President Koroma to Move State House to New City- Lungi?

Concord Times (Freetown)

Messeh Kamara

21 June 2011

opinion

Freetown — In an article posted in September 2010, I opined that: ‘Freetown can no longer accommodate us all. It is better that some of us are relocated to rural areas, relocate urban Freetown to somewhere around ‘Lungi’, or some other parts of the country. We need a new agenda for decentralisation and infrastructural expansion—ideas for a new city programme’.

Consequently, I am now delighted about President Ernest Bai Koroma’s recent announcement to build a new city at Lungi. This is all good news; at least there is a platform for the future! Grateful that the President has paid heed to this clarion call for a new city. Congratulations to President Koroma and his government, for getting us together again, as a determined nation exploring the path to sustainable development. I am encouraged by the President’s plans for a new city, as this is potentially an important initiative for our future generation.

But, I have spent some time reflecting on this proposal and wondered whether the President really meant it or be it business as usual to score political points. Is President Koroma really serious about his pledge to create a new city? Some critics would argue that President Koroma has not achieved 50% of what he promised in his election manifesto and here he goes again with another huge promise, of building a new city and also the construction of the long overdue Lungi Bridge. This is proving to be a very difficult challenge. Lots of talk – short on action.

If the President is seen to be defocused or greatly involved into many disorganised agendas, he will eventually be dismissed by donors or rebuked by voters and replaced by someone who is focused on achieving agreed targets for the development of the country – that how it works. Investors do not have 50 year horizons, nor do they share our values as citizens- they are only interested in their own investments, ensuring minimum risk and maximum financial returns now, not later.

If president Koroma is sincere and serious about his pledge to build a new city, well, here, I am kindly appealing to him to pack-up all his bits and pieces, mobilise members of his government to relocate to Lungi and start the process of building this new city! In fact, Lungi will be an excellent residential area for the President and members of his government. Or otherwise the President could share his residence and office engagement between Lungi and Freetown. The success of this new city will be credited largely to the President, who will take a lead, for others follow.

By moving State House and Parliament to Lungi, many businesses and institutions will be interested to participate in the process of planning the new city, through extended exposure on media campaigns and promotional efforts. Certainly, Lungi is an ideal citadel for government operations. This will direct our efforts towards building the new city, while attracting investors and citizens to, and save Freetown from the current congestion. It is also a perfect opportunity to introduce modern railways to Sierra Leone as Lungi will be a blueprint to construct the railways linking Lungi- Freetown and other parts of the country.

The best way to keep Lungi city alive and lure investors is for the government to offer free land to the needy population including youth and women, at least a way of empowering the next generation to own land and property in this new city. The government should be giving away free land lots. How can it work? You have to agree to build a house (establish a farm or business) and live in it.

This is not a new concept. Free land incentives dating from 1862 helped settle the far reaches of the country in the United States. Lungi today simply needs more people. Lungi has got plenty of land, so why not give it away? People would bring development and that allows schools to stay open, roads to be built, public services to be constructed. Of course, businesses should not be left out of the free-land loop; government should be giving away free land for companies that create new industrial jobs. For instance, you get five acres for 100 decent jobs; create 500 jobs and get 30 acres.

Government only needs to establish policies about who qualifies and what you must do once you get the land. This will generate a lot of interest and will see many people relocating to Lungi in a twinkle of an eye. Lungi should be branded as the city for the next generation. The challenge now is to ensure that proper city planning becomes the norm. A good city is one where it is safe to walk, drive easily and cycle, to use public transport more than private vehicles, to be safe on the streets at night, and to have safe spaces for families and children to engage in recreational activities. Lungi is undoubtedly one of the best places to live in Sierra Leone; the vicinity is not threatened by any kind of natural disaster; virtually no air pollution; easy access to both air and sea transport; large green areas; centre for tourist attraction with lovely beaches, vast and flat land for massive infrastructural and agricultural expansion; and in good climate: the

temperature is very pleasant all year, beautiful landscapes (and beautiful ocean view) are very common.

I have listened to and read several comments by “experts” (politicians and academicians) making the case that President Koroma’s move to create a new city is unwise. In addition, a small minority of Sierra Leoneans at home and in the Diaspora are already challenging the government’s agenda to build a new city, amid the current unfavourable living standards and economic decline. Critics would say the new city programme is a waste of money and time, particularly after other major government projects over the past decade, including new airport, new stadium, new bridge and Hydro Electricity, have languished or not been completed.

The prospect of being forced to move or commute to the new city will be unpopular with government workers and politicians who only see Freetown as heaven on earth, and will not want to be relocated to a strange land with little or no energy supply and amenities. Some egocentric politicians cannot afford to forgo their massive mansions up the mountains at ‘Hill Station’ and ‘Juba’, for a remote city. The truth is, the critics who speak and pursue the government to focus on the present needs of the country than the future plans of the country have absolutely no interest in actually promoting the development of Sierra Leone; rather, they just want to exploit the failures of this government to further their political agendas and use it to score points, and win the next election.

But wait, have these critics actually considered the fact that majority of citizens are coping everyday without energy supply. So what is the big deal if our politicians were to feel the pains of the ordinary Sierra Leoneans, as they called themselves the servants of the people? It should be noted that the people who currently live at Lungi are human beings and are citizens of Sierra Leone, just like anyone else. And so, there should not be OK for the President and members of his government to relocate to Lungi and make a huge difference!

You may recall that during the rebel invasion of Freetown in 1997, we saw the whole government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah displaced to Lungi. The government was working from exile, where they had all the support and were able to manage the affairs of the state, remotely. While at Lungi, commuting to and from Guinea, the ousted government of President Kabbah worked hard and was able to bring peace to Sierra Leone, and helped forge lasting democratic institutions. If President Kabbah could run a government at Lungi under such difficult situation during the war to cling onto power, so why not now with President Koroma, in the bid to build a new city? Here, I am not inferring another revolution or war, but most importantly now to endure a new revolution for the development of Sierra Leone. President Koroma should take the lead, leave the extravagance in Freetown, and stay out of the distraction of merriment in Freetown and move to Lungi to get the job

done. The government and the private sector in general have the responsibility and obligation to make Lungi city successful. We expect there will be lots of inconveniences in the beginning, but things will get better as things evolve.

One of the good things about moving the government to Lungi is that, it tends to insulate the government from the pressures and influences of Freetown. Moving the State House and Parliament to Lungi will fast track the process of creating the Freetown-Lungi bridge and attract more investments to this new city. The international community including the US, UK, China Embassies, INGOs etc, will all be on the move to the new city as that is the only way they may be able to interact and interface with state and non-state actors.

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