THE MASTER REBRANDER OF SIERRA LEONE : President Ernest Bai Koroma

If there is a master rebrander in Sierra Leone, it is  the President himself, Dr.  Ernest Koroma. Since the President was elected into office two years ago, Sierra Leone has enjoyed a surge of goodwill from nations and foreign media that once  harboured misgivings  about the nation. Where once some international newspapers peddled only negativiity about Sierra Leone, now many are full of praise for our nation . Even along the corridors and the conference rooms  of the UN, where I now spend the whole day, Sierra Leone is receiving exciting reviews. Steadily, Sierra Leone's once fabled international acclaim and respect are being restored. One can only hope this will translate into a huge financial bail-out for our troubled nation.

Listen to David Robertson of one of the most influential newspapers in the world, The Times of London : "At a conference in London last week, some of the world's most influential investors revealed why they were pouring money into Sierra Leone. George Soros, the billionaire financier, said he had become a supporter of Sierra Leone after visiting two years ago and he announced a further $5 million [Dh18.36m] investment in the country. CDC, the British development fund, also announced a $5m injection.'

"These are not particularly large sums in the investment world, but they show a commitment to a very poor country that has won friends in important places."

The Presiident's detractors can say what they will, but no other President of Sierra Leone has  succeeded in rebranding the country positively like President Koroma. None of them has ever won the kinds of friends in important places President Koroma has acquired within the short time he has been in power . With his tall, elegant stature and assured  poise, the always smartly-attired and business-like President Koroma exudes the supreme confidence of a man who knows where he is going--And if a man knows where he is going, nobody can  stop him easily . We have a President on whose face you read seriousness and battle-hardened determination to accomplish the goals he has set for himselff and the nation. This in itself is rebranding Sierra Leone.No more visual images of the tired, old,  haggard, hapless-looking President who lacks charisma ,  presence and for a fact, vision,  to lead his country . President Koroma's looks alone and serious facial demeanor instill confidence in other leaders and international figures.

 President Koroma is  also successfully rebranding Sierra Leone with his socio-economic and political agenda which is very promising. Outsiders can see that Sierra Leone is headed somewhere under President Koroma. They have seen what the President has achieved within a very short time and they are impressed. This is all the more reason why Sierra Leoneans should throw their weight behind the President, like true patriots, to help him execute his agenda for change for Sierra Leone. If what we are seeking is the supreme interest of the nation, this is the time to provide the President with the backing he needs to help our country regain its old glory.

Yes, there are hard times , soaring prices and unemployment in the country, like other countries of the world  ; nobody can dispute that, but it must not be forgotten that these socio-economic problems are  not only the result of  the global economic downturn but also because of things that have happened in the nation in the past., long before anybody ever dreamt that there would ever be a President in Sierra Leone called Ernest Koroma. Sierra Leone had fallen into bad times while the young Ernest Koroma was yet  a schoolboy.  We all grew up to meet a nation that was bedevilled with monumental challenges. President Koroma inherited  the very battered economy and completely destroyed social strata in the country his detractors want to make noise about.. It will be most unfair to blame him for these problems.

The likes of John Benjamin, Sama Banya and some of the opposition newspapers are most dishonest when they  try to use the country's socio-economic problems to vainly gain lost political capital . Benjamin and Banya, for one,  were part and parcel of past governments that destroyed the country's economy and social institutions. These two rascals served at least two different governments and in senior cabinet positions  ! ! ! Do they  think  that they will escape the nation's wrath for helping to create the present sufferings in the country ? Blaming President Koroma will not exonerate these two from the part they played to ruin Sierra Leone. Some of our poiliticians lack shame and conscience.Like the typical Temne man would like to say : "Ah baeh mu laap". Otherwise they would not be  unnecessarily blaming somebody who has outshone them by a million miles in a very short pace of time.

When Benjamin came to the United States, it was to spread ugly stories and negativity about Sierra Leone. As long as he was not in power, the good name of our nation could wait. What spectacular selfishness . In contrast , whenever President Koroma comes abroad, it is to rebrand the country positively . The nation will soon gain from the President's patriotic crusade. It is indeed the tale of two men--one good and selfless while the other is self-centred and unpatriotic.

Those Sierra Leoneans who want to be reasonable must consider the valiant attempts being made by the President to clear the economic mess he inherited .They must think  like  Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi, the UAE Minister of State,  at the London conference . According to The Times, she was there to  demonstrate the UAE's commitment to Sierra Leone. She was quoted as saying :  "Your country has been through so much, but has great potential. We want to work with Sierra Leone in further expanding these opportunities and in humanitarian initiatives." 

If we love Sierra Leone for sure, this is the time to begin exploring ways to work with President Koroma and his government to help bring meaningful changes to the country. We have to back this President who means well for our nation, despite the challenges.