The newly elected president of the republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, renewed his pledge to eradicate corruption from Sierra Leone, a country believed to have endured the scourge for decades. The Sierra Leonean president was speaking during his inauguration ceremony yesterday.

President Ernest Bai Koroma, the presidential flag bearer of All People’s Congress (APC) party, won the election on the popular platform of eradicating Sierra Leone’s greatest problem, rampant corruption. Just after his victory in the election, President Koroma swung into action by restricting the movement of ex- SLPP ministers and those in top positions. President Koroma’s APC government has been quick to see the mistakes of the defeated Sierra Leone’s People’s Party, which they termed as ignominious. According some SLPP stalwarts living in The Gambia, their return home now depends on the extent to which the fight against corruption is carried out. Ismaila Bangura, one such supporter, expressed the belief that APC party “had long laid the foundation for corruption during their 23 years of misrule.” During that time, he said, the late President Siaka Stevens was the sole player who allowed pilgrims going to Mecca to take charge of rice and petrol, which were hoarded and paid for at high prices, so much so that the late rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, pronounced war on the system.

Others however believe that it was the SLPP government that entrenched corruption in the country.

Meanwhile President Koroma is believed by many to be a genuine candidate for the onslaught against corruption, success in which could win him the support of even SLPP.