Story by: Papa Nkrumah
The newly elected administration headed by His Excellency Brigadier (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio has issued a directive to the ministry of Finance and all agencies from approving any budgets related to this year’s independence celebration slated for 27th April 2018. This decision comes at the back of the country’s current economic hardships met by the new administration, the statement said.
It will be recalled that on 31st March 2018, Sierra Leone went to the polls and voted for HE Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leonean Peoples Party (SLPP) as their new president. The debt inherited by the current government and measures taken so far to ameliorate the indebtedness of the country remains a top priority than spending extra money to celebrate the nation’s independence.
The government is of the view that until public and civil servant are able to receive their salaries, there will be tight grip on spending in the country. This implies the nation is charting a new fiscal policy on excessive spending. Citizens of Sierra Leone are in support of the measures put in place so far in managing the debt left behind by the past government led by Ernest Bai Koroma and his All Peoples Congress Party (APC).
Sierra Leone had independence on 27 April 1961 from the British colonial administration. The new nation was born at the stroke of midnight, when it’s green, white and blue flag was unfurled. A huge crowd, gathered at Brookfield’s Playground in Freetown to watch the historic moment, broke into tumultuous cheering.
The Independence Day formally began as the Duke of Kent handed over the royal instruments recognising Sierra Leone as an independent nation.
The new government of Sierra Leone is keen on promoting the mineral rich nation to the world for inward investments and opportunities for her citizenry. Amongst key areas the government hopes to attract investments are in the expansion of Universal Quality Education, and revamp of the nations Infrastructure development.
The government is determined to give equal opportunities to the people of Sierra Leone.
We wish Sierra Leone happy 57th Independence.
