TRACE: When Koroma Replaces Journalists To Empower Women

Hey! Can you feel this Culture Lyric done by Joseph Hills Title "Pay Day"

Hey slavedriver!

I'm asking you this question again and again and again
and again
Work police- you false priest!
Trying to indoctrinate Jah people but, (Hear me man)
When will this payday be?
Slavedriver
When will this payday be?
Tell us this hour
When will this payday be?
For these retired slaves (Let me ask you something)
When will this payday be?
Mr. Bigman
When will this payday be?
When will this payday be?
For all these retired slaves (Ya a listen me?)
My forefather worked down here
On this great plantation
True he didn't get no pay
For all their wasted days
Tell us now!
When will this payday be?
Mr. Slavedriver
When will this payday be?
Tell us this hour
When will this payday be?
For all these retired slaves (Lord)
Will this payday be Monday?
Will this payday be Tuesday?
Tell us now!
Will this payday be Wednesday?
Wednesday Jah need a working day (Wednesday can be the
working day)
Can this payday be Thursday?
Ben Johnson day
Can it be Friday?
The Regular Payday!
Will it be Saturday?
Saturday Jean shoemaker wife day
Why don't you give me that (I want it now)
When will this payday be?
Slavedriver
When will this payday be?
Oh, Jah
When will this payday be?
For these retired slaves
Tell us now!
When will this payday be?
You better give me that-
When will this payday be?
Tell us this hour
When will this payday be?
For these retired slaves
You beat my grandmother in the fields
Rape her and call her a prostitute
Fill the land with colored pay bills
From an outlaw's race
Chuh!
When will this payday be?
I'm asking
When will this payday be?
Backra Master the table is turned
When will this payday be?
For these retired slaves
We nuh joke, we nuh take back nuh talk
When will this payday be?
Slavedriver!
When will this payday be?
You'd better give me that
When will this payday be?
For these retired slaves
Bwoy, true!
Mama come suffer, father come suffer
Bad man suffer, pickney come suffer
Brother come, gone a prison
Uncle come, no have no job
When will this payday be?

Hahahahaha! Hope you feel this one and TRACE wants to believe that your stresses have been reduced.

It was a shocking announcement made by President Ernest Bai Koroma on his cabinet’s reshuffle. For some it was a joyous while others were left weeping.

TRACE has gone through the list and it was more interesting for all. It is an impressive way to see more female folks coming against the male folks.

TRACE among other Sierra Leoneans was asking for some changes to be made in most of the sectors in governance and those changes that have been made, TRACE is hoping it will reflect to the very few good example of leaders we have in the country.

It has taken a long time that women have been faced with discrimination and inequalities in the workforce which have not only hurt them, but their families, communities and their countries as a whole.

One elderly man told TRACE years ago that poverty will not be reduced without working to achieve gender equality and for far too long the women of Sierra Leone have been asking for 30% quota in governance while other groups such as Concern Sierra Leone are yearning for 50%.

Most governments in Africa acknowledge that empowering women and girls is a key contributor to economic development, the fertility transition in Africa ─ an important factor in sustained economic growth ─ has been much slower than in other regions of the world.

Access to family planning and maternal health services – as well as education for girls – typically results in improved economic opportunity for women and lower fertility.

Good leadership has been demonstrated by the few women that are in governance in Sierra Leone. Women like Sarah Bendu of the Sierra Leone Road Safety, Haja Kallah-Kamara of the National Revenue Authority, Haja Hafsatu Kabba now High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Christiana Thorpe outside governance we have Madam Aminata Dumbuya of Masada among others.

I learned from the old man that women are essential to ending poverty around the world. Nowhere is that more true than in Sub-Saharan Africa. TRACE believes that strengthening woman’s roles as leaders, entrepreneurs, consumers and economic stakeholders will transform the continent for the better.

Unlike some men in governance, they have not only failed the nation but their families as well.

Now TRACE wants to look at the changes President Koroma made on the side of journalists to empower women. Since he took over as Head of State, more journalists have been seen in different positions in the country ranging from Ministers, deputy ministers and Press attachés among other top ranking positions.

One of the most friendly journalist minsters in the APC led government was the deputy Minister of Internal Affairs who was the deputy Minister of Information and communication Sheka Tarawallie. He did not turn his back on his constituency which is the media. He was always seen around colleague journalists and he was always ready to attend events with journalistic colour when invited.

Looking at the Minister of Sport Paul Kamara, TRACE was expecting much from him because of his stance he took for sport in the country. Being a sport man means that the game should be played but he turned out to be the opposite. Instead of coming with ideas on how to develop football and sport as a whole he was busy talking about how chickens were more expensive than women.

Now to the sacked deputy Minister of Information and Communication Theo Nicol. He was more of a tyrant to the press than any other Journalist minister. Can you imagine Theo Nicol telling Journalists that they are only attending the Ministry’s weekly press briefing because of food and how some of the journalists are not decent, forgetting that he should come with ideas and way of developing and change the face of the media and journalists in the country.

Theo Nicol not only abandoned his constituency but also his community (Congo Town). He was reported looking down on his people and not taking part in activities of community engagement.

Journalists were pleased to see some of their colleagues in governance with the hope that things will change for the better but it was on the contrary.

TRACE wants to believe that there is a time for everyone under the sun and the question which the song writer Joseph Hills was asking when will this payday be? TRACE guess the time is now! Trust me; TRACE is looking closely at the newly appointed ministers and other portfolios and TRACE will bring out any odd in them. Just like my brother said in his Dixon’s Pen this is “Injury Time Cabinet”.

TRACE wants to wish all the new appointees well in their new jobs and wishing the sacked ministers and deputies’ fruitful endeavor in their new endeavours.