By Peter Lamboi-Foray
Sierra Leone is on the brink of collapse due to its many years of failed leadership, maladministration, corruption and tribalism. Endowed with vast mineral resources, land and manpower, our country is the poorest in the region and one of the least developed countries in the world. Successive governments have been selfish, ruthless and corrupt, without remorse to the yearning of the people - the people who voted for them. The people have had enough of inflation, hunger, poverty, poor healthcare, unemployment, and poor learning centers. The way forward is Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, the only answer to save the land we love.
Dr. Yumkella has a track record of achievement for the people and the great nation of Sierra Leone. He has done more for Sierra Leone as an individual citizen and would do more as the President.
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella has vowed to build hope for the people of Sierra Leone, opportunities for all Sierra Leonean citizens, and the transformation of our beautiful land into a country that uses its natural resources for the benefit of all of its people.
In the midst of the impounding socio-economic and political upheaval facing the nation. Dr. Yumkella is the solution to a country rampaged in debt, inflation, mass unemployment and poverty. His campaign has always been rooted in hope, opportunity and transformation.
Dr. Yumkella is the MP representing Constituency 062, experienced in governance, and embraces the rule of law and intends to restore public confidence in elected representatives and democratic institutions. He will work to combat unemployment, corruption and maladministration. His administration will be competent, qualified and dedicated individuals.
STABLE AND BETTER ECONOMY FOR SIERRA LEONE
His previous records will speak volumes to his accomplishment and the leader we need for 2023. Dr. Yumkella attracted the establishment of the first United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Sub-regional office in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2005. He also influenced the establishment of 11 Economic Growth Centers across the country. The outcome of the project economically improved the potential of Sierra Leone attaining an economic hub in the sub region and it created more opportunities and jobs for the people. Dr. Yumkella has put together a bold agenda that will tackle the problems of living a comfortable and standard life in Sierra Leone. He is committed to improving the economy through measures such as Agribusiness - which have been launched around the world with a success story. The rental nature of our economy puts mineral exports at 81.4% of total exports in a country where farmers make up more than two-thirds of the population. He will diversify the economy, increase agricultural productivity, develop the petroleum sector, grow the private sector and foster an inclusive economy. As regards investment, Dr. Yumkella has displayed successes with the Kenema-Kailahun highway in 2008, the effort to encourage Diasporas to invest in the country and many others. He has used his influence and intellectualism to attract investors into the country, and his mantra "Salone Fos" is a solid assurance of his loyalty to the state and the people of Sierra Leone.
EDUCATION WITH UNLIMITED ACCESS
Education has always been a priority for Dr. Yumkella and under his stewardship of the UNIDO, he championed the construction of The Sierra Leone Fishery and Marine Training Institution, Hydro Electrical Centre at Fourah Bay College, and facilitated the sponsorship of 14 Sierra Leonean graduates overseas to acquire skills and experience to impact on the people. Through the Community Resilience Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (CREST) Program in Kambia, Dr. Yumkella has positively impacted academically, and economically so Sierra Leoneans can be self-employed and be employable through the projects.
He recognizes the essence of education in national development and has put forward a plan to develop inclusive and quality education. A system of education that will nurture a globally competitive workforce that is attractive to investors and available to all. He is poise on restructuring the governance structure of the Ministry of Education and ensuring educational equality for disabled and special learners across the country. With his idea that no one should be left out, he is focused on strengthening the educational infrastructure and establishing more learning centers to improve the literacy rate in the country.
YOUR HEALTH IN GOOD HANDS
Dr. Yumkella is committed to working towards a nationwide universal health care system. With an emphasis on improved nutrition and public health education. With the dilapidating state of our hospitals and poor funding, Dr. Yumkella plans to revive health care and make it easily accessible and affordable to the public. In this vein, through his influence on the international stage, Dr. Yumkella mobilized over $500,000 for Sierra Leone to combat the Ebola Epidemic. Public health is of great concern to Dr. Yumkella and his team are focused on upgrading and strengthening the health care system against disease outbreaks and its response capacity.
JOB CREATION AND SECURITY FOR SIERRA LEONEANS
With the enormous unemployed youth population of the country roaming the streets and engaging in crimes and violence, Dr. Yumkella recognizes the urgent need for job creation and will execute projects that will get Sierra Leoneans busy. In recent years, he has championed projects that have created jobs in the country, like in 2011 when through UNIDO, Dr. Yumkella initiated a peer-to-peer funding program to create employment and promote small businesses. The program has empowered over 500 businesses especially among females and, disabled youths with plans to do more for the people. Sierra Leone, with one of the highest unemployment rates in West Africa, can utilize the population to improve productivity and export, something Dr. Yumkella is trusted to perform effectively.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL
He also championed energy efficiency in Sierra Leone and Africa. Dr. Yumkella initiated the Solar Energy Project in Kambia, Hydro Electrical Dam in Charlotte, Moyamba, and Bankasoka in Port Loko and the Biomass Gasifier in Kambia. These projects have been funded through the effort of Dr. Yumkella and have provided sustainable electrification to churches, mosques, schools, hospitals and infrastructures. His blueprint has been adopted and developed in the country and around the world. He will solve the energy problem in the country that will be very beneficial and profitable to the economy.
ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
The construction and maintenance of basic foundational services to stimulate economic growth and advancement in citizen lives are some of the strong pillars of Dr. Yumkella campaign. In 2007, through the assistance of UNIDO under his stewardship, Sierra Leone secured a $10 million loan for the construction of the Lumley- Tokkeh Road Project by the OPEC Fund. Poor investment has resulted in a poor road network, failed power generation and redistribution, poor transportation system, poor sewer system and uncountable infrastructural negligence on the part of the government. Dr. Yumkella has been a keen supporter of infrastructure development in the country. He will rehabilitate the road network and commission the construction of new roads to link remote rural dwellings and the cities. He will authorize the construction of a state-of-the-art convention center to attract regional conferences in our country. The unending challenges of poor access to water and a proper sewer system will be resolved with the thoughtful intervention and ideas of Dr. Yumkella for every Sierra Leonean. The establishment of the state-of-the-art Sierra Leone Airways will rival private airlines and provide an efficient, comfortable and affordable aviation industry.
He has a rare gift of forging connections that cut across parties, regions, ethnicity, and religion. Dr. Yumkella will take the mandate to the people - all of the people. The year 2023 will not just be an election to choose the future leader of the country. It will be a decision that will shape the future of Sierra Leone. The result will decide the state of the economy, education, health care, job creation and public policy.
CONCLUSION
Finally, Sierra Leoneans have a very important choice to make that will determine the future of Salone. Our country for years has been battling the highest form of corruption in government, poor governance, lack of accountability and transparency, and poverty. The time is now to "unsit the Old Guard", and look towards a progressive future of Hope, Opportunity, and Transformation - and Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is the leader who will secure our country, its future, and make a difference in people's lives.
Author: Peter Lamboi-Foray - The Office of Communications and Public Relations-The Rebirth Movement
Let’s make it happen in 2023. #Authentic Leadership Matters
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