery. And in the second phase of our recovery we have added Energy, Water and Governance to the initial priorities of Education, Health, Social Protection and Private Sector Development.
Over the next 12 months, we will strengthen the health sector to prevent future epidemics and save at least 600 women and 5000 children from dying. We will support our most vulnerable including over 4,000 Ebola survivors across the country and provide cash transfers to 47,000 families to help them out of poverty.
The major cause of our water crisis is the disregard for our conservation areas and we must all play our roles in reversing environmental damage. Together, we will alleviate our water crisis through new and rehabilitated infrastructure and attention to governance, improving access to water for 600,000 people in Freetown and over 700,000 people in rural areas. My Government is committed to increasing access to energy, thereby improving the living conditions of 250,000 families and individuals around the country. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will train over 40,000 teachers, build new classrooms and introduce a national feeding programme for primary schools.
Collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and the Ministry of Trade and Industry will help provide 10,000 more agricultural jobs, and targeted support for 1000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises will enhance their competitiveness.
Addressing vital governance issues will be one of our greatest challenges in the year ahead as we work collectively against corruption. The Anti Corruption Commission’s new ‘Pay no Bribe’ online platform gives everyone the tools to take part in the fight against corruption in our public services. We will also give special attention to improving the operation of the Freetown port; improving the process of drug procurement and distribution; and ensuring long-term payroll system sustainability and accountability starting with the education and health sectors.
In our fight against Ebola and in our process of recovery, we must thank our international partners and the wider international community for their support and ensure all efforts align with these recovery priorities in pursuit of our joint vision for Sierra Leone’s prosperity.
Our Recovery Priorities represent an investment in our people, our infrastructure and a new way of working - within government and across MDAs, with our development partners, with the private sector, and with the citizens of Sierra Leone.
Ebola don go; leh we make Salone grow!
Summary of the President's Recovery Priorities
This summary document giving an overview of phase two of the President’s Recovery Priorities, is aimed at promoting understanding of the process and its intended socio-economic impact.
This focus on making the President’s Recovery Priorities process more accessible is part of a commitment to transparency which was a recommendation emerging from an independent evaluation of the first phase of the President’s Recovery Priorities (6-9 months).
Saidu Conton-Sesay, the Chief of Staff, who is coordinating and managing planning and delivery of the President’s Recovery Priorities, says: “Citizen participation improves public sector service delivery. We need Sierra Leone’s citizens to understand this recovery process, track the progress of the initiatives and hold those responsible for delivery and implementation accountable. The success of Sierra Leone’s recovery depends on the active participation of beneficiaries and their communities.”
