Hundreds gather to transform Salone
SLPP calls it a waste of resources
Some four hundred delegates from across the country are gathered in Freetown for a 2-day conference to chart the way forward for Sierra Leone’s development and transformation. They include traditional leaders, women’s organisations, youth representatives and journalists.
Opening the conference yesterday at the Miatta Conference Centre, President Ernest Bai Koroma said transformation of the country must be sustained. “The transformation has begun; there is no turning back; we either take charge of the transformation or we will be transformed in ways we do not like,” he said, adding that “Salone nar we all yone ehn nar we all go mek am fine”.
The president said the country had seen rapid transformation with a 50% GDP growth expected this year. He however admitted that the challenges were huge, adding that as a nation determination should be the watchword for all citizens. He challenged the conference delegates to come up with a framework that will serve as a bridge of moving the country forward.
Meanwhile, even though the president said the conference was not a political party thing, his government was accused of turning it into just that.
The main opposition SLPP party leader, John Benjamin, said it was a waste of resources.
“We are not part of it,” he bellowed, adding, “What they are doing is not in the national interest. A national conference has to be conceived in the national interest of our country…How can we divert the little resources into talking about 50 years from now on…So how can we be wasting money…when our present survival is threatened”.
Mr Benjamin also said that the conference was organised with partisan intent because the committee and organisers were appointed by the president without consulting the opposition. The PMDC also boycotted the conference saying the Sheares-Moses report must first be made public and implemented before any such conference.
The conference ends today with organisers saying that the recommendations will form a People’s Manifesto which should guide future governments on what the desires of the people are.
