Sierra Leone

Open Government Initiative brings the Presidency to the people

13-09-2008

On Saturday, 13 September 2008, the debut field visit to Makeni in Bombali District was conducted by the Open Government Initiative (OGI). The field visit consisted of two components;

1. Visit to farm projects by the Presidency and representatives from ministries
    

2. Town hall meeting with the people of Bombali District

The field visit to Makeni town, where there has been satisfactory response to the call for strengthened agricultural industry, is the first visit of the Initiative in its attempt to foster transparency and direct executive accountability through direct and open dialogue between the ordinary citizens and the Government. The field visit included participation by the President, Minister of Presidential and Public Affairs, Minister of Information and Communication, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and Deputy Minister of Trade. The people as well as the government officials welcomed and stressed this new initiative as something that is done for the first time and that brings the State House directly to the people.
 

In the morning, the President and representatives from ministries made a visit to farm projects of Teko farming Community in Makeni town. During the interaction with the community, a Women's Representative expressed concerns that while 80 % of the farming work is done by women, when it comes to marketing of the produce, women do not see the proceeds, the stores are under 'key and lock'. In her speech she captured and appreciated the essence of OGI commenting that this is the first time that an ordinary woman and the local community at large can speak directly to the Government and the first time that the State House is here.

The President, in response to the Women's Representative, addressed the community that the government is working to establish a programme that tackles gender issues in agriculture as part of the broader "Attitude and Behavioral Change" programme. Stressing the need for Attitudinal Change, the President urged that agricultural industry should be run as business, and needs to be attractive and profitable so that it is not seen as activity for the rural poor. He also mentioned that by 2011, Sierra Leone, and particularly Bombali District should start exporting rice.

In the afternoon, about 300 people from the Bombali District participated in the town hall meeting held in Makeni town and expressed their concerns and asked questions directly to the Presidency and representatives from Ministries. The people and the Presidency discussed on issues such as youth unemployment, land issues and food sufficiency, with the Government urging Attitudinal Change of every Sierra Leonean. The entire town hall meeting was broadcast nation wide by local radio stations. Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service was also present to tape the meeting to be broadcast on the national television.

In addition to the field visits, the Open Government Initiative will use popular means of communication such as radio, SMS, website, and internet to foster direct communication between the people and the Government. Click here to read more...