By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
Hello, how you do? After a long resting period, TRACE Joenal began another working year in a brand new office.
After spending days in the office, TRACE Joenal decided to embark on a journey for the very first time out of Freetown to get first-hand information about the happening during this Covid-19 pandemic and how are Sierra Leoneans determined Sierra Leoneans.
Considering the time TRACE Joenal left Bo Town, TRACE Joenal decided to start his tour in that part of the country with the aim of seeing new development but to the surprise of TRACE Joenal, things turned out to be different.
The journey to Bo Town was very much relaxing as TRACE Joenal was entertained by the driver from the start to the end.
A friend that visited Bo Town few months ago and informed TRACE Joenal about some of the changes that have taken place in Bo Town.
TRACE Joenal was eager to see some of those changes and when TRACE Joenal arrived in Bo Town about 21:00 GMT, the first point of contact for TRACE Joenal was Total petrol station.
This is one of the most popular points you can consider when you arrive in Bo Town and TRACE was very much delighted to be in that area after a very long time.
Bo district is in the Southern Province, and borders with Kenema district to the east, Tonkolili district to the north, Moyamba district to the west, Bonthe district to the southwest and Pujehun district to the south. It is the second most populated district in Sierra Leone (after the Western Area Urban district).
As TRACE Joenal was viewing that surrounding, TRACE Joenal continued to walk towards Njala University junction. One thing that TRACE Joenal discovered was darkness in the street.
During TRACE Joenal last visit, the Solar streets lights were in good order, Bo Town was very bright and lively but all of a suddenly darkness had taken over that beautiful Town.
TRACE Joenal continued to walk along the streets of Bo for about an hour with a mind-set that the people may have destroyed their own property but knowing Bo residents, TRACE Joenal noticed that all the streets lights are intact but because of lack of maintenance they may have gone off.
A bike rider told TRACE Joenal that they have been enjoying the solar street light as the one they should have in their homes are not forthcoming.
TRACE Joenal asked him again if they are not enjoying electricity at home, he replied, “this is the thing I am telling you.”
Few minutes after our conversation TRACE Joenal began to get strange sounds like the noise of generators all over, even in the guest house TRACE passed that night.
At the guest house, the manager switched off his generator after 00:00 hours GMT. It was another disturbing night for TRACE Joenal again.
TRACE Joenal fought it out to pass the night in that guest house.
As TRACE Joenal was resting, TRACE Joenal began to think about the promises made by the government and the huge amount of money they have been saying they spent on electricity but yet still big city like Bo is seriously suffering.
The Solar streets light which the government was making wild publicity about have become derelict. In the north towns like Port Loko and Kambia, residents looted the panels while in Bo everything is in order but the light have refused to come on.
Bo is the primary home of Njala University, the second largest university in Sierra Leone, after Fourah Bay College. Bo is also home to the Bo Government Secondary School, commonly known as Bo School, which is one of the biggest and most prominent secondary schools in West Africa. The school has a history of producing some of Sierra Leone’s leaders. The city is home to the Bo Stadium, the second largest stadium in Sierra Leone, and is mostly used for football matches
Bo is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Sierra Leone. The city is home to a significant population of many of Sierra Leone’s ethnic groups, with no single ethnic group forming a majority.
Bo is the principal home of the Mende people, who form the plurality of the city’s population. The Krio language is by far the most widely spoken language in Bo and is used as the primary language of communication in the city.
Bo Town is one of Sierra Leone’s six municipalities and is governed by a directly elected City Council form of government, headed by a Mayor, in whom executive authority is vested. The Mayor is responsible for the general management of the city. The Mayor and members of the Bo City Council are elected directly by the residents of Bo in a municipal election that is held every four years.
Like virtually all parts of the Southern Province, the city of Bo is a reliable political stronghold of the SLPP, the main opposition party in Sierra Leone. The SLPP had won every Sierra Leone presidential elections in the city and the rest of Bo District by an overwhelming majority.
The SLPP had also won virtually every parliamentary, and Local government elections in Bo by an overwhelming majority.
Bo town is the second largest city in the country and the district capital. The question is why the government neglected a city like that that has scored significant goals in their governing system.
It was alleged that the President’s Sister was awarded the Solar Streets Light contract that did not bring solution but more questions than answers.
Bo Town has been described as the city that never sleeps. Life is very simple and affordable when you are in Bo than any other cities in Sierra Leone.
The need for the government to act as a national government must be a concern.
Nobody can afford to lose a commercial viable city like Bo to go without electricity for days not to talk about months or year.
This is not the promise President Koroma made and his handpicked Presidential candidate is also relying on those lies to win the election
The joy the people of Bo should continue by all means. TRACE Joenal like many other visitors have been enjoying it especially when there is electricity supply in Bo.
TRACE Joenal is a regular column brought to you by Ibrahim JoenalSesay, Senior Staff Writer of SALONE TIMES NEWSPAPER, Best Human Right Reporting award winner and Advocate for Change in Sierra Leone. You can follow him on www.232news.com,Twitter & Facebook @tracejoenal or E-Mail salonesij@gmail.com
