{"id":443,"date":"2020-01-02T13:59:50","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T13:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/sierra-leone\/?p=443"},"modified":"2020-01-02T13:59:50","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T13:59:50","slug":"president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year","title":{"rendered":"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation. But for the people of Sierra Leone, there is little hope of a better and brighter future.<\/p>\n

The people of Sierra Leone have experienced ten years of economic struggle, with rising and chronic unemployment, low economic growth, alarmingly high government borrowing, rising cost of living, low investments in key sectors of the economy, and collapse of the value of the currency \u2013 the Leone.<\/p>\n

Although successive governments promised to do all it takes to transform the country from a poverty stricken and foreign aid dependent nation, it seems the political will to take tough policy decisions, and put country before selfish, partisan interests is in short supply.<\/p>\n

When president Julius Maada Bio was elected in March 2018, he too promised to end the suffering of the people of Sierra Leone. He promised to change how the country is governed. He promised to end impunity and lawlessness. He promised a New Direction.<\/p>\n

But how much has changed in Sierra Leone since March 2018?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The country now has a free education programme for all state-run primary and secondary schools, which critics say is being crippled by lack of funding, low teacher morale, and growing household poverty.<\/p>\n

There is also a new government mantra in town. Instead of the former president Koroma\u2019s \u201cattitudinal change and my government is running the country like a business\u201d chorus from State house, president Bio\u2019s mantra \u2013 \u201cwe are building the nation\u2019s human capital\u201d is yet to gain traction.<\/p>\n

President Bio says investing in developing the country\u2019s human capital is key to the country\u2019s economic future, and its chances of capitalising and benefiting from the fourth industrial revolution pioneered by new advanced technology and innovation. Fine words indeed.<\/p>\n

While many in Sierra Leone would agree with him, there are just too many hungry people in the country; far too many children are still dying before their fifth birthday; most adults dying before their 50th<\/sup>\u00a0birthday due to poor health and poverty.<\/p>\n

Access to clean drinking water and electricity, are posing immense difficulty for the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans across the country.<\/p>\n

And with over 70% of adults out of work, including thousands of qualified university and college graduates, president Bio\u2019s dream of taking the people of Sierra Leone to the promised land by investing in a technological revolution is proving hard to sell.<\/p>\n

Far too many farmers are struggling to increase their production yield due to lack of investment finance, use of low productivity seeds, lack of modern farming techniques, and weak supply and value chain structures.<\/p>\n

Far too many small and medium sized businesses are struggling to survive.<\/p>\n

In his second New Year\u2019s message to the people of Sierra Leone, president Bio is calling for the people, not only to be patient, but to be the change that they too would like to see in the country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is what he said today:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Fellow citizens, welcome to a new year \u2013 a time to\u00a0\u00a0 bid\u00a0\u00a0 farewell\u00a0\u00a0 to\u00a0\u00a0 2019\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 a\u00a0\u00a0 time\u00a0\u00a0 to\u00a0\u00a0 look forward to 2020. As\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 look\u00a0\u00a0 back\u00a0\u00a0 into\u00a0\u00a0 2019,\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 were\u00a0\u00a0 shackled with high domestic and foreign debt repayments, unfavourable\u00a0\u00a0 mining\u00a0\u00a0 lease\u00a0\u00a0 agreements,\u00a0\u00a0 low domestic\u00a0\u00a0 productivity,\u00a0\u00a0 high\u00a0\u00a0 youth unemployment,\u00a0\u00a0 high\u00a0\u00a0 inflation\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 currency depreciation.<\/p>\n

Throughout\u00a0\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0 year,\u00a0\u00a0 our confidence\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 optimism\u00a0\u00a0 as\u00a0\u00a0 a\u00a0\u00a0 nation\u00a0\u00a0 were shaken\u00a0\u00a0 by\u00a0\u00a0 mild\u00a0\u00a0 economic\u00a0\u00a0 turbulence\u00a0\u00a0 and unavoidable shocks we inherited.<\/p>\n

Typically, Sierra Leoneans have made light of the situation with the usual humorous jibe, \u201cthe gron dry\u201d.<\/p>\n

But in 2019, we also made huge progress. We\u00a0\u00a0 launched\u00a0\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0 medium\u00a0\u00a0 term\u00a0\u00a0 national development\u00a0\u00a0 plan;\u00a0\u00a0 increased\u00a0\u00a0 domestic\u00a0\u00a0 revenue mobilisation\u00a0\u00a0 by\u00a0\u00a0 streamlining\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 automating revenue\u00a0\u00a0 collection\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 deposit\u00a0\u00a0 processes; clarified and reduced the tax and duty burden on businesses; made it easier to establish and run a business\u00a0\u00a0 including\u00a0\u00a0 providing\u00a0\u00a0 aftercare\u00a0\u00a0 at\u00a0\u00a0 the highest\u00a0\u00a0 levels\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 provided\u00a0\u00a0 more\u00a0\u00a0 support\u00a0\u00a0 for small to medium enterprises. We do this with the firm belief that private enterprise is the engine for economic expansion.<\/p>\n

As we look forward into 2020, our Country is at peace\u00a0\u00a0 with\u00a0\u00a0 falling\u00a0\u00a0 crime\u00a0\u00a0 rates,\u00a0\u00a0 lower\u00a0\u00a0 prison populations and no security threat. At Bintumani 3,\u00a0\u00a0 Sierra\u00a0\u00a0 Leoneans\u00a0\u00a0 suggested\u00a0\u00a0 ways\u00a0\u00a0 to\u00a0\u00a0 further lower\u00a0\u00a0 tensions\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 establish\u00a0\u00a0 a\u00a0\u00a0 permanent infrastructure\u00a0\u00a0 for\u00a0\u00a0 peace.<\/p>\n

We\u00a0\u00a0 have\u00a0\u00a0 moved\u00a0\u00a0 to repeal\u00a0\u00a0 criminal\u00a0\u00a0 libel\u00a0\u00a0 laws\u00a0\u00a0 that\u00a0\u00a0 successive governments had used to suppress free speech. We\u00a0\u00a0 continue\u00a0\u00a0 to\u00a0\u00a0 open\u00a0\u00a0 up\u00a0\u00a0 civic\u00a0\u00a0 spaces\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 we encourage our citizens to speak up and make our democracy stronger and better.<\/p>\n

In spite of the cynicism about foreign travel, we have,\u00a0\u00a0 through\u00a0\u00a0 those\u00a0\u00a0 travels\u00a0\u00a0 transformed\u00a0\u00a0 the reputation and image of Sierra Leone abroad by comprehensively telling our friends and partners who we really are and where we are taking our nation. And they have\u00a0\u00a0 watched our unrelenting and determined fight against corruption.<\/p>\n

We passed the MCC\u2019s \u201cControl of Corruption\u201d indicator with very high scores.\u00a0\u00a0 They\u00a0\u00a0 have\u00a0\u00a0 watched\u00a0\u00a0 us\u00a0\u00a0 crack\u00a0\u00a0 down\u00a0\u00a0 on fraud\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 waste\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 reform\u00a0\u00a0 public\u00a0\u00a0 institutions and practices. And you know what, the IMF, EU, DFID, World Bank and our international partners have all expressed\u00a0\u00a0 confidence\u00a0\u00a0 in\u00a0\u00a0 what\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 are doing and they have re-engaged fully.<\/p>\n

We have actively promoted\u00a0\u00a0 business\u00a0\u00a0 in\u00a0\u00a0 Sierra\u00a0\u00a0 Leone through\u00a0\u00a0 various\u00a0\u00a0 investment\u00a0\u00a0 conferences\u00a0\u00a0 and foreign\u00a0\u00a0 delegations\u00a0\u00a0 have visited\u00a0\u00a0 our country\u00a0\u00a0 to explore investment opportunities.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0\u00a0 fisheries,\u00a0\u00a0 tourism,\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 agricultural\u00a0\u00a0 sectors are\u00a0\u00a0 set\u00a0\u00a0 for\u00a0\u00a0 significant\u00a0\u00a0 foreign\u00a0\u00a0 private\u00a0\u00a0 sector investments in the near future. We are focused on\u00a0\u00a0 rice-sufficiency,\u00a0\u00a0 cash\u00a0\u00a0 crop\u00a0\u00a0 production\u00a0\u00a0 and agricultural value-chain addition.<\/p>\n

As\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 go\u00a0\u00a0 into\u00a0\u00a0 2020,\u00a0\u00a0 more\u00a0\u00a0 than\u00a0\u00a0 two\u00a0\u00a0 million children,\u00a0\u00a0 especially\u00a0\u00a0 girls,\u00a0\u00a0 have\u00a0\u00a0 access\u00a0\u00a0 to\u00a0\u00a0 free quality\u00a0\u00a0 education,\u00a0\u00a0 free\u00a0\u00a0 teaching\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 learning materials, expanded healthcare services, school buses and free school feeding in some areas.<\/p>\n

We have\u00a0\u00a0 intensified\u00a0\u00a0 our\u00a0\u00a0 national\u00a0\u00a0 campaign\u00a0\u00a0 against early\u00a0\u00a0 child\u00a0\u00a0 marriage,\u00a0\u00a0 introduced\u00a0\u00a0 robust enforcement\u00a0\u00a0 and tougher\u00a0\u00a0 sentencing guidelines for sexual and gender-based violence.<\/p>\n

Teenage pregnancy, menstrual health and hygiene are no longer taboo topics. Our women are\u00a0\u00a0 at\u00a0\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0 centre\u00a0\u00a0 of\u00a0\u00a0 our\u00a0\u00a0 country\u2019s\u00a0\u00a0 future development and security and we have recruited more women into our armed forces than at any time in our country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

We\u00a0\u00a0 are\u00a0\u00a0 investing\u00a0\u00a0 heavily\u00a0\u00a0 in\u00a0\u00a0 STEM\u00a0\u00a0 disciplines especially for girls and through the Directorate of Science,\u00a0\u00a0 Technology,\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 Innovation,\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 are harnessing the power of data and technology to support\u00a0\u00a0 governance,\u00a0\u00a0 business,\u00a0\u00a0 healthcare, education, and agriculture.<\/p>\n

We recently launched the\u00a0\u00a0 first\u00a0\u00a0 drone\u00a0\u00a0 corridor\u00a0\u00a0 in\u00a0\u00a0 West\u00a0\u00a0 Africa\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 the first\u00a0\u00a0 block-chain-based\u00a0\u00a0 national\u00a0\u00a0 digital\u00a0\u00a0 identity platform\u00a0\u00a0 that\u00a0\u00a0 will\u00a0\u00a0 improve\u00a0\u00a0 financial\u00a0\u00a0 inclusion among other benefits.<\/p>\n

Soon,\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 will\u00a0\u00a0 convene\u00a0\u00a0 a\u00a0\u00a0 national\u00a0\u00a0 forum\u00a0\u00a0 on\u00a0\u00a0 the future\u00a0\u00a0 of\u00a0\u00a0 education.\u00a0\u00a0 We\u00a0\u00a0 do\u00a0\u00a0 so\u00a0\u00a0 mindful\u00a0\u00a0 of\u00a0\u00a0 our national\u00a0\u00a0 development\u00a0\u00a0 priorities\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 goals\u00a0\u00a0 and knowing\u00a0\u00a0 that\u00a0\u00a0 for\u00a0\u00a0 our\u00a0\u00a0 children\u00a0\u00a0 to\u00a0\u00a0 lead\u00a0\u00a0 and participate\u00a0\u00a0 in\u00a0\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0 Fourth\u00a0\u00a0 Industrial\u00a0\u00a0 Revolution and the global economy, they must be equipped with a 21st century education.<\/p>\n

We enter 2020 in a Sierra Leone where mothers in\u00a0\u00a0 labour\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 critically\u00a0\u00a0 ill-cases\u00a0\u00a0 can\u00a0\u00a0 now\u00a0\u00a0 be rushed\u00a0\u00a0 into\u00a0\u00a0 a\u00a0\u00a0 nearby\u00a0\u00a0 hospital\u00a0\u00a0 or\u00a0\u00a0 community health centre by an ambulance they can call toll-free\u00a0\u00a0 from\u00a0\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0 comfort\u00a0\u00a0 of\u00a0\u00a0 their\u00a0\u00a0 homes.<\/p>\n

We\u00a0\u00a0 will continue\u00a0\u00a0 work\u00a0\u00a0 on\u00a0\u00a0 lowering\u00a0\u00a0 maternal\u00a0\u00a0 mortality rates,\u00a0\u00a0 expanding\u00a0\u00a0 primary\u00a0\u00a0 healthcare,\u00a0\u00a0 training and\u00a0\u00a0 recruiting\u00a0\u00a0 more\u00a0\u00a0 healthcare\u00a0\u00a0 workers,\u00a0\u00a0 and refurbishing\u00a0\u00a0 or\u00a0\u00a0 building\u00a0\u00a0 new\u00a0\u00a0 health\u00a0\u00a0 centres\u00a0\u00a0 all over the country.<\/p>\n

In 2020,\u00a0\u00a0 we will\u00a0\u00a0 turn\u00a0\u00a0 sod\u00a0\u00a0 for the\u00a0\u00a0 construction\u00a0\u00a0 of an\u00a0\u00a0 ultramodern\u00a0\u00a0 diagnostic health Centre using funds recovered from corrupt officials as seed money. Our public sanitation and waste disposal\u00a0\u00a0 investments have\u00a0\u00a0 yielded\u00a0\u00a0 public health benefits.<\/p>\n

We enter\u00a0\u00a0 2020 with a renewed commitment to fighting climate change while improving clean energy access in off-grid rural areas and tackling energy poverty through the nearly-completed regional grid and other new initiatives.<\/p>\n

We\u00a0\u00a0 enter\u00a0\u00a0 2020\u00a0\u00a0 with\u00a0\u00a0 extensive judicial reforms that have led to more access to justice.\u00a0\u00a0 Our social protection\u00a0\u00a0 programmes\u00a0\u00a0 continue\u00a0\u00a0 to support\u00a0\u00a0 vulnerable\u00a0\u00a0 families\u00a0\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 have launched\u00a0\u00a0 a\u00a0\u00a0 $50\u00a0\u00a0 million\u00a0\u00a0 urban-mobility\u00a0\u00a0 project.<\/p>\n

We are also rehabilitating key trunk roads from Kailahun to Freetown and building new bridges nationwide.\u00a0\u00a0 Big impact and high-value infrastructural projects will commence in 2020.<\/p>\n

Our youth empowerment projects and our support for sports development,\u00a0\u00a0 especially the Sierra\u00a0\u00a0 Leone\u00a0\u00a0 Premier\u00a0\u00a0 League,\u00a0\u00a0 have been very significant.<\/p>\n

Fellow\u00a0\u00a0 citizens,\u00a0\u00a0 together\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 have\u00a0\u00a0 started\u00a0\u00a0 an inspiring\u00a0\u00a0 journey.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0\u00a0 challenges\u00a0\u00a0 are\u00a0\u00a0 huge\u00a0\u00a0 but they are not insurmountable. Your expectations are high but they can be met. Your aspirations are boundless but they can be fulfilled. Nothing is impossible, even the miracles you expect us to perform.<\/p>\n

Therefore, I call for your relentless optimism and hard work to develop our nation. If you share my belief\u00a0\u00a0 that\u00a0\u00a0 we\u00a0\u00a0 can\u00a0\u00a0 make\u00a0\u00a0 Sierra\u00a0\u00a0 Leone\u00a0\u00a0 a\u00a0\u00a0 better place, I urge you to share the responsibility with me for doing so with a firm commitment to make, act and be the change you want to see.<\/p>\n

My family and I\u00a0 wish you all a happy\u00a0 and prosperous New Year. I thank you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation. But for the people of Sierra Leone, there is little hope of a better and brighter future. The people of Sierra Leone have experienced ten years of economic struggle, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,12],"tags":[205,83,24],"class_list":["post-443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-homepage-english","category-policy","tag-bio","tag-dr-julius-maada-bio","tag-julius-maada-bio"],"yoast_head":"\nPresident Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year - Sierra Leone<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation ..\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation ..\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sierra Leone\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-01-02T13:59:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"612\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"408\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"romadong\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"romadong\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"romadong\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/dc44f1fe6e3277d5e72d8ac272123544\"},\"headline\":\"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-02T13:59:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year\"},\"wordCount\":1462,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Bio\",\"Dr Julius Maada Bio\",\"Julius Maada Bio\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"homepage-english\",\"policy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year\",\"name\":\"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year - Sierra Leone\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-02T13:59:50+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/dc44f1fe6e3277d5e72d8ac272123544\"},\"description\":\"the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation ..\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg\",\"width\":612,\"height\":408,\"caption\":\"JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 02: President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio attends the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/\",\"name\":\"Sierra Leone\",\"description\":\"Just another Africa News Agency Sites site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/dc44f1fe6e3277d5e72d8ac272123544\",\"name\":\"romadong\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6ed449291a2471820d1b6efa2a9cb2b6f63fc0198cbce0cc5107bd00ee1c95ba?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6ed449291a2471820d1b6efa2a9cb2b6f63fc0198cbce0cc5107bd00ee1c95ba?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"romadong\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year - Sierra Leone","description":"the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation ..","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year","og_description":"the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation ..","og_url":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year","og_site_name":"Sierra Leone","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa","article_published_time":"2020-01-02T13:59:50+00:00","og_image":[{"width":612,"height":408,"url":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"romadong","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"romadong","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year"},"author":{"name":"romadong","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/dc44f1fe6e3277d5e72d8ac272123544"},"headline":"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year","datePublished":"2020-01-02T13:59:50+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year"},"wordCount":1462,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg","keywords":["Bio","Dr Julius Maada Bio","Julius Maada Bio"],"articleSection":["all news","homepage-english","policy"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year","url":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year","name":"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year - Sierra Leone","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg","datePublished":"2020-01-02T13:59:50+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/dc44f1fe6e3277d5e72d8ac272123544"},"description":"the world celebrates the beginning of a new decade with hope of a better future, driven by economic progress, new technology and increased wealth creation ..","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/sites\/16\/2019\/12\/gettyimages-1067683750-612x612-1.jpg","width":612,"height":408,"caption":"JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 02: President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio attends the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/policy\/president-bios-message-of-hope-for-a-better-new-year#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"President Bio\u2019s message of hope for a better New Year"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/","name":"Sierra Leone","description":"Just another Africa News Agency Sites site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/dc44f1fe6e3277d5e72d8ac272123544","name":"romadong","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6ed449291a2471820d1b6efa2a9cb2b6f63fc0198cbce0cc5107bd00ee1c95ba?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6ed449291a2471820d1b6efa2a9cb2b6f63fc0198cbce0cc5107bd00ee1c95ba?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"romadong"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/sierra-leone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}