Smoke and mirrors Ernest Bai Koroma also came in for scathing comments/criticism on a number of issues relating to good governance, political tolerance, the rule of law and the need to make public the report of the Shears-Moses report into political violence. It was revealed that although the President had even made promises to the diplomatic corps in the country, he had still not kept such.

"The Shears-Moses report that had investigated the events that led to the most serious outbreak of political violence since the end of the civil war in March 2009 must be issued without any further delay. It is now two years since the report had been submitted to the President and despite repeated pledges to publish it - most recently in a meeting the President had with the entire diplomatic corps in October 2011 - this has not yet been done."

The newly-created and so-called independent Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, the new body that was meant to be a truly national broadcaster free from government control was the subject of more reminders of the Ernest Bai Koroma regime's penchant for grabbing and wanting everything to be either Ernest Koroma or APC coloured. Any other alternative is seen as unpalatable in a set-up still living in the excesses of one-party rule dubiously imposed on a cowered and intimidated public by Siaka Stevens.

"...unfortunately, the SLBC has not fulfilled expectations and bad management practices have begun to impact negatively on the quality and impartiality of its programmes. Recent personnel decisions further raise questions about its political neutrality so shortly before the elections. I hope that the Government will stick to its courageous decision and help bring about the necessary adjustments in the board and management of the SLBC that would make this a truly national and independent voice of Sierra Leone."

We raised concerns over the Act setting up the SLBC which gave the President the final say in the appointment of top members of that body's management and Board as well as drawing the attention of the United Nations to the advertisements for the posts of the Director-General as well as the Deputy Director-General. Both posts were filled by unqualified personnel with the Deputy being a retired School Inspector who has never done any bit of broadcasting, journalism or media related work. The SLBC "management" has sacked all the experienced broadcasters thought to be reading from other books other than the APC red book. They have been replaced by people, and many are not journalists/broadcasters, brought in by APC operatives and party members.

It is remarkable and quite worthy to note that the concerns raised at the United Nations Security Council comes a day before the anniversary of rebel incursion in 1991 when rebels of Foday Sankoh aided by elements from Liberia and Burkina Faso fired the first shots as they crossed from Liberia into Bomaru in eastern Sierra Leone on March 23.