By:
Ibrahim Jalloh – (Jallomy)
The myth of exclusively colonizing
government Press Conferences in the air conditioned offices in Freetown, was
aggressively overthrown by the current Minister of Information and
Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swarray.
Evidently, Minister Swarray has proven
to be one of the most efficient and effective minister in the current regime of
President Bio. Swarray has a diplomatic and professional way of relating with
the public in articulating government policy direction and the overall
processes of state governance. That said, Minister Swarray has a characteristic
way of being brutal and ruthless with the truth.
The second decentralized Press
Conference since president Bio came to power was held in Makeni yesterday at
the averagely furnished Makeni City Council hall. The key objective was to
relay government actions, processes and corresponding challenges. A window of
opportunity was opened for direct feedback from functionaries in the media.
The thematic areas discussed by the
ministers are compelling realities of the moment:
1. The GSM and government engagement
on improved customer service and due diligence.
2. The nefarious Limkokwing deal and
the government's position.
3. The high level of preparedness in
responding to the Corona Virus with a resounding political will.
4. The massive direct cash transfers
to local councils.
It was revealing and, by implication,
Indicting to those local councils, including Makeni City Council, who received
these colossal sums of money but yet misinform the citizens that central
government is not doing well with councils. It was an unmasking moment. Members
of the fourth estate in attendance was spell bound, in awe, in disbelief with a
rabid conclusion of strategic betrayal of government support to Councils.
If local councils cannot reflect the
good will and strategic support of central government then the situation is not
only one of development threat but a real strategic dilemma to the spirit and
intent of decentralization.
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