Sierra Leone News

Archive for April, 2009

Yesterday, I went with a good friend of mine to the Trade Fair organised at the Youyi building. Inspite of the heat (34 degrees! )  I enjoyed moving from stall to stall checking out businesses showcasing their goods.

I most happy to see most of the main government bodies there – namely NRA(National Revenue Authority), NPA(National Power Authority), Sierratel and many more…. For me the ones I most wanted to get some information out of was Sierratel.

I’ve long awaited the “resurrection” of this dead institution to see if they can are making available basic provisions like land line telephones, ability to fax, broadband internet at reduced prices etc….

The good news is that they they seem to have something to offer! I’m looking into it and will post in more details shortly. I hope this is the beginning of improving the telecomms industry in Sierra Leone which is currently ruled by ruthless mobile phone companies. Grrrr…..

I look forward to my friends and family calling me on a land line

To finish our day, we visited a Ghanaian stall (yes, Ghanaians are everywhere!) where they were selling such trendy African clothes…..just what I need for this weather!

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Today, I woke up and thought I should write this post just to give people (especially Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora) an idea as to what they can do to contribute to the development of our beloved Sierra Leone! By all means, there may be better suggestions. If you have one, feel free to leave your comment.

Now, for you who’s thinking, I’d love to return but whats there for me to do?

First of all think, what have you got? What skills have you got?

• Are you a doctor? A nurse?

You might be thinking, they’ll not be able to pay me. Good, that may be true, but have you thought of setting up your own clinic or hospital that can be used by ordinary people and give you income as well. And perhaps you could partner with other Sierra Leonian doctors or nurses to make this work? To be honest, the health service in Sierra Leone, is the LOWEST of the low. Quite frankly, the poor sanitation PLUS the smell – and this is not just on the streets – but in the hospitals will leave your mouth gaping or rather closed. But you know better, so why can’t you come and help? Or you could come up with and idea / business plan and get the NGO’s on board. I leave that to you.

• Are you an accountant?

An honest one? If so Sierra Leone needs you. If nothing at all you may be able to help to stem the tide of corruption.

• Are you a lawyer?

You could set up a practice and help protect the poor from injustice. I’ve seen several cases where people have been put in jail as a result of somebody’s personal vendetta. Well, if you have no money, you’re bound to stay there for a while.

• Are you a cleaner abroad?

Rising up when everyone one else is sleeping to perform your duties? Why, you can set up a cleaning company here and do very well plus have some dignity as well.

Really, the opportunities here in Salone are endless! You have to come and see for yourself.

• Are you a teacher?

Good. 70% of Sierra Leoneans are illiterate and believe you me, the percentage of the “educated” who are truly literate is even smaller. In fact, some of the teachers here are not qualified themselves let alone teach others. (Believe me, I know a teacher who didn’t finish O’Levels!) Which is why last years SSS results for Sierra Leone were so poor, it’ll make you cry.

There are good schools springing up especially primary. What can you contribute? How about setting up your own school or nursery? Nothing is impossible here.

• Are you unemployed living on government handouts abroad?

Or may be hard times have befallen you? Ask yourself, is there something you can give to Sierra Leone that the UK, America or others don’t necessarily need? Everyone, has got a gift. What is yours? If it’s not needed where you are, wake up, smell the coffee and come home and help.

• Are you a pastor?

In fact, we need you even more desparately. I always wonder why, non-African missionaries came and set up the best schools in Africa. Some even died of malaria. I know because, the missionary school I went to (Wesley Girls High School in Ghana ) was set up by missionaries and some of them paid a HEAVY price – even with their lives! As a pastor, what can you do for Sierra Leone?

Here, here, I’m being blatant about people coming back to help. The fact is, most (not all) Sierra Leonans I met abroad are not doing that great either. It saddens me to see Africans languishing on governement handouts and living in squalor abroad when they could do much better at home knowing that at least they did something for their country.(yes…I may be touching nerves here)

Yeah, you might say, “there’s too much corruption, I have to grease peoples hands in order to start a business…” Well, that may be true, but a trickle of honest people like you coming and standing their ground will change the facts on the ground or very soon you’ll see a president in Sierra Leone who’s foreign ( na lie? – it’s not impossible!!)

Quite frankly, foreigners are making it here so why can’t you? On the plane from England recently, I noticed so many so-called “foreigners” coming? Ask yourself why are they coming? What is here that they coming for? If you see the glass half empty, someone is seeing it half full! While you might winge and come up with all the excuses why not, others are building empires right here in Sierra Leone. And yes, by the time you come, the portion of the pie left for you will be too small and guess what you might go back in frustration.

I’ll stop here…I’ve got more to say but I’ll do that later. I hope this has given you ideas.

We undertook our Easter trip on Sat instead on the traditional Easter Monday so as avoid traffic and crowds.

We went to the No2 River/Beach in Sussex , Sierra Leone and boy once again, it was worth it! Granted I still think so far Bureh Beach has my first vote but No2 had some form of customer service which is organized by the local people for the local area.

Talk about white sands…. the beach was unspoilt, sands white, water turquoise and running for about 3 miles and have I mentioned all this against an unspoilt mountain range??

Oh Salone is beautiful, but it’s easy to get used to it and take it for granted. I hope I never will.

The children enjoyed it most of all swimming and building sand castles. We took a long walk along the beach and had a lovely time.

Will add pictures soon. Stay tuned….

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Hey,

I’m so happy that AT LAST! I’m able to launch this blog about my life in Sierra Leone. This is a vision I’ve had since January 2008 but due to many factors have not been able to start it but today I woke up and thought, it’s time to put it together   now here I am very excited, indeed! I hope this blog will

• enlighten Sierra Leoneans abroad as to how life really is here.
• encourage the Salone Diaspora, to invest and if possible physically come and make some input into their country.
• be an enjoying read to you the reader
• and finally, enable me to let off steam. Very important!