By: Sulaiman Stom Koroma
Sierra Leone is marking its Independence Day celebrations today with a call from the government for three days of prayers-Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
For far too long the country’s continuous reliance on prayers may not be enough to propel the nation forward. We have prayed and fasted countless times and held public crusades and nationwide prayers.
Take South Korea and China as examples these countries by nature are Buddhist nations, and the Japanese are Shintoists, but yet they are far more developed than us. Similarly, many Western countries are known for their secularism yet boast advanced infrastructure and technology. While we put our entire strengths on prayers, they rely on hard work, perseverance and creativity plus prayers.
In fact, not all countries mark independence as a national holiday. Many, such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey mark other dates of significance. What have we achieved as a nation since Independence? We have introduced the PRSP 1&2, Agenda for Change, Agenda for Prosperity, 50th Anniversary Conference, National Conferences, Paopa etc. But yet the government cannot provide electricity, water and other BASIC amenities for its people.
I believe that the government should focus on fostering innovation and creativity by establishing high-tech hubs and investing in education to send exceptional students abroad for further studies. By nurturing talent and fostering a culture of learning, I believe Sierra Leone can harness the potential of its youth to drive progress and development.
As the nation reflects on its journey post-independence, I still wonder about the effectiveness of prolonged reliance on prayer over tangible steps towards modernization and growth.
