7. THE JUDICIARY
7.1 Overview
The true mark of any democracy can be
measured by it’s citizens’ commitment to the supremacy of the rule of
law. This supremacy dictates that justice will be dispensed with
fairness and citizens will have access to redress if there is any doubt
as to the fair application of the law.
The inequitable applications of the law
and the lack of fair access to the judicial system have been some of the
reasons that have contributed to undermining the rule of law in
The ability of the judiciary to
properly dispense with justice has been handicapped by:-
-
Political interference
7.2 OBJECTIVES
When in government, the APC will:-
a) establish clear
procedures to ensure an independent, impartial and autonomous judiciary.
b) separate the offices of the
Minister of Justice and that of the Attorney-General.
c) ensure expeditious
dispensation of justice.
7.3 STRATEGIES
Our government will achieve these
by:-
a) ensuring a proper
functioning of the judicial system by discouraging political
interference in all spheres of governance including the Anti-Corruption
Commission which shall be given the power to prosecute.
b) setting up Special Rapid
response courts that will adjudicate in land issues, small claims
courts, to settle disputes which otherwise have created bottle-necks in
the legal system.
c) supporting the work of the
Law Reform Commission, the justice sector development programme and
other reformatory institutions to review laws that have no relevance in
today’s
8. FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
8.1 Overview
The Foreign thrust of a re-elected APC
Government shall be to reinforce existing relations with foreign
countries and all International Organisations to which
Our ability to explore the full potential of foreign
policy and International Cooperation has been characterized by the
following:-
·
Inability to fully fund the activities of our missions abroad·
Poor conditions of service·
None and sporadic remuneration·
Uncoordinated, Inadequacies and weaknesses in pursuing our national interest as pivotal to our foreign policy goals
8.2 OBJECTIVES
The APC Government will
a) Implement a credible foreign
policy that will enhance mutually rewarding co-operation with our
International partners.
b) Strengthen but balance
relations with they development partners focus on technology and
knowledge transfer as well as market access and development
b) build up from the
impressive, constructive and rewarding foreign policy of the previous
APC Governments, an APC foreign policy shall re-introduce and maintain a
positive, respectable, pragmatic and common sense approach in our
dealings with nations and organizations.
c) renew our support and commit
ourselves to meeting our obligations to all international organisations
such as the Mano River Union (MRU), the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the United Nations and
all other international organisations to which we are signatories.
8.3 STRATEGIES
In government the APC shall:-
a) endeavour to understand and
interpret at all times, the constantly changing character of
international situations in a changing world.
b) acknowledge that as patterns
change, so will our friendships between and among nations shift. We
shall adjust when necessary, to ensure valuable diplomatic
representation and outreach that protects our national interest.
c) ensure unwavering national
support for a new and dynamic foreign policy, the Foreign Ministry of an
APC Government will step up outreach contacts with civil society,
students, the media, traditional authorities etc to explain emerging
international ideas and concepts such as the Millennium Development
Goals MDGs, New Partnership for African Development. NEPAD and African
Peer Review Mechanism APRM affect us as a country.
9. DEFENCE
OVERVIEW
The Military and the Police are the two main state institutions charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the integrity of the National territory and protecting its people from both internal upheavals and external aggression. The peace which currently prevails in the country following a tragic eleven year civil war is a result of the collective effort of its people and the resistance provided by its armed forces.
The armed forces however have, for some time now reflected a situation of serious difficulties in various areas such as:
- Low salaries
- Poor living conditions
- Shortages in modern communication equipment and general logistics
- Low morale
- Inability to respond robustly to external agreession as was evidenced with the rebel
invasion.
- Corruption in the Police Force.
OBJECTIVES
The prime objective of the All Peoples Congress Party will be to address the prevailing weaknesses in the armed forces, and to adopt appropriate strategies for systematically and consistently addressing the prevailing problems that exist in the army and Police. The APC Party will exert every effort to ensure that the armed forces are constantly built up to a level of preparedness for the protection of the state and to thwart any actual or perceived threat from any aggressor or potential aggressor.
The All Peoples Congress will endeavour to ensure that service men and women in the armed forces are fully and adequately provided for in terms of salaries, service conditions and their housing facilities.
STRATEGIES
As soon as possible, the APC Government will make a review of the salary structure, and the service conditions of our personnel in the army and police.
The APC will endeavour to ensure that modern communications and logistical equipment are provided for the Military and Police.
An adequate provision of modern weaponry will be made available to the armed forces to ensure that combatants are put at a reasonable advantage for the defense of the homeland.
-
The Party will ensure that Soldiers and Police are properly and adequately, provided for in terms of housing facilities.-
The APC Party will work in conjunction with external parties for the training of army and police personnel to upgrade their performance to the highest level possible, for the discharge of their national responsibilities-
An APC Government will work in conjunction with external partners to explore the possibility of establishing a mechanized brigade, for the purpose of national defense as well as to participate whenever necessary in peace keeping activities in conflict zones.
9. EMPOWERING WOMEN
9.1 Overview
The APC recognises the
invaluable contribution of women in every aspect of the nation’s
economic endeavours. Women must be able to participate as equal partners
in our quest for leadership and development of our Nation.
Up till now, women have
suffered because of the following:-
-
Minimal participation
in National politics
9.2 OBJECTIVES
An APC Government will:-
a) strengthen
women’s groups as well as encourage and facilitate women’s involvement
and participation in the policy making process.
b) support the
education of women on major trends affecting their life and wellbeing
arising from the effects of globalisation. The APC will undertake an
assessment of the extent and in what ways government development plans
and activities integrate the normative dimensions of gender equality in
conformity with and follow up to the Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination against women (CEDAW).
c) empower and
work with the appropriate authorities and agencies to implement laws and
policies that will eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination
against women.
9.3 STRATEGIES
The above objectives
will be achieved by:-
a) ensuring that
women’s issues are mainstreamed across all development and public policy
processes. We believe that policies that are not engendered are
endangered.
b) working with our development
partners, organizations and agencies operating in
c) supporting female-owned and
managed enterprises through credit on favored terms.
10. THE WAR WOUNDED AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED
10.1 Overview
Throughout
Quite a good number of the victims of
the war have yet to put a closure to that nightmare more so because of
the gross failure of the SLPP Government to implement the findings and
recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Raped women, orphans, branded children,
amputees; the mentally and physically scarred all require and deserve
reparations and integration into mainstream society.
The current conditions of the war
wounded and physically challenged are as follows:-
-
Total lack of a comprehensive
policy to assess and meet the needs of this category
10.2 OBJECTIVES
The APC Government will:-
a) implement to the fullest the TRC recommendations on the needs of victims especially those on health, pensions, education, skills training, micro-credit and community reparations.
b) initiate and promote propgrammes that will enhance the status and welfare of this group.
c) Enhance the legal capability, empower institutions and eliminate all forms of discrimination and biases against the physically challenged.
10.3 STRATEGIES
Our Government will achieve these
by:-
a) working in collaboration
with National and International Non-Governmental organizations (NGO’s)
and Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGO’s) to ensure that programs and
adequate services such as health, shelter and educational opportunities
for the victims and their dependants are available in all districts.
b) making the activities of
NACSA more effective and focused to ensure that proper and adequate
measures are put in place for the benefit of the victims of the war.
c) designate a day of National
Mourning in respect of the many who lost their lives and for those who
remain permanently damaged.
d) erect a war monument so that the painful past will never be lost on the conscience of our people.
11. ENERGY AND POWER
11.1 Overview
This is why we initiated the Bumbuna
Hydro Electric Project many years back. A situation whereby the
nation’s capital has remained for years without dependable electricity
supply will not be allowed to persist by an incoming APC Government.
Currently our energy and power
sectors are characterized by these factors:-
-
Non- existence of energy and power
supply in most parts of the country
11.2 OBJECTIVES
An APC Government will:-
a) provide assured and reliable
electricity for the capital city -
b) rehabilitate all power stations throughout the country and ensure that they operate effectively.
11.3 STRATEGIES
In order to achieve these objectives
the APC government shall:-
a) take action to ensure the
completion of the Bumbuna project and provide
b) encourage national and
international financiers to invest in alternative sources of energy like
solar and wind energy.
c) ensure the increase of the
capacity of the Dodo electric power station so as to provide electricity
for the growing cities of Bo and Kenema and their environs.
d) identify and explore other
potential sources of hydro electric power Nationwide.
12. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
12.1 Overview
The APC recognizes that transport and
communications constitute very vital links both in our domestic and
international economic change. Inland and water transportation are
stimulants to development especially within the rural areas. However,
river transport infrastructure consisting of jetties, wharfs, warehouses
and transit sheds are in dire need of attention. Similarly an improved
network of trunk and feeder road system is necessary for the development
of the economy and the delivery of goods and services.
The importance of air transportation in
a globalized World cannot be overstated The dissemination of information
in a timely and efficient manner depends on a reliable communication
system.
These sectors have been hampered by
the following factors:-
-
Lack of improved network of truck
and feeder roads
12.2 OBJECTIVES
As a government the APC shall:-
a) develop sea safety standards
and rehabilitate jetties and slipways and where possible build new ones.
b) extend the activities of
Sierra Leone Ports Authority by providing dry –dock services among
others and explore the possibility of having a free port in
c) rehabilitate trunk roads and
bridges to facilitate public transportation.
d) complete on-going
construction of roads such as the peninsula road and
e) extend and improve existing
feeder roads to enhance the movement of agricultural inputs, produce and
other essential commodities.
f) seek to upgrade Lungi
International airport and domestic air fields.
g) facilitate an environment in
which our local Communication industry will compete favorably with other
tele-communication companies.
12.3 STRATEGIES
As a government we hope to achieve
these by:-
a) promoting transportation and
exploring the abundance of waterways throughout
b) strictly supervising and
monitoring the disbursement of the road users’ tax.
c) continuing its program of
trunk road expansion commenced whilst in office, through partnership
with friendly countries willing and able to support such programs.
d) encourage private, local and
International airline operators to invest in the airline industry.
e) reactivate our National
tele-communication system by providing adequate resources.
13. TOURISM
13.1 Overview
This industry has been impeded by
these factors:-
-
Total lack of ability to promote
the industry
13.2 OBJECTIVES
An APC Government will:-
a) fully harness our gifts of
nature for touristic purposes.
b) revitalize the tourism
sector to become a major contributor to the national economy.
c) encourage and regulate the
active participation of private entrepreneurs and non-governmental
organisations in the development of our tourist industry.
13.3 STRATEGIES
As a government these objectives can
be met by:-
a) encouraging and inviting
African and peoples of African descent in the Diaspora to reconnect with
their heritage by visiting historic places like Bunce Island - the 18th
century British slave outlet in the Republic of Sierra Leone. This
little known island has the closest link to
b) extending the nation’s
tourism programme into the interior to make it truly national.
c) encouraging tertiary institutions to interest their pupils and students to pursue careers in the tourism industry because of the sector’s employment potential.
d) seeking co-operation and
active participation of local and international investors in the tourism
industry.
e) ensuring that tourist areas
are demarcated and legislation enacted to prohibit the erection of
illegal structures for residence, trade and commerce.
14. MINERALS & MINING
14.1 Overview
Historically, the
minerals of
Currently the
situation of Minerals and mining is as follows:-
·
The country does not derive the revenue it should from the mining sector·
The alluvial miners do not receive just rewards for their work·
Inhabitants in Company mining areas derive no benefit·
Vast environmental degradation·
Very high spate of lawlessness
14.2 OBJECTIVES
The APC Government will:-
a) declare our strategic mineral
resources s national assets.
b) review all exploration and mining
contracts that are in operation.
c) require that all our mining
partners provide infrastructural facilities that will enhance the
standard of living of the residents of mining areas.
d) seek adequate compensation for the
devastation of mining areas where landowners can no longer use their
land for farming activities.
14.3 STRATEGIES
In Government, we can meet these
objectives by:-
a) ensuring that residents in
areas producing the wealth of the country are entitled to reasonable
portion of the income generated from the area.
b) requiring that any engagement
in mining activity must be subject to environmental safeguards.
c) re-examining and revisiting
exploration and mining contracts, sale, export and marketing of all
minerals and will come out with a comprehensive mining policy that
will cover exploration, mining and export.
d) encouraging and facilitating
the establishment of a diamond cutting and processing industry.
e) resuscitating vital area of
economic activity that will encourage artisanal miners for both diamond
and gold to set up cooperatives and/or joint venture companies. These
will provide the institutional framework through which small scale
miners can access funding for their operations. The APC acknowledges
that increased and profitable activities in this area will result in
reducing unemployment and increase regular payment of royalties and
taxes to government.
15. INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
15.1 Overview
This sector
is beset by these problems:-
-
Unreliable and sporadic news
broadcasts
15.1 OBJECTIVES
The APC Government will:-
a) use the mass media to serve
as a medium to educate the public in matters of state and how these
matters impinge on their daily lives.
b) be committed to greater
freedom, and democracy and we would enhance the role of a free,
unfettered and responsible press.
c) place a high premium on
responsibility of journalists and broadcasters to build up the
professional capacity that will enable them to perform their functions
without fear or favor.
d) examine the on-going
privatization process of the SLBS and SLTV
15.2 STRATEGIES
These will be achieved by:-
a) reviewing the 1965 Public
Order Act.
b) assisting the fourth estate
in building itself up in terms of capacity, professionalism and ensure
its independence.
c) improving public trust,
confidence and interest through information sharing. Whilst in office
the bottle necks and obstacles that stifle this free flow will be
removed
d) encouraging and
strengthening the National Media Commission.
e) improving radio/TV dissemination nationwide.
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