MCC Diverts Timeline For Considering Approval of Sierra Leone's Compact Over Election Credibility

MCC Diverts Timeline For Considering Approval of Sierra Leone’s Compact Over Election Credibility

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has diverted from its original timeline for considering approval of a compact for the Republic of Sierra Leone over the outcome of the 2023 general elections.

In a statement on Thursday, the MCC said it will continue to engage with the Government of Sierra Leone in the spirit of a longstanding partnership but did not mention a possible timeline for when the compact will be approved.

MCC Compacts are five-year grant agreements between MCC and an eligible country to fund programs designed to create an enabling environment for private sector investment. To be eligible for compact assistance, countries must meet certain scorecard indicators set by the MCC. Sierra Leone has passed 11 out of the 20 indicators on the Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, the scorecard for 2023, making it the country’s fourth consecutive pass since the government of Julius Maada Bio in 2018.

However, following widespread concerns surrounding the credibility of Sierra Leone’s June 2023 elections, the MCC put on hold, the approval of a grant for Sierra Leone.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer, in a recent interview voiced skepticism regarding the election’s authenticity, hinting at potential reevaluations of the U.S.’s collaborations with Sierra Leone.

“The US …would review its government-to-government programs, including a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact grant worth hundreds of millions of dollars

“In the year or two preceding the compact, we were very clear with the government of Sierra Leone that to get a compact they needed to have a fair, free, open, and transparent election. Sierra Leone had done everything else up to that point to get a compact, given the fact that there are all sorts of questions about the results, we’re taking a look at everything, and that includes the MCC compact.”, Reimer said.

In response to an inquiry about the program’s status, the MCC conveyed via email, expressing, “MCC is deeply concerned about the credibility of Sierra Leone’s recent electoral process, and these concerns have directly impacted the pace of compact development.”

This packed program entails a substantial US$450 million grant, disbursed over a five-year period, intended to bolster various sectors within the nation.

Comment(s)

Disclaimer: Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Sierraloaded or any employee thereof.

I.J | 2023-09-20 04:20:52

Allah help us but this MCC is another area that's affecting the peace in our country, because it's like other fractions are fighting against the government not to succeed what the MCC has promised.The President was talking about this same MCC during the campaign period.So it's like everyone is fighting for supremacy just to satisfy their supporters.Honnestly It's like we are still under civilize slavery because as a nation we can not survive without the help from outsiders.So if we don't stand as a nation people will us for their own personal gain, and generations yet unborn will suffer this same consequences.
| 2023-09-17 13:35:36

The state is not sad but some people who live in the country. You are talking about Maada being selfish and falsifying everything to access the grant so that you will now come and benefit from it, for only the praises will be for Maada, when you were in the same sit for over ten good years but you never falsified the MCC for the country to have the grant. But it would have been better for Maada to continue with such falsificationuch to have the grant the to loose with your false claims of you winning the elections. Bad heart people
Abu Bakarr Jabbie | 2023-09-15 13:07:35

We would only become a better nation if we started to work very hard and forget about the dependent on European aid with selfish condition or remote criteria that doesn't seek the interest of Africa
| 2023-09-14 11:32:52

I hope this is a lesson learnt for which ever Govt happens to be in power for future, let us work towards development and abide by the rules and regulations required by the MCC the better it will be for our country's development.
Alhaji M Sillah | 2023-09-14 11:27:52

Look at this nonsense and selfish person calling the news a good one. why do u guys hate this country much that u don't want good things to come to the country? Some of you guys don't deserve to live on a decent community.
Kaizer | 2023-09-14 11:11:01

Until they approve their MCC, we need to strive on our own to be developed and self-sufficient. We can't continue to survey under aid from the EU and US. We become their puppet instead of partners. We have multiple mineral resources, let our executive and parliament do us a 60/40 concession agreement with investors.
| 2023-09-14 11:08:38

Maada will sacrifice the needed development for the nation for his selfish gains.You needed America's money,but you don't want to listen to America,what a fool and selfish low thinking human being will do that?This shows how hypocritical and deceptive this so-called Paopa criminal politicians are.So,all along,you were falsifying and be deceptive to the MCC to get this money for yourself and cohorts,and not for the nation.If you were honest to yourself, it should not matter whose regime benefits this grant,and your name would have gone down in history for such a wonderful job,but you just drained and dwindle your hard job.sad state.
| 2023-09-14 10:45:04

Good news ahead.all we need is freedom peace and development in mama salone
Teknik Elektro | 2023-09-14 10:41:51

How might the delay in approving Sierra Leone's Compact impact the country's development projects and initiatives?