By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
During the Launch of the Medium Term National Development Plan (MTNDP), President Julius Maada Bio promised that government would expand energy production and develop an advanced transport system, seamlessly connecting production centres with markets.
The President while launching the Plan on the 30th January 2024 stated that the successor National Development Plan embodies the collective Sierra Leonean aspirations for an Inclusive, Green, Middle-Income society by 2039. He said that the government's ambition is resolute which is to cultivate a nation that is food self-sufficient by 2030 and one that is endowed with a skilled and healthy workforce characterized by inclusivity and gender sensitivity.
He noted that his government envisions a Sierra Leone that creates at least half a million new jobs for youths by 2030, in both skilled and unskilled roles. He added that they also aim to foster a cashless economy marked by increased financial inclusion, vibrant E-government, and a public administration system that thrives on efficiency and innovation.
President Bio pointed out that the Development Plan is informed by regional and global frameworks, including the ECOWAS Vision 2050, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030, embodying a realistic and comprehensive vision for the nation.
He said that the preparation of the new MTNDP for 2024-2030 is a significant milestone in translating the revised New Direction Agenda into tangible results that uplift the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
“In doing this, there is continuity as the new Plan builds on the achievements of the previous Development Plan and tackles unfinished business and emerging challenges with renewed vigour. We are steadfast in our commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and realizing the Africa We Want by 2063,” he said.
The President acknowledged the importance of the global challenges that impacted the implementation of the previous MTNDP for 2019-2023. He said the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak which was ten months after the launch of the previous Plan and the pandemic's lingering socio-economic impacts, the war in Ukraine that disrupted global supply chains for basic human needs, and the ongoing devastations of climate change and biodiversity loss, have created unprecedented obstacles.
He said despite the aforementioned challenges, Sierra Leone has demonstrated remarkable resilience where the economy, which initially suffered a setback, has shown signs of recovery, “thanks in part to the swift and targeted COVID-19 mitigation strategies and the lessons learned from previous crises, such as the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak and the commodity price crash in 2014/2015.”
President Bio reiterated that the success of the previous Development Plan could be seen in the significant strides the government has made. He said that the flagship Free Quality School Education Programme led to a substantial increase in school enrolment, achieving gender parity in primary and junior secondary education.
He called on everyone to pledge to uphold the highest standards of service, integrity, and commitment. “Together, we can and will achieve the extraordinary, building a Sierra Leone that is a symbol of hope, progress, and prosperity for generations to come,” he concluded.
Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan is the most fundamental pathway to achieving middle-income status and sustainable development for the country in the not-too-distant future.
Copyright (c) 2024 (Politico 02/02/24)
