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DE RUEHFN #0355/01 2510830
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FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2865
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000355 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER) 
 
E.O. 12958 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SL
 
SUBJECT: AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS FROM SIERRA LEONE 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Sierra Leone hosted an African Caucus meeting for Bank 
Governors and Finance Ministers from around the continent, its 
largest conference since the conclusion of the war. The Independent 
Media Commission presented its annual report to President Koroma, 
who again pledged his support for press freedom. The Justice Sector 
Development Program, in partnership with the Sierra Leone 
Association of Journalists, trained dozens of media representatives 
on judicial reporting. The US Embassy supported the commissioning of 
a newly renovated military hospital and announced the reactivation 
of the Peace Corps.  Finally, new Brazilian and German Ambassadors 
presented their letters of credentials as the press heralded 
President Koroma's visit to Brazil.  END SUMMARY. 
 
KOROMA ASSURES FOOD SECURITY SUCCESS 
 
¶2. A four-man delegation from the African Union and New Partnership 
for African Development [NEPAD] on August 3 met with President 
Ernest Bai Koroma.  The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Sam Sesay said 
the purpose of their visit was to assess and have first-hand 
information on agricultural development in the country. Dr Sesay 
said the Sierra Leonean government, together with experts, has put 
together comprehensive data on agriculture and its related fields in 
order to achieve the six percent annual growth rate to alleviate 
poverty. He added that government has made agriculture its number 
one priority and increased its budgetary allocation. 
 
¶3. The head of delegation, Prof. R M Mkandawire, said he is proud to 
note that the nation is on the "march towards recovery and no doubt 
has made a significant impact in the agricultural sector". Prof 
Mkandawire commended President Koroma for championing the difficult 
cause of alleviating poverty in Africa, as it demonstrates a good 
example for other African leaders. 
 
IMC PRESENTS ANNUAL REPORT TO PRESIDENT KOROMA 
 
¶4. The Independent Media Commission (IMC) presented its 2008 annual 
report to President Ernest Bai Koroma on August 7. Addressing the 
Commissioner and members of the IMC, President Koroma said that, "We 
believe in enhancing freedom of the press, and matters regarding the 
review of certain rules will be addressed.... your independence is 
guaranteed. You have your rules and regulations; you should make 
sure that they are followed." 
 
¶5. The IMC Commissioner Bernadette Cole commended President Koroma 
for protecting the commission's independence, and 
also requested the government's consideration in terms of supporting 
community radio stations as international funding agencies have 
pulled out much of their support.  The annual report itself detailed 
the activities undertaken by the commission in pursuit of its 
mandate. 
 
SIERRA LEONE HOSTS AFRICAN CAUCUS MEETING 
 
¶6. Sierra Leone was host to the African Caucus Meeting involving 
Bank Governors and Finance ministers from around the continent. 
Every year, the Chairman of the African Caucus hosts African 
Ministers of Finance and Governors of Central Banks to deliberate on 
issues of importance to their respective economies. The African 
Caucus was the biggest conference hosted by the country since the 
end of the war. In his welcoming remarks, President Koroma said that 
he was gratified by the developments in the World Bank, especially 
the approval of the third chair for sub-Saharan Africa. However, he 
said that he is still concerned that the quota and voice reforms are 
taking too long to come into effect. In view of this, he urged the 
Bretton Woods institutions to speedily enter into force those 
reforms already adopted in 2006 and 2008. President Koroma also 
expressed concern in financing the wide infrastructure deficit 
facing African countries. This deficit is observed in all key 
sectors of African economies, such as transport, water, energy, and 
information and communication technology. The high transport and 
communication costs and the very expensive and unreliable energy 
supply have led to a loss of competitiveness in world markets. 
 
JOURNALISTS TRAIN ON JUSTICE SECTOR ISSUES 
 
¶7. The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), in 
partnership with the Justice Sector Development Programme (JSDP), 
launched a weeklong regional media-training program on justice 
sector issues at the Eastern Polytechnic College in the Eastern 
region of Sierra Leone. The training was launched on Tuesday August 
18, and will be replicated in Bo, Makeni and Freetown. A total of 
219 participants were drawn from the print, broadcast and online 
media throughout Sierra Leone. 
 
¶8.  The training was aimed at improving the capacity of the media to 
report on justice and to sector issues in order to improve the 
coverage and public knowledge, as well as help overcome biases 
regarding the judicial system. 
 
US EMBASSY DONATES TO THE MILITARY 
 
FREETOWN 00000355  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶9.  The United States Embassy unveiled and dedicated equipment and a 
refurbished laboratory to the 34th Military Hospital in Freetown. 
First Lady Sia Koroma called on the Embassy to train those who will 
be using the equipment and interpreting data to better help the 
doctors in doing their work. Ambassador June Carter Perry said that 
the US Embassy contributes to the fight against disease in Sierra 
Leone in many ways throughout the country through programs to 
provide prevention education, condoms, anti-retroviral therapy, and 
education on how to live a positive life with HIV. 
 
US PLANS TO REACTIVE PEACE CORPS 
 
¶10. A three-person delegation from the Peace Corps visited Sierra 
Leone in early August to hold consultative meetings on the 
organization's desire to reactivate the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone. 
The delegation paid a courtesy calls to the Ministries of Foreign 
Affairs, Education, Health and Agriculture in order to explore 
possible areas for assistance. The team also stressed the need to 
sign an updated country agreement with the government in order to 
begin placing volunteers in country. 
 
NEW AMBASSADORS PLEDGE SUPPORT 
 
¶11.  The new Ambassadors of Brazil, Mr. Jose Fiuza Neto, and 
Germany, Mr. Thomas Freudenhammer, presented their letters of 
credentials to President Koroma on August 13.  While presenting 
their credentials both Ambassadors pledged their country's continued 
support to Sierra Leone.  The President was grateful for the 
"numerous contributions that the Federal Republic of Germany has 
made towards the development of our country, particularly in areas 
such as Education, support of the Anti-Corruption Drive, Poverty 
Reduction and Employment promotion for youths." 
 
¶12. President Koroma also expressed thanks to Ambassador Fiuza Neto 
for President Lula da Silva's invitation to visit Brazil. The 
President noted Brazil's development strides over the years and how 
"Sierra Leone stands to benefit from this remarkable success through 
the South-South cooperation initiatives that we are currently 
developing." 
 
PRESIDENT KOROMA VISITS BRAZIL 
 
13 In late August, President Koroma visited Brazil in what was the 
first trip ever made by a Sierra Leonean leader to Brazil.  He 
emphasized the need to further strengthen the relationship because 
of the striking similarities Africa has with Brazil in terms of 
background, environment, and culture.  According to the President, 
it makes more sense to tap from the Brazilian experience "instead of 
those that are far removed from us."  While Sierra Leone has not had 
ambassadorial relationship with Brazil before, the two countries 
have had ties for 35 years. President Koroma's entourage included 
the Foreign Minister and Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the United 
States. 
 
FEDZER