The Bo Declaration.
6TH August 2003

My Government has for some time been occupied with efforts to find viable policies and put in place appropriate measures which will improve the economy of this country and accelerate the recovery process sin which the government has been actively engaged since the end of the conflict. It is my conviction that by taking such measures more resources can be generated and the Government more resources can be generated and the Government will be in a position to provide better services and thereby improve the standard of living of the population and enhance the security of the state. The areas, which have occupied the attention of the Government in this regard, include the diamond Mining Industry, Government procurement of Goods and services, and the Reform of the Public service. Guided by the results of studies conducted in these areas, and after due deliberations by my government at today's Cabinet meeting held in Bo I now make the statement which follows:

THE DIAMOND MINING INDUSTRY

These measures entail the modernization of our diamond mining policies, the effective regulation and monitoring of mining and marketing operations to enhance transparency and curb smuggling and other illicit practices, to attract more reputable companies back to the industry and to create the conditions for ordinary Sierra Leoneans to have a more direct, greater and meaningful stake particularly in artisanal diamond mining.

To this end, the Ministry of Mineral Resources has been instructed to identify suitable mining plots that will be allocated to cooperative groups constituted by small scale Sierra Leonean Miners that will be assisted with credits and other inputs to mine those plots. This initiative, which is complemented by Kono Peace Diamond Alliance project sponsored by USAID, will create meaningful employment for large numbers of ordinary Sierra Leoneans, many of whom are now being ruthlessly exploited by unscrupulous fortune seekers in the diamond areas. The facilities to be provided by the USAID Programme may in future be extended to other diamond mining areas and to the mining of other minerals including Gold.

The employment initiative in the diamond industry is only an initial step in a larger strategy to create more employment opportunities in all areas of the economy. A lot more employment opportunities will be available when implementation of several infrastructure projects, for which we have already secured funding, commences after the rains.

The ultimate goal is to release the energies of the private sector and create avenues for indigenous Sierra Leoneans to develop into prosperous entrepreneurs.

On the issue of developing a transparent mining and trading regime, a High Level Steering Committee on Diamond Sector Reform has been established to address such matters as diamond mining and marketing, administration of the diamond Area Community development Fund, banking or financing of diamond mining and marketing operations, social and environmental issues. More importantly this committee which is supervised by the Vice President comprises representatives of our donor partners, namely, representatives of the British High Commission, the American Embassy and the European Union, as well as the Minister of Finance and Mineral Resources, among others. The Committee has already held meeting and is considering ideas that will lead to the development of important decisions on further tightening regulation of the industry.

At the same time, a sub-committee of the National security Council is working to address immediate security issues in the diamond mining areas particularly issues relating to criminal conduct such as acts of vandalism or lawlessness directed at legitimate mining companies or groups.

Related criminal or illegal diamond operations, such as mining in prohibited areas, are also being addressed and the Ministry of Mineral Resources, with the support of the police, will take appropriate measures where breaches are proved. In this regard, as from Friday 1st August, the Ministry of Mineral Resources has revoked 28 mining licences in the Tankoro and Gbense Chiefdoms in prohibited areas. Other penalties are being considered as a deterrent against non-compliance with established policies.

With regard to Government's policy of attracting back more reputable companies to the diamond industry, De Beers has recently informed me that it is actively considering Government's invitation to come back and join friendly governments and agencies that are currently assisting us in developing effective measures to further strengthen control over the industry.

In the meantime I direct that the following measures should be put in place with immediate effect:-

a) That the GGDO be placed within the new National Revenue Authority, the body currently responsible for the assessment of export tax, as the major function of GGDO involves the valuation and the assessment of export tax on diamond exports.

b) The export licence fees payable by citizens be henceforth at the same rate as for non-citizens.

The policy of according citizens preferential treatment in the payment of export licence fees was for the purpose of promoting greater participation of Sierra Leonean Citizens in the diamond industry. But this otherwise commendable policy of positive discrimination in favour of our citizens has produced undesirable results to the disadvantage of the citizen and the nation. Thus, many foreign investors in the diamond mining industry make use of their relationship with Sierra Leonean citizens to buy export licences at the lower rates. The result is that many Sierra Leoneans remain tied to non-citizen supporters.

PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES

On Thursday the 31st July a final conclusion was reached on the implementation of the reform of the Government procurement process. In the course of this month arrangements will be in place to begin a thorough review of existing Government procurement practices and to develop a modern transparent and robust institutional framework for government procurement that will be supervised by international procurement specialists until the reform process is complete.

Reforming Government procurement system in the immediate period after the war is critical in Sierra Leone's long-term development prospects and in getting government functions revitalized. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank are helping in this regard.

As everything the Government does for its citizens involves purchasing some commodity or providing service, procurement reform is at the heart of good governance and anti-corruption. Procurement is more than just buying. It involves the putting in place of proper and efficient measures and procedures, which will result in Government receiving value for money. Corruption is only one of the enemies of value for money. Equally harmful is poor procurement management, which too can rob Government of just as much money as corrupt practices. It is for this reason that Government has asked for and received the services of internationally renowned procurement experts to help us put together best procurement measures.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

With regard to civil service reform, work has recently commenced on the development of a framework for creating, within the shortest possible time, a competent and well-motivated corps of civil service leadership consistent with our declared determination to raise the level of performance and integrity of our civil service. Talented and committed officers with the requisite integrity will be retained in the service and their advancement in their careers may even be accelerated. This will enhance the efforts of the Government to restore the public service to its former dignity and respect and enable it to serve the people more effectively and efficiently. It is my intention to personally oversee this important reform process. It will ensure that we mobilize and win the full support of both the donor community and the entire public service for the reforms.

SECURITY IMPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REFUGEES FROM LIBERIA

I will take this opportunity to make a brief statement here on the position of the refugees returning to this country from Liberia. While the Government welcomes Sierra Leonean returnees and continues to cooperate with UNHCR on the refugee situation, it must be made clear that those ex-combatants who desert from the conflict in Liberia or elsewhere must turn themselves in to the security forces at the border areas for screening, disarmament, registration and eventual internment at internment facilities already provided by the Government. The security forces, in the light of this policy, are required to reinvigorate their activities to continue to enforce this policy. Those deserters who failed to turn themselves over to the security forces will be forced to do so. The Provincial and district Security Committees and other local authorities, especially Paramount Chiefs, must be vigilant to compliment other efforts to discourage such armed ex-fighters crossing into Sierra Leone territory unscreened

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