Current Events Summary # 3

Domestic Policies of West Africa

Sierra Leone has recently elected a new president to term named Ernest Bai Koroma. Mr. Koroma's main goal is to "tackle" corruption. By this Mr. Koroma basically means that he will not allow people to act in such a manner that is dishonest practice. He told the BBC that he would even be onto his own family members if they were part of a corrupt act. Beforehand, Mr. Koroma won a very close battle in an election. Mr. Koroma's actions and loyalty shows the dedication that the country's democracy is receiving. Even though Sierra Leone had a very poor government, Mr. Koroma claims that the government will develop and be enhanced. Making the effort to establish a stronger, better government, Mr. Koroma stated that he and his office will not make the same mistakes that have been made over the last 20 years. As is shown, Mr. Koroma seems to give a positive position for the people of Sierra Leone and the governance.

While the new president of Sierra Leone promises he will deal with corruption, the Nigerian government, and people of Nigeria, are struggling with this act. The governance of Nigeria doesn't seem to be democratic but is as if a resemblance of criminal activity is being portrayed. In Nigeria, hundreds of people have lost their lives and oil revenues have been corrupt or "misplaced". Having the political office use the violence of gangs to recruit politicians is obviously getting too out of control. To make a positive change, the president, Umaru Yar'Adua, and the government of Nigeria would have to take charge of things right away. This country has no time to spare. Reforming the government of Nigeria will be a difficult task, but in order to repair and save the human lives and the political system, control over corruption has to be made.

As a result, within Western Africa, many countries have been dealing with the act of corruption. Whether the effort to change the circumstances they are in have been positive or negative, each region is dealing with the same problems.