Mr. Kutubu Koroma praises the New Direction Govt.

 

POLITICO/REALITY 101

(FOREIGN AFFAIRS)

FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE HONORABLE PROFESSOR DAVID FRANCIS,VICAR OF THE NATION’S DOCTRINAL CARDINAL FOREIGN POLICY NICHE.

THE WAY FORWARD IN THE CONDUCT OF THE SIERRA LEONE’S FOREIGN POLICY WITH THE INCEPTION OF A DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY FIRST IN HISTORY,A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT BY THE JULIUS MAADA BIO LED SLPP ADMINISTRATION.

I wish to begin with by first of all thanking the Bio administration in general,but Professor David Francis in particular for the bold step this government has taken to establish a diplomatic academy designed to train our men and women to be able to compete with Ghana and Nigeria by equipping them with the necessary skills,knowledge,and statecraft for the effective diplomatic representations of Sierra Leone.

We have lots of catching up with those countries.

Ghana in 1957 under the leadership of Dr.Kwame Nkrumah envisioned the role Ghana will play on the world stage eventually and saw fit to create a Foreign Service with its antecedents in that regard.

Similarly,Nigeria under the leadership of Sir.Abubakarr Tafawa Balewa in 1961 did the same thing which accounts for why those two nations are factors on the world stage.

Sierra Leone on the contrary did not have the visionary leadership for that from Milton Margai except now the Bio administration has seen the need for that.

Our own “FOREIGN SERVICE “ truly speaking cannot by any stretch of imagination be classified as one with gravitas for such awesome responsibilities.As a matter of fact,it is just a regular Ministry with no expertise in the conduct of serious foreign policy especially At Ambassadorial levels.

Sierra Leone’s then Ministry of External Affairs existence can be credited to the late Peter Leonard Tucker one of our finest civil servants.

We have had galaxy of Foreign Ministers in the persons of:

John Karefa Smart(Milton Margai appointee)

C.B.Rogers-Wright(Milton Margai appointee)

Maigore Christian Kallon(Albert Margai appointee)

William Leigh (Police Commissioner)NRC

Luseni Alfred Morlu Brewa(Siaka Stevens appointee)

Cyril Foray(Siaka Stevens appointee)

Solomon Pratt(Siaka Stevens appointee)

Desmond Edgar Fashole Luke(Siaka Stevens appointee)

Francis Minah(Siaka Stevens appointee)

Abdulai Osman Conteh (Siaka Stevens appointee)

Shaka Kanu(Siaka Stevens appointee)

Abdul Karim Koroma(Siaka Stevens appointee)

Ahmed Dumbuya (NPRC appointee)

Mohamed Kamara(NPRC appointee 

Karefa Kargbo(NPRC appointee in an acting  capacity)

Abass Bundu(NPRC appointee)

Alusine Fofanah(NPRC  appointee)

Melvin Chaloba(Bio NPRC appointee)

Maigore Kallon (second tour Ahmed Tejan Kabbah appointee)Shirley Yema Gbujama(Ahmed Tejan Kabbah appointee)

Almamy Palo Bangura (Johnny Paul Koroma rebel leader appointee)

Sama Banya(Ahmed Tejan Kabbah appointee)

Momodu Koroma(Ahmed Tejan Kabbah appointee)

Zainab Bangura(Ernest Bai Koroma (appointee)

Joseph Bandabla Dauda “JAM BODY DEVELOPMENT “(Ernest Bai Koroma appointee)

Samura Kamara (Ernest Bai Koroma appointee)

Kaifala Marrah (Ernest Bai Koroma appointee)

Alie Kabbah(Julius Maada Bio civilian led 

administration appointee)

Nabeela Tunis(Julius Maada Bio civilian  led appointee)

David Francis,incumbent in the Julius Maada Bio  civilian led administration.

With his possible exception,no other Foreign Minister has demonstrated visionary leadership in the realm of Foreign policy prosecutions which accounts for why he is credited for being the pioneer of the Foreign service academy, an enduring legacy of the Bio presidency.

As we should be aware of the indices driving foreign policy,the geography of a nation,its political system,economic strength,leadership,and national security of a nation through its military capabilities by way of combat readiness to ward off other nations driven by territorial expansionist tendencies are key factors in the conceptualization,formulation,articulation,and implementation of a nation’s doctrinal cardinal foreign policy niche.

Since Sierra Leone is only now coming to the arena in that regard,Professor David Francis is well advised to engage his counterparts in both Ghana and Nigeria for technical assistance.

For example by talking to his Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama,the experiences of veteran diplomats such as Emeka Anyaoku,Bolaji Akiinyemi,Ibrahim Gambari,and Tejjani Mohammad-Bandi to cite few luminaries can be of invaluable help.

Also in Ghana,his counterpart Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey,and other experienced retired diplomats like the indefatigable Victor Gbeho,and retired General Henry Anyidoho who also played crucial roles to end the wars in Rwanda and Sierra Leone can be of considerable help.

With the excellent bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom especially the warm relationship that president Bio had with then Prime Minister Theresa May,a contact with Ms.Joanne Penfold the head of the diplomatic academy in the Foreign Commonwealth,and Development office for technical support in making our nascent academy a worthy institution is worth exploring.

The fact of the matter is that a professionalized foreign service with technical expertise must contain the following components or divisions in order to pursue credible diplomacy in this modern age.

Policy making unit

Administration the nerve center for the prosecution of foreign policy.

Finance or budgetary division for operations 

Protocol division

Legal and consular affairs 

Economic Trade and investment.

I do recall the Foreign Minister himself alluding to economics diplomacy at an evening gathering following his maiden visit here in Washington during a reception hosted by Ambassador Wai at his residence.I recall engaging him in a one on one conversation where he talked of economics diplomacy.

Passport issuance should come under the remit of the Foreign Ministry.

Information and public affairs unit should be part of the new dispensation.

Divisions such as:

Africa

Americas

Europe 

Middle East

Asia and Pacific

Inspectorate division as well.

There should be a division responsible for international conferences also.

SYNOPSIS OF KUTUBU KOROMA’S BROAD OUTLINES OF WHAT A REAL FOREIGN SERVICE SHOULD BE IN THE GARGANTUAN TASK OF PROSECUTIONS OF A NATION’S DOCTRINAL CARDINAL FOREIGN POLICY NICHE FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF PROFESSOR DAVID FRANCIS,THE VICAR OF SIERRA LEONE’S FOREIGN POLICY.

FRIDAY JANUARY 6,2023,FROM THE SALON TOK FORUM DEALING WITH ISSUES COMMENTS AND ANALYSIS KUTUBU KOROMA WRITER/ANCHOR.