Mid-Term review survey shows… Ernest “somewhat successful” in 6 of 57 objectives

Although less than 50% of Freetownians rate the President as being “very successful” yet 50% or more say that the President is relatively or “somewhat successful” in achieving only 6 of his 57 stated objectives.
Some 840 passers-by were interviewed between March 19th and 23rd 2010 as they walked along 14 different areas in Freetown. (Shell Junction, Kissy; Ferry Junction, Kissy; Up Gun Roundabout; Clock Tower; PZ Junction; Sweissy Area; Model School Junction; PWD Junction, Pademba Road; Cotton Tree Area; St. John Area; New England Ville Offices Area; Congo Cross Area; Aberdeen Ferry Road; and Lumley Roundabout.)
60 respondents were interviewed (inviting 1 out of every 10 passers-by to participate in the survey) at each location, with the experienced interviewers using a questionnaire which drew from the President’s first ‘speech from the throne’.
In his 5th October 2007 “speech from the Throne” the President indicated 16 priority areas under which he spelt out specific objectives/targets/goals which he said required his government’s immediate attention. These are Good Governance; Civil Service Reform; Corruption; Justice and the Rule of Law; Peace building and national reconciliation; Energy and Power; Water supply; Health Care delivery; Poverty reduction; Education; Agriculture; Marine resources; Private sector development; Mining; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and General Commitment.
The mid-term review survey commissioned by Awoko and conducted between March 19th and 23rd 2010 show that “50% or more (people interviewed) consider as somewhat successful his performance in achieving six of his objectives/goals/targets.  Of these five have a direct impact on socio-economic conditions.  These are: “Ensure compulsory and free basic education etc.”, 55%. “Improve transportation and communications in and out of Sierra Leone”, 53%. “Agricultural extension services”, 53%. “Regulate the mineral resources industry etc.”, 51%. “Improve agricultural productivity by providing necessary farm inputs etc.”, 50%.
In addition, 49% consider that he has been somewhat successful in achieving two other objectives/goals/targets.  These are: “Improve the delivery of healthcare services etc.” “Encourage a shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture etc.”
It must be noted here that the survey was done before the President unveiled the Free Health Care for pregnant women, lactating mothers and under five children. What however is significant is that even before the free health care was launched 49% of Freetownians acknowledged his efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
His five best achievements according to the survey are in the areas of: Agriculture, 49%; Health care delivery, 47%; Education, 45%; Marine Resources, 44%; Mining, 44%.
Again the analysts note that “It is significant that at this level of assessment, his performance in any area has consistently attracted fewer than 50 percent of public opinion. 
More on this in subsequent editions.