By Ragan M. Conteh

In a bid to cushion development in the country, the opposition All People’s Congress leadership in Parliament has told President Maada Bio to weed out deadwoods in public institutions that seem to serve as obstacles.

This clarion call was made by the opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, on Thursday January 30th, 2025 during the approval of government appointees, including the Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Mr. Joseph John Senesie, and Deputy Director General, Madam Susan B. Coker.

The fearless lawmaker among other things highlighted key issues, he insisted are impeding the daily lives of Sierra Leonean citizens and the growth of development of the country in general including but not limited to never ending water crisis that has plagued the lives of the tiny population; that the people have continued to consume unsafe, unpurified cheap waters produced by these mushroom companies which cannot be compared to the one produced by the national companies, Guma and SALWACO.

He said the importance of providing purified water particularly in the provinces, cannot be overemphasized but lamented however that several water projects, including the one in Kambia have been stalled for several years.

The other major issue Hon. Kamara touched on was what he referred to as the “underperformance” of the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA), particularly in relation to road safety. He argued that many road accidents over the past decades were largely caused by abandoned vehicles left on the roads, not necessarily due to driver’s negligence but because of lack of available highway patrol trucks.

He stressed that the problem is exacerbated as a result of drivers’ lack of especially reflectors to signal incoming vehicles, blaming same to SLRSA to have done little or nothing to address.

Against this backdrop and the safety of precious lives and property across the country, the Chief Whip called on the President to fire the SLRSA leadership.

He noted that despite the ongoing advocacy for better roads including those leading to the Parliament building remain in poor conditions. He therefore urged SLRSA to prioritize such roads as they are just as important as any other.

Turning attention to the Correctional Services, Hon. Abdul Kamara acknowledged that the recent appointments at the Sierra Leone Correctional Service offered hope for improvement. He commended the appointment of Madam Susan B. Coker, calling her a hardworking and respected leader.

However, he also disclosed several challenges within the institution, including lack of healthcare facilities for inmates, sufficient healthcare practitioners, and delays in the allocation of the budget that needed to be fixed. He therefore called on government to pay more attention to the improvement of that vital institution, noting that the facilities are crucial as they often serve as “second home” for many politicians.

In conclusion, the Chief Whip expressed his gratitude to all the appointees and wished them success in their roles, reminding them that the citizens have high expectations for their services.