By Nasratu Kargbo
Sierra Leone’s main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has promised to fix the country’s economy, according to the manifesto released by the party. According to the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson-Kamara their “One Nation manifesto” is designed to cater for the people of Sierra Leone.
The manifesto which was launched on the 29th May 2023 highlights the challenges in the country and proffered solutions to them. Kamara said they will work towards transforming the country’s economy from consumption to a competitive production economy.
Kamara explained that their aim is to improve the nation’s economy through different approaches such as private sector development, strengthening indigenous businesses and rural communities, leveraging the African free trade agreements and other trade agreements, and digital transformation amongst others.
He asked the citizens to vote for a leadership that is honest, humble, respectful, listening, tolerant, and capable of building the country in order to end the suffering, and one with a realistic solution.
The Flagbearer said “Our manifesto is a practical and implementable programme”
According to the manifesto, the party if elected will address the economy of the country by prioritizing solutions to the cost of living crisis and conducting a rapid assessment of supply chains to inform the design of interventions to stabilize prices of essential food items.
The party through their manifesto stated that they will intentionally engage the domestic private sector and their major trading partners on positive steps to rationalize the cost of fuel, electricity, and public transportation. It promised to “tighten macroeconomic policies to reduce inflation and arrest the depreciation of the Leone”.
It added that the party seeks to reduce inflation and stabilize the exchange rate. Explaining how this can be achieved, the manifesto said there will be active monitoring of the trend of inflation and exchange rates, noting that this will be done to ensure the right combination of fiscal and monetary policies are managed.
APC through their “One Nation manifesto” stated that they will ensure the Central Bank implements policies that will restore confidence in the financial system, stating that this will gradually encourage citizens to transact their forex through the formal financial system.
In the area of who will implement the policies they’ll make, the manifesto stated that the party will establish capable economic management teams, explaining that they will appoint competent and experienced Sierra Leoneans with the expertise to lead efforts to revive, strengthen, manage, and put the nation’s economy on the path for growth.
“We shall restore macroeconomic stability and work towards transforming Sierra Leone from a consumption to a competitive production economy. This will include prioritizing private sector development, particularly indigenous businesses and rural communities, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), other trade agreements, and harnessing the potential of digital transformation” a part reads.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (31/05/23)
