ECONOMY-SIERRA LEONE: Donors Come To Town

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, May 8 1998 (IPS) - Several large donor missions and assessment teams are currently in Sierra Leone to see how the international community can help the returned civilian government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah rebuild the war-torn country.

An 11-member needs assessment team from the World Bank, led by country director, Momodou Dia, and a delegation from the European Union, led by the head of the West African unit, Pierra Gorcia, are both in the country.

The World Bank mission is evaluating the situation on the ground following the return of President Kabbah’s democratically- elected government on Mar. 10.

Kabbah was ousted last May in a military coup staged by junior officers, who ruled the country as the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), until they were overthrown by the Nigerian-led West African Peacekeeping Force (ECOMOG) in February.

According to World Bank country director Dia, “World Bank funding will cover all sectors of the country with priority on capacity building, creation of job opportunities and the judiciary”.

About 100 million U.S. dollars have been earmarked for the restructuring and restart of ongoing projects and humanitarian assistance.

Accompanying the EU West Africa’s head are Simon Rhy, who heads the West and North African departments of the British-based Department for International Development, and Jean Nicholas Marshall, deputy director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) West and Central African bureau.

Analysts here say the visits are timely, because during the nine-months of the AFRC military rule, virtually every sector of the country’s economy grounded to a halt.

Economist Ibrahim Sesay says the civilian government should use its good relationship with the donor community and take advantage of the missions’ presence in the country to solicit massive support for rehabilitation and restructuring of the battered economy.

“I believe the government should jump at the opportunity and outline all those areas of national reconstruction for the attention and support of the donor community,” Sesay says.

In its meetings with the donors, the Sierra Leone government has stressed that it needs to restructure its police force and re- create a new national army.

It also has asked for assistance to alleviate poverty, develop the health and education sectors, provide housing, create jobs and rebuild the social infrastructure.

African organisations also are looking at how they can aid the West African nation.

E.B. Akpan, head of the joint Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) mission to the country, said his team will evaluate the situation and map out strategies to mobilise support and the resources needed to assist the government.

“We are aware of the grave impact left on the country’s economy and infrastructure and we will go all out to mobilise support for the Sierra Leonean government,” Akpan said.

The high level visits by representatives of the donor community have reassured the government and people of Sierra Leone.

Two months after the February toppling of the AFRC, the United Nations launched a Trust Fund for the cash-strapped nation. The initial target for the Fund was 11 million U.S. Dollars, but so far, only 1.6 million U.S. Dollars has come in from the British government.

Currently, Britain is embroiled in allegations that it assisted in covert arms sales to help overthrow the military junta in Sierra Leone.

“We are not sure exactly why the response from the international community has been so slow to our needs,” says a Kabbah insider of the Trust Fund. “However, we are heartened now with this week’s delegates from donor organisations.”