Insight Magazine Issue 3 2017

EDITOR’S INSIGHT
Ours is an age of disruption. It’s been said so often, that it’s now become a cliché. Truth be told, our shifting political,
economic, social, and geopolitical landscapes are not unique. Our predecessors and their predecessors also lived in times
of change. Disruption comes in many guises, and mankind’s history is one of discovery, revolution, evolution, invention, and
innovation. How or if societies harness these forces, is what separates the leaders from the also-rans.
Like other nations, Sierra Leone experiences positive and negative change. On the plus side, we can point to peaceful
elections, improved infrastructure, regulatory reform, a growing economy and significantly increased influence on the
international stage. On the down side, we’ve experienced disease, an economic recession and natural disaster in quick
succession. In the process, It has become the thing to big up our society for its resiliance. No matter what fate throws our
way, we keep on going.
But admirable though all resilience is; it’s a truth universally acknowledged that some forms of resilience are more
productive than others. In Sierra Leone, the indomitable instinct to survive, which allows communities to absorb their
setbacks, recover and rebuild, also means that we often miss opportunities to innovate and improve in the process.
Fortitude is no substitute for transformation and we need to learn from our experiences, and adapt our processes, systems
and infrastructure in response to difficulty and disaster. When we rebuild or regroup, it should be bigger and better, more
efficient and more effective than before.
The very first subject of our change maker series was Dr Samura Kamara, Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, and now the
flagbearer for the ruling APC party. We interviewed him about Sierra Leone’s economic recovery post Ebola and post the
commodities slump. According to Dr Kamara, learning to accept and harness change has to be at the heart of development
in Sierra Leone: “We need to introduce a culture of accepting change in Sierra Leone. We need to build patriotism and
national pride and create attitudinal change throughout society,” he said.
This issue of Insight is all about change, and its challenges. The massive Bumbuna II project will make a significant
difference to our standards of living and to our economic prospects. Investors in developing economies need to have
confidence in the justice system and the Attorney General’s programme of regulatory reform is intended to provide that
reassurance. In an interview with Abu Kamara, Head of the PPP unit, we look at how PPP can support infrastructural
development. The role of foreign investment in our emerging economy is the subject of opinion pieces by the CDC’s Murray
Grant and consultant, Susanne Schroeder. And we are pleased to announce the launch of our ‘Smart Tools for Smart
Business’ supplement. This new Insight regular, is designed to provide practical information and business support for those
on the ground.
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As always we look forward to your feedback. Thank you for continuing to support Insight.
Insight
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Editor:
Memuna Forna
Art Director:
Erika Perez-Leon
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Mohamed Wurie- mohamedlwurie@gmail.com
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Habiba Wurie - wurie.habiba@yahoo.com
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Front cover image by Sullay Stephens
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