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He breaks silence with the Sierra Leone media years after relinquishing power in 2018. Former President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, has said “for democracy to thrive, state institutions should be independent and professional”.
The former president, while addressing media practitioners at his Makeni residence recently, explained that he remains astonished in witnessing occasions where democratic institutions are reneging on their civic responsibilities, turning their backs against the principles of peace, democracy and serenity, for the public good.
He added that being posed by global pandemics like the COVID-19 is a clear justification for nation-states in Africa to strengthen democratic good governance.
Ex-president Koroma is concerned that some of the measures being put in place to curtail and contain outbreak and pandemic are sometimes being used as a means to suppress dissenting views.
Koroma is of the view that there is critical need to look into public health efforts, human rights and the dignity of people in a given society.
“The peace of every state is crucially important,” said Koroma, adding nobody can change the will of the people in a democratic setting.
He explained that the media, civil society groups and non-governmental organisations should serve their conscience and serve the purpose for which they are existing.
