May 25th; probably a day Sierra Leoneans should reflect on the past and take lessons forward.

On this day in 1963, Sierra Leone was one of the founding nations of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU). On ‘Africa Day’ in 1997, a not very happy Corporal and his mates threw out an elected government, broke an army Major out of jail, and got him to head a junta. Finally, three years ago today, after much speculation and not an insignificant number of deaths, the government of Sierra Leone (publicly) accepted there was an Ebola outbreak in the country.

The AU is (and the OAU was) based on very good intentions and strength in numbers has always given much potential. It has grown from 32 founding nations to 55 member states. Its fourteen objectives impress and give hope until you realise many opportunities to show commitment to them have been passed on. More recently, this year’s famine in different parts of Africa got no mention on front pages of the AU’s web pages, the kidnap of the Chibok girls in 2014 saw the AU play catch up after everyone else had reacted, the 2013-2015 Ebola outbreak in the Mano River Union countries saw the AU spectate more than act, and the desperation of young people risking all to escape the hardships of the continent has not even received an audible squeak from the organisation. Yep, the world’s largest regional organisation goes on proving the concept of the toothless bull dog. It has been a case of not much bite with limited yelps instead of desperately needed barking.

Twenty years ago, Sierra Leoneans woke up on Africa Day to find themselves under yet another junta rule. Major Johnny Paul Koroma went on to bring the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) ‘rebels’ into a coalition of sorts but forgot to order them to leave their banditry at the door. Extreme violence was visited on the people and carried on until Nigerian-led forces stopped the madness and restored democracy ten months later. The genie let out of the bottle in 1992 by twenty-something year olds dominated National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC), dubbed “Na Pikin Rule Country” (it’s children running the country) had probably encouraged Corporal Gborie and his friends to have a go. The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) threw out an elected government, compromised progress towards a peace settlement, and plunged the country into depths of depravity. Scathingly referring to the AFRC as “After Freedom Rubbish Cam” (after freedom came rubbish) was effectively a statement on the AFRC and the NPRC as well as a lament to the fall of democracy.

The denial that enabled the Ebola outbreak’s lethally quick spread throughout Sierra Leone ended on 25th May 2014. As we all know, by the time the admission became reaction, thousands of Sierra Leoneans were dead, many more severely affected, countless children were orphaned, the health service was further broken, and the economy dislodged from a commendable axis. Could the reaction have been better? Was the tendency to bury head in sand and sugar coat to blame? Did sycophancy stop professionals going up to government to tell them all wasn’t well under their watch? As someone who was part of the international response to the epidemic, I have many thoughts on these questions based on behaviours I witnessed and experienced. However, my experience also includes working alongside many people in the fight against the outbreak. Good people came from many parts of the world to do their bit and have been rightly recognised for their efforts. My key takeaway though was the spirit of Sierra Leone’s people; people willing to fight for their communities and country with a determination not to let Ebola define who they are or what their country is. Their leaders could learn more than a few things from them.

So, as we do this Africa Day, I will reflect on opportunities missed and dedicate some thought on how we can improve the lives of people in Sierra Leone and Africa as I believe that is what we should put some effort towards. I know I have learnt that doing nothing is never the answer for good intentions without actions will never do. I have also learnt that breaking things is a lot easier than fixing them especially when you throw in that so annoying ‘law of unintended consequences’. Finally, I have seen so clearly and been left in no doubt that denial doesn’t make problems disappear; it only enables them and their effects to become more serious, damaging and enduring.

Wishing you all a peaceful and hopeful Africa Day.