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SPECIAL REPORT – How has acted Sierra Leone in 2009 the economy failed or gradual growth process

2009 was an extraordinary year for Sierra Leone. As the dust of Ernest Koroma took office was to settle everything by mid-2008 the global financial crisis hit, leaving series of unforeseen problems of national interest at stake

In late 2008, the universal effect of depression has been deeply felt in the countries it flows through virtually every facet. As a condition of donors with a fund of just dealing with the reality of rebuilding its infrastructure destroyed during the civil war a decade-long Sierra Leone faces a crucial test that requires a good head confrontation to put down.

Economy

For players in the economic circle Sierra Leone, 2009 began with high expectations, especially after President Koroma revealed last year its intention to put the nation in a sense business friendly.

But despite this statement, there have been few improvements in the sector and the economic prospects of Sierra Leone in 2009.

With the rising costs of commodities and low-Sierra, Sierra Leoneans hope for change in 2010 because the signs indicated by the importing country's economy, combined with rising world prices and a weak national currency, equivalent to an increase in difficulty most Sierra Leoneans, most whom still live below the poverty line.

Watch According to the economy of Sierra Leone remains extremely poor (based on GDP per capita) inequality in income distribution in 2009.

Its annual report states: "While Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, agricultural, fishing and agriculture and fishery resources, its physical and social infrastructure and facilities is not well developed and large social upheavals continue to hinder progress economic. The fate of the economy depends on maintaining internal peace and continue to receive significant support from abroad, which is essential to make trade impairment (imports and exports) the imbalance and supplement government revenues. "

2009 also showed a nation plagued with many problems transportation, lack of adequate infrastructure and the threat of an armed robbery will face enormous obstacles in their efforts to meet their economic prospects.

Many foreign investors and even Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora have always thought an awful horror at the Lungi International Airport, sometimes welcome first time visitors including potential investors and the vast darkness. Besides this is the delicate problem of the passage to Freetown.

Robo Army prevailed in 2009 for business people, mostly foreigners.

Although it is almost Bumbuna up and running, electricity poses a major problem for business in 2009 especially for most small-scale enterprises can not afford the daily cost of feeding and maintaining their generators.

Despite change in the ranking of the World Bank and making the International Finance Corporation Business Report 2009-156

among 181 countries, the challenges in Sierra Leone remains difficult for local and foreign entrepreneurs.

The Outlook African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2009 data, Sierra Leone has grown relatively strong in 2008 with a GDP growth of about 5.4%, despite high oil prices below.

GDP grew by 6.3% for 2009 and should increase by 5.5% in 2010. The OAS welcomes Sierra Leone for the performance in spite of our dependence on food and oil imports in times of world prices increasing.

This is the main why numerous appeals to government to raise its agricultural budget and commitment for the coming years, after extensive program reduced their spending power today.

Agriculture accounted for 58% of GDP in 2007 and has risen about 5% in 2008 and 2009 (for below a 14% increase in 2007). Sierra Leone remains a net importer of food in spite of much of agriculture in GDP and employment. The sector has been traditionally dominated by subsistence agriculture and suffers from a number of constraints, including handling private production and marketing, poor infrastructure (especially roads) that impede access to services markets of small size facilities that prevent the delivery of training and information for farmers, irrigation and limited funds, and poor storage.

In addition, weak institutional capacity, such as access to information, undermines the formulation and coordination policies of the business stakeholders. Critics also argue that the system of rural land tenure, which excludes the free operation, investment slows the land is jointly or family.

In 2009, the Government, in coordination with WFP and other stakeholders, made efforts to address these problems and increase agricultural productivity by promoting the use of equipment and inputs, extension services, irrigation, post harvest (storage facilities, drying areas, rice mills and threshers) and feed mills and slaughterhouses, the creation of community banks and financial services associations and infrastructure improved marketing through the construction and rehabilitation of feeder roads and EU markets.

Despite these moves, hundreds of tractors and other equipment not yet been distributed to farmers who deserve and WFP has warned that Sierra Leone would not be able to cope with the upkeep and maintenance equipment.

Sierra Leone also has significant marine resources, with a long coastline of 560 km. Fishing is carried out at the industrial and artisanal fisheries. But widespread poaching in the territorial waters of Sierra Leone was a major problem in 2009 in what was considered a just ridiculous, questions were raised about how a judge in September 2009 a penalty of foreign fishing vessels and 26 crew members caught illegally fishing in the waters of Sierra Leone, a sum $ 155,000 – which is less than one twentieth of the amount of mandatory penalties for prohibited fishing fishmongers 1994 (Management and Development) of the Ordinance.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine Resources, Paul Sandi, was outraged by the small fine and said that lax enforcement of the law as only encourage poachers and destroy some potentially intrusive government revenues.

Services accounted for 34% of U.S. GDP in 2007. Having contracted by 6%

in 2007, services were restored in 2008 with a 5% growth.

The financial sector continues to expand in 2009 number of commercial banks increased to 14. Many questions were raised about the strength and efficiency of commercial banks, a good thing we have been successful in achievement of many recruits unemployed graduates in the country.

Tourism is currently very limited, but is becoming more and shows a good potential. The government has a role to play in planning and promoting the sector, particularly in improving the country's external image and attractiveness as a tourist destination.

More fundamental constraints include poor infrastructure, particularly electricity, and the difficulties of entering the country from Lungi International Airport, which are accessible only by boat or helicopter.

Although some of these actions, the nation is still far from replicating a pro-tourism campaign conducted by countries such as Ghana and Gambia. It is clear that more must be done in the international promotion, restoration and maintenance of tourist attractions around the country.

Industry growth has remained steady as most industries in the nation are also mounting structures in which care more about content and then packaged or assembled here.

Manufacturing accounted for only 2% of GDP in 2008 and should be in the same region 2009 reflects the low level of development of the industrial countries.

The industry has experienced tremendous growth in 2009 and that means continued reliance on commodities imported abroad is bad for the economy.

Mineral Resources of Sierra Leone are the diamonds, iron ore, rutile (titanium ore), bauxite and gold. However, the importance of the mining sector in Sierra Leone is underestimated in national accounts. Mining accounts for more than 90% of export earnings. It is also the second largest employer providing jobs to about 300,000 people. semi-industrial production of diamonds from kimberlite commenced in 2003.

Before that, diamond production was largely conducted on a scale with corresponding environmental and physical risks. A high proportion of the miners are still alive in poverty in 2009 hampered by problems of access to finance and markets.

The establishment of property rights granted these miners and their families is also a huge challenge. To remedy this, the government has established a mining cadastre to provide information on land rights and usage. However, 2009, many workers complain that in the past that the government and the Ministry of Labour does not do much to enhance its service of the State in the difficult work environment, they were.

To ensure close monitoring, the Government continues to participate in the Kimberly diamond certification process that aims to combat the trade in diamonds conflicting.

Also attended the EITI mining, which aims to improve the management of mineral resources for publishing information about government revenues from natural resources. Changes in structure of the department of mines are planned and that the government intends to consolidate the regulations.

The sector mining in Sierra Leone still faces several challenges, including the application of legal and regulatory framework.

However, it was very positive news for iron ore sector as a mining exploration company, African Minerals announced in July that it expected $ 2.6 million in capital expenditures in its flagship project in the production of iron ore Tonkolili and is forecast to start in 2013.

Forecast capital expenditure includes the cost of the mine and construction of a railroad and a deepwater port. This is good news that the economy is the local benefit.

Taxation is also an increasing government revenues has been affected by a serious setback when most businessmen in the nation to establish a united front against the government as announced by the Goods and Services Tax (GST), saying that its introduction will increase the prices of goods and services.

One of the businessmen who have criticized the GST, Mr. Ibrahim Sesay, said in a joint seminar with the NRA Natioanl Revenue Authority in July 2009 that if President Koroma did not adequately address the VAT and avoid what he called "the experience of Ghana, businessmen flee to Sierra Leone in neighboring countries.

The NRA continues to assert that importers pay less taxes under the GST. In any case, 2009 may be considered the year the government had to return to a system of taxation, which was about to put in place.

Despite the onset of global recession in late 2008, government statistics and projection OAS believes that real GDP grew by 5.4% in 2008 to 6.3% and 5.5% growth expected for 2009 and 2010, respectively.

In 2008, growth was mainly due to an increase of 8.2% in private consumption made possible through increased agricultural production in 2007 and 2008 and this trend should continue in 2009 and 2010.

Gross capital formation is expected grow faster than consumption in 2009 and 2010 has more than doubled the growth rate of 2008 to 12.1% in 2009 and expand by 14.3% in 2010. In particular, investment public should be tripled in 2009 to increase by 15.2% to private investment should be slightly lower than the 11.1%.

As such, the gross capital should contribute to 1.1% real GDP growth in 2009 and 1.3% growth in 2010 but remains low in comparison to the total growth in consumption.

Moreover, the trade deficit widened in 2008, exports fell 2.6% and imports increased 10.4% have a negative effect of 3.4 points GDP. The global downturn could weigh on exports, remittances and foreign aid, making the trade deficit widens.

More news positive for the economy this year has announced the discovery of oil in Sierra Leone. Despite its economic viability remains to be proven, the Government of Sierra Leona has already begun to benefit from the discovery of some of the bidding companies are already paying up for surveys dimensional (3D surveys).

Controversy has already begun shooting with critics accusing Anadarko Petroleum not help the economy of Sierra Leone does not help the local economy when the company has been around the way to Senegal for the purchase of goods and services that would have been easy to do in Sierra Leone.

Recent reports also exposed the differences between company Anadarko and Nigeria, Ornato oil by the excavated area in deposits is believed that the oil is located.

More importantly, also took over the company Anadarko had Nigerian oil and provide statistics, in the absence of one of Sierra Leone.

They warned that it was a dangerous sign because the crew can take all the data and statistics. Although Raymond Saidu Kamara has joined the petrol station, there remain serious questions to ask questions and clarify in 2010 and released before most of the citizens of Sierra Leone to begin to ask about the use of proceeds generated by oil.

The challenges ahead will be to consolidate growth and address risk factors of conflict that lasts, unemployment and widespread poverty. The rise in inflation, which was a massive concern in 2009, is as important as its impact affects the majority of citizens in Sierra Leone that are low- income.

The year 2009 ends with the rise in commodity prices, simply because as the dollar continues to increase and importers are having a field day increases prices, citing the dollar's rise as a result of their action.

2009 can be considered as a year of disappointment for Most consumers who woke up every morning to go aa distributors only to be confronted with a price driven from their usual products.

Pages in review

Since the '80s, the media played a crucial role in the socio-political scene in the country, but this year can be regarded as a turning point that has always existed between most journalists and the elite of the country's decision.

The arrival Umaru Fofanah of the Sierra Leone Association Helms SLAJ journalists hailed as a good choice for most professionals in the media and criticized by government supporters and anti-APC in the background, life wasted no time to keep his campaign promise to support the suppression of seditious libel Sections V hateful and Public Order Act 1965.

On March 9, 2009, made an impassioned final SLAJ called the Supreme Court in which the attorney representing SLAJ Yada Williams argued in favor of the Association for the repeal of the law of criminal defamation and sedition, an act that is considered incompatible SLAJ to 1991, the Constitution the country.

As expected, the highest court in the country has not given in the SLAJ has taken a path of war and in June 2009, said a media blackout for a week in the judicial system. The alliance is the lack of action by the Supreme Court as "a miscarriage of justice" the association that could tend to be repeated against other persons or organizations.

Ban was later extended the exemption was amended by SLAJ Sierra Leone Bar Association afternoon.

This is the largest and most notable clash between the most important body of the nation of the media and the judiciary since the death of the late editor FDP, Yansaneh.

However SLAJ has been very clever at diverting some of the pressure on the government of President Koroma whose promoter has argued that it was not necessary the emergency alarm SLAJ arises because the Government has yet to convict a journalist in this law.

Adding to this pressure, SLAJ after the war of words with the IG directly severe police, Acha Kamara, challenging and a sample have issued a petition to the Ombudsman, Edmond Cowan, President and Board for what he said in response to the failure by the Supreme Court to issue a verdict in the case of the Association for the repeal of the Criminal Court and the law of seditious libel.

The journalists who supported the movement, however, have been supported by his union with the mediator who has accepted your request.

However, a shift interesting to these protests and confrontations is leading to another division within the media, with some professional media and brand management Fofanah radicals with a different program.

Among them are Philip Neville, editor of Standard Times and David Tam Baryoh Radio Citizen, who has openly criticized Fofanah SLAJ to take a wrong direction.

2009 is an eventful year for the media in Sierra Leone since the kidnapping call or arrest of a journalist by police in the north of the capture of women journalists in Kenema Manja Samba Soweis Balam-ones and other members of the Bondo secret society reports practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Variety of dramatic events surrounded by reporters.

As usual Sierra Leone, the media are not immunized against politicking that goes on inside. But this time, were the two main national political parties that had the media war.

The controversial decision by Vice-President Sam Sumana to close both the SLPP and the APC radio decision created another heated moment that led to a confrontation between the government and SLAJ.

Fofanah directly accused President SLAJ government to undermine freedom of expression and establish a bad precedent for the closure of stations radio. While some in Media clear red alert on the consequences of this decision, there was also a sincere conviction that the two stations were inciting hatred and violence similar to what the famous Radio Mille Collines in Rwanda did in 1994-95.

There was a tragedy for the media this year as well as journalists He lost some members, the oldest member Samuel Jocelyn Agustin SLAJ short, affectionately known that short-Sat elegantly bent at 85 in January 2009 10.

Sports

2009 was not only good for one year for sports in Sierra Leone. Much has been related to the discipline of the sport more popular in the country, football, but unfortunately for most of us, our beloved Leone Stars eliminated from all international competitions.

Football in Sierra Leone has encountered many problems in 2009, although the pace of new Premier League Commission should not be underestimated, but there is much to do.

For the first time in Sierra Leone, a different body of inefficiency SLFA ran the league and give the power of the clubs and more revenue and gate revenue is sponsors.

The situation has also improved and there was little dispute arbitration. It was perhaps a flexible joint composed of renowned professionals who have taken the initiative and deal effectively the issues raised during league.

According to the FIFA 2009 is the worst year in the history of Sierra Leone football as the country went back 40 seats sorting in July that is the worst ever moved to this country. All I just hope that 2010 will be a different brand of 2009.

If on the contrary, the Critics in 2009 highlighted the lack of good management and internal strife in the nation SLFA Olympic Committee as the cause of some of the huge complex problems which continue to hamper these sports.

Take, for example SLFA whose president, Nahim Khadi, has been abroad for most of the year 2009, there have been enormous funds in 2009 of the CAF and FIFA, but what they have actually done that?

This decrease also forced former President SLFA, Justice Tolla Thompson to express concern in 2009 on the management of football academy in Sierra Leone, when he described the French Academy as a white elephant and called the new Council of the Premier League to do something before finally collapsing.

Another highlight of the sports of Sierra Leone this year was the participation in the Ola Sesay World Championship meetings in Berlin in 2009. Although he was unable to win a medal, Sesay brought honor to the Sierra Leoneans as it has done a great challenge in series of long jump qualifying group with the best athletes in the world.

While most Sierra Leoneans do not understand the sport of cricket, national team did better than any other sport in 2009. The game has keys for Sierra Leone, but the peak turned sour when our flickering hope of taking part in the Under-19 World Cup were finally torest when the team did not reach Canada before the end of September within five ICC.

Officially, it was reported that visa applications submitted late for the team, while newspapers reported that the Canadian Consulate in Ghana players refused a visa the grounds that there has been concern that some of them did not return home.

However, despite the laurels by the Sierra Leone Association SLCA in crickets the past years, nothing has been done by the previous government to lift the ban on the oval Kingtom criticized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 2004.

But 2009 gave way to 2010, there is hope in some quarters that at least some form of resurfacing will take place in the National Olympic Committee and the administration football.

And as the Director of Sports, said Bai Kabia parliamentary control of education, Youth and Sports, the 1964 Parliament Act, which created National Sports Council Act should be reviewed if the sport is taking a different spin on the country.

About the Author

Muctaru Wurie is a Sierra Leonean born writer who grew up in Freetown at a time the war in Sierra Leone reached it peak.
Growing up in the eastern part of the capital city, Muctaru said he was inspired to writing when he was a kid attending the Cathedral Boys Primary School, as they used to have various writing sessions & essay in which he usually excelled.
He later attended the St Edwards Secondary School and then Fourah Bay College where he had a BA Honours in Mass Communications. Since then he has written on almost all aspects of Sierra Leonean society, sometimes taking a critical look at issues that are mostly deemed as taboo in the country.
Muctaru’s works have been published in various publications from All Africa.com, Sierra Eye Magazine to Fourah Bay College Journal – Aureol Torch.
He has also edited The New Tempo and Kalleone Newspaper. Muctaru has worked in the humanitarian field also, acting as a Communications Officer for Handicap International Sierra Leone and The Mohamed Kallon Children’s Foundation (MKCF).

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