‘Govt Uses Local Funds to Construct Roads’- President Koroma

Concord Times (Freetown)

Ibrahim Tarawallie

7 June 2011

Freetown — President Ernest Bai Koroma has said that his government was doing ‘a very good service’ to the nation by using local resources to construct roads across the country.

Speaking during the launch of the All People’s Congress (APC) Rising Sun Brass Band, the president said: “We are doing this because the development of the nation is our business. Even though things are difficult but we are seeing the results from our local revenue collection. We are a responsible government because we feel for the people and listen to them”.

Mr. Koroma noted that when the APC party took over the governance of the state [some four years ago], they realized that things were very difficult, especially on prices of fuel and rice. He said it was very difficult to strategise in such a circumstance but that with time, they were able to surmount some of the difficulties encountered.

He described the launching of the brass band as a celebration of great success for the APC, adding that the occasion also marked his first appearance in public in a joyous mood after the golden jubilee celebrations. He commended Sierra Leoneans and his party members for taking the lead in celebrating the successes of Sierra Leone at 50.

“We have made another landmark in the history of Sierra Leone because everybody across the country was able to celebrate not only the Golden Jubilee, but also for the fact that government is engaging on a massive infrastructure development. We are a party that builds,” President Koroma maintained.

He thanked all those that initiated the brass band project, while advising for a committee to be set up to take great care of the new instruments “so that every party member continues to enjoy music”.

Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray – who doubles as the APC’s western regional chairman – said the idea of establishing a brass band was manifold.

“Firstly, it is to make the president feel relaxed just as how King David in the Old Testament time of the Bible used music as an entertainment after work. Secondly, the brass band will help us prepare for a great march in 2011,” he said.

Mansaray pointed out that the band members were APC children that have committed themselves in doing a good service to the party, adding that the product from the United Kingdom will help captivate the attention of the youth and prepare them to take up future leadership positions after they would have gone.

“In the not too distant future we will transform this to a dance band in order to bring more unity in the party and the country as a whole,” he promised.

The ceremony also marked by the crowing of President Koroma as Grand Bank Master by members of the band. The purchase of the brand new brass band from the United Kingdom for the Western Region was pioneered by the minister of Mines and Mineral Resources.

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