Concord Times (Freetown)
Abdul Karim Koroma
10 May 2008
interview
Freetown — Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Daudis Koroma, explains to Concord Times how his ministry is being run, some of the success stories, his future plans, how he wants to deal with the 'ghost workers' at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service and what is left of the Sierra Leone Daily Mail.
CT: How will you introduce yourself to those who do not know you?
MDK: My name is Mohamed Daudis Koroma and I am a professional journalist.
CT: Can we say you are the same Mohamed D. Koroma of the African Champion newspaper fame?
MDK: Yes, I am the same man of the African Champion.
of course, people call me Mohamed Champion.
CT: When retiring from politics, will you go back to practice journalism?
MDK: Of course, yes! In fact, this is a question people should not bother to ask because once a journalist is always a journalist. Writing is my calling. News writing and investigative journalism are my major disciplines.
CT: In your candid opinion, can you say the development currently being experienced in the Sierra Leone is commensurate to your expectations?
MDK: To a very large extent, yes; especially when the aims and objectives of the government are still on course- restoring democratic practices and providing the enabling atmosphere for the survival of the average Sierra Leonean. At the moment, there is stability and peace, and everybody is free to go about their activities within the law, without hindrance. Of course, many will say that the market price is biting.
Indeed yes, but I will like to draw the attention of the general public that the rising cost of commodities like rice and fuel has international implications, which the government is trying to solve.
CT: How will you rate your ministry in terms of performance?
MDK: Sometimes it is very difficult to assess one's self but so far, we are doing extremely well.
In-fact, my Minister Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo is a veteran journalist with over 30 years experience.
Within a very short time in office we have been able to transform the Ministry into a true Information agency of government. We have let people know that the Ministry of Information is not only a talking drum as believed by many, but it can also create, implement and deliver.
Also this Ministry has now converted the President's vision of attitudinal change into a real project, reviewed the National Communication Strategy Project and launched the Open Government Initiative. It is now the responsibility of the Ministry to let everybody know about government information, programs and activities. We are trying to make sure that in everything we do or plan the general public is fully involved.
We are also trying to make communication affordable to our people - even the poor on the street. My Ministry has made the Telecommunication Commission and other systems functional in the country. By August and September SIERRATEL will be boasting of a CDMA Telephone system-cordless system. We are also trying to introduce the new digital system. Laudable projects have come and are working 24 hours on a visibility study to upgrade the standard of land phones like those in the developed world.
CT: What is the present status of the SLBS; is it going to be privatized by the government?
MDK: At the moment, SLBS is undergoing drastic restructuring which we think can help it undertake its rightful role in the new dispensation. It is doing fine because it can now broadcast throughout the country. I don't think whether there is need to talk about privatization, the SLBS is still under the Ministry's supervision. It is our responsibility to provide the leadership and direction it needs.
CT: How did the pay exercise you undertook last week at SLBS go?
MDK: The pay exercise went on well and officials on contracts came for their salaries.
The aim of the exercise is to weed out ghost workers from the actual ones, and we will succeed in doing so with time. We also realize that some other workers have their salaries sent to the banks, so it will be very difficult to determine whether such persons are amongst the ghost workers or not. I will not relent; I have to talk to the Finance Secretary about it and suspend all bank transactions till we are able to verify all SLBS workers. We want to make sure that only people who report regularly for work and actually work, do receive salaries.
CT: Why is the station running commercials when it is being funded by the government?
MDK: If you are familiar with Government's operations, you will agree with me that there are certain government enterprises responsible for raising money on it behalf, even though at a cost recovery level. SLBS is one of such organizations. That apart, how can such institution operation vibrantly without some internal mechanism for fundraising to complement government subventions? So do you see why SLBS shows commercials!
CT: What is happening with the Government Printing Department?
MDK: Government Printing Department is another troublesome area that needs serious government assistance. At the moment, all the facilities including machines to work with are completely down.
However, the Ministry as a supervisory body is doing its best to restore it status quo.
CT: What is the outcome of the Commission of Enquiry on the National Communications Strategy Project? When will the report be released?
MDK: It is true that the Commission set up to investigate the operations of the National Communications Strategy Project has concluded it work and the Ministry is closel looking at the report. Very soon the Ministry will release its report to the public.
CT: Some sections of the public are of the opinion that cell phone companies are exploiting them, what is your Ministry's take on that?
MDK: I don't see it as exploitation but something doing with high tariff. We are negotiating with mobile company operators to see reason and reduce their tariffs. The cry all over is that Sierra Leone has higher tariff system in the sub-region than most other countries, and I see no reason why we should not break the ice and be in line with other communication systems in the sub-region.
CT: Beside the weekly press briefings, how is your Ministry communicating with the public?
MDK: Other means of communicating with the public includes radio, which is now countrywide and television is improving rapidly. At the moment, the government information unit of the Ministry will soon come up with a bulletin and other publications that will be circulated for public consumption. It will interest you to note that the government under the Open Government Initiative, will soon embark on the provincial film tour program; this is to let the rural and urban people see and hear what the government is doing at the power base, which is Freetown. The same mechanism will bring feedback to the government for necessary actions.
CT: How is the relationship between your Ministry and other line ministries?
MDK: Very Cordial. Being the focal point for all government information, both national and external, we have the responsibility of being the spokesmen of government and to know the activities of other line ministries.
CT: How is your ministry planning to go about the Attitudinal and Behavioral Change project?
MDK: The change of attitude President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma is calling for should be seen and embraced by every right thinking Sierra Leonean. We are passing the message to our people everyday that we MUST change our attitudes for the development of the country.
CT: Do you think some government ministers need to change their attitudes for this project to succeed?
MDK: Ministers and other government functionaries are not exempted. In fact, we should be seen leading the way in the attitudinal change fight.
CT: Please tell us some of your ministry's success stories so far MDK: We have made many remarkable successes, such as the settlement of the SIERRATEL brouhaha, SALPOST trouble, and SLBS; We have set up the Attitudinal and Behavioural Change Project, Open Government Initiative, and the review of the National Communication Strategy project, and the restructuring of NATCOM etc.
CT: As the government arm charged with responsibility of overseeing Communication and information activities in the country, what are those key projects you intend to implement before leaving office?
MDK: The Attitudinal and Behavioural Change Project, Open Government Initiative, and a review of the National Communication Strategy project etc. I believe these projects will definitely improve the information landscape of Sierra Leone.
CT: Has government any plan to revamp the Sierra Leone Daily Mail?
MDK: That is part of my ministry's responsibility but let us wait and see CT: What do you do at your leisure after a hard day's work?
MDK: Playing football and chanting politics with friends.
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