Cabinet Performance Disappoints Bio
By: Christian Conteh
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has expressed his disappointment at the performance of public officials in his government. He was speaking at the recently convened Ministerial Retreat in Bo, an event that felt more like a desperate attempt to reignite a failing public service than a proactive strategy.
Addressing ministers, deputies, permanent secretaries, and senior civil servants, the President minced no words expressing the dire need for correction and recalibration.
The President’s remarks carried a tone of disappointment and urgency, reminding attendees of their unfulfilled pledges to the Sierra Leonean people. Under the theme of “Deepening Coordination, Collaboration for Accelerated Service Delivery,” President Bio emphasized the pressing nature of their tasks.
“It is also an opportunity for us to speak hard truths to each other, to allow us to correct and recalibrate our actions to advance the national agenda within the limited timeframe that we have. This is the essence of this retreat,” he said.
He outrightly criticized the lacklustre performance of some ministers, highlighting their tendency to operate in isolation and their failure to confront the nation’s complex challenges with vigour and innovation.
President Bio underscored the gravity of their responsibilities, urging them to lead effectively rather than relying on others to do the work for them. Excuses and finger-pointing were deemed unacceptable, with the President demanding that solutions accompany any discussion of problems.
“I put this team together because I cannot do this work alone, and I am counting on each of you here to step up. We are in a time of great difficulty, both economically and socially, and the expectations of our people are very high.
But unfortunately, my observation is that some team members seem to be going silo, with little dynamism, in solving the extremely complex problems that we are faced with. We must show that commitment to drive change. And this must start today and now”.
While acknowledging past achievements, President Bio emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in approach, away from bureaucracy and internal strife towards a focus on the collective good.
The President didn’t shy away from addressing the dysfunctional relationships within his cabinet, particularly the animosity between ministers and their deputies, which was hindering progress. He reminded them sharply of their paired responsibilities.
“No one can do this job alone. Ministers must seek to cultivate a culture of team planning, ensure proper delegation, reduce bureaucratic red tape, break compartmentalisation in the workplace, and set ambitious but achievable targets to ensure timely delivery.”
The president used the occasion to call for unity and efficiency, urging his ministers to embrace a culture of collaboration, delegation and accountability.
