OPEN GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE (OGI) 
MINISTRY OF PRESIDENTIAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 
PROGRAMME PLAN FOR SATURDAY 11 JULY 2009 

PROGRAMME  
OGI Hour-Have Your Say in Governance 
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION: “The 5th Region and the Office of Diaspora” 
AIRING DATE AND TIME: Saturday 11 July 2009 at 5:30pm- 6:30pm 
MODERATOR: Karamoh Kabba, National Coordinator 
PANELLISTS: Office of Diaspora (ODA); Dr. Sho-Shower, Executive Director and Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency SLIEPA Patrick Caulker, Chief Executive Officer 
NUMBERS TO CALL: Text Messaging:  033 61111 111  or 030 333 61111 ; Voice: 025 201 852          

Concept Note: 
His Excellency, Ernest Bai Koroma has pronounced the Diaspora the 5th Region of Sierra Leone when he called upon all Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora to join in nation building. From his vision, the=2 0Office of Diaspora (ODA) was borne to promote and facilitate the interest of over a million Sierra Leoneans living in the Diaspora in nation building. Notable projects have emanated from the ODA so far such as filling criticalcapacity gaps in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the promotion and facilitation of Diaspora business initiatives.

The paradox in bringing Sierra Leoneans from the Diaspora to fill critical capacity gaps in MDAs in a country with a high unemployment rate needs a better explanation from the ODA. This is aimed at dampening the growing animosity between the 5th Region and the other four regions [home base] in the interest of peace and nation building.

The ODA Director, Dr. Sho-Sawyer maintains that there is a lack of highly skilled technical workforce, especially in critical MDAs, that needs to be filled despite the high unemployment rate, which explains the need to engage the Diaspora whose members have seen better examples, best practices and who have the requisite qualifications.

Through this project, the Director explains that we will share knowledge aimed at preparing our people for future challenges. But members of the Diaspora also have their concerns with the ODA, and all of these would be discussed today. 

In this seventh edition of OGI HOUR – Have Your Say in Governance, we will provide ODA a wider audience to engage the nation on a TV/Radio open dialogue titled, “The 5th Region and the Office of Diaspora”. They would explain and=2 0take questions from citizens across the nation. 

Open Government Initiative (OGI) was borne out of His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma’s Bumbuna Presidential Retreat in January 2008. At Bumbuna, he expressed a commitment to ensure that democracy, the Rule of Law and free-flow of information through open channels of communication amongst the three organs of Government and between Government and the people prevail during his 5-year tenure. OGI is a direct response to the President’s expressed commitment for open channels of Communication in Sierra Leone.

Through OGI, information will flow freely between Government and the public.  In view of the above, we bring you OGI HOUR – Have your say in governance’ s seventh edition the 5th Region and the Office of the Diaspora at 5:30pm on Saturday, 11 July 2009 to discuss this very important issue on the national SLBS TV and radio stations in New England Ville. 

Objectives:

(1) To facilitate and coordinate a weekly all inclusive open dialogue

(2) Between government and the people. 
(3) To reach a national audience through television and radio networks.

(11) To provide opportunity for citizenry participation in policy discussion and formulation.

(5) To provide unbiased and indiscriminate opportunity for all manner of people to participate through phone-in and text messaging.  

Goal: To foster free flow of information between government and the people in order to ensure transparency for democratic=2 0nation-building.

Expected Outcome:  A well informed citizenry on the affairs of government. 

Ground Rules:  Please limit your introductory statement to 2-3 minutesØ maximum.  You will be allowed 2 minutes to address the questions/commentsØ raised by callers.  

The main objective of Open Government InitØiative is to promote an open dialogue between the Government and the public. Therefore I will encourage you to avoid any behaviour or use of language that will contradict such purpose.  

Callers, please state your name, town/region, and directØ your questions and comments direct, short, and to the point. You have one minute to ask your question. 
Karamoh Kabba 
National Coordinator – Open Government Initiative