DescriDtion of the Economy

The economy of Sierra Leone stagnated and even declined throughout most ofthe 1980's. This has been manifested in all major economic sectors. The poor performance of the country can be attributed

partly

to the economic policies that had been pursued with regard to declining commodity prices and high cost of fuel amongst other factors. The declining contribution of agriculture has kept GOP stagnant at about 30%,

the

mining sector's contribution declined from 5.2 % in 1970/71 to about 3.7% in 1988/89; themanufacturing sector contributed 5.2 % in 1970/71 butonly3.7% in 1988/89. The

fall

in the contribution of the mining sectorto the GDP could be attributed partly to the closure of the Marampa Iron Ore Mines, the near exhaustion of alluvial diamond mining, as well as the rampant unrecorded trading in diamond and gold. However, the only growth area is the tertiary sector which could be a confirmation that the economy is more dependent on consumption than production. .

The share of private consumption

expenditure

as a contribution to GDP was about 83% during 1984-1989 whilst public consumption was about 6.7 % during the same period. As the economy had been largely based on a strategy of import substitution, it became fully dependent on imported raw materials, capital goods and semi-processed goods. The economy became exposed to difficulties in obtaining . foreign exchange, especially with the continued decline in export earnings from traditional sources such as coffee, cocoa and minerals (diamonds and gold). As export revenue declined, the import bill

steadily

increased leading

to

negative trade balances with the

associated

problems, for e.g.

worsening

balance of

payments position,

debt crisis and high

rates

of

inflation.

The

Government responded

to the situation by introducing a number of economic reforms in the mid 1980's and started negotiations

with.

leading aid agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Structural reforms introduced in 1986 included the floating of the exchange rate, liberalization of trade, decontrol of prices, reduction in subsidies and an increase in producer

prices. These measures were further supported by a tight budgetary policy, reduction in government spending and restrictive monetary policies. The Government experienced difficulties in enforcing these measures and the economy started experiencing the

earlier

problems which had prompted the above reforms. Further negotiations with major aid agencies were therefore suspended. Although in 1987some rationalization and reform measures were implemented, the economy still remained weak. In July 1990 the Government introduced an Economic Recovery Program to rehabilitate and strengthen the economy is yet to recover. Thus today, industries operate well below their installed capacities and thereby incurring high unit costs of production, making them uncompetitivein both domestic and external markets.

3. Defmitional problem of "Science" and "TecbnoloKY"

3.1 Science

Science is to know (equated with knowledge), to understand nature. To be interested in science is like falling in lone for the first time. the essence of science is scientific method scientific temper -scientific mind - an attitude of mind - an open, rational forward looking, keen - critical, curious, questioning, analytical, inventive and innovative mind. Science is based on experiment, reason, logic and rigorous discipline,

and

communicating.

3.2 Tec!lnololY

Science i&, to know : technology is to do. Science is to under-stand: technology is to produce goods and offer services to meet the present and potential human needs. While science is universal,

Technology is a resource with a cost, risk, life cycle, long gestation period;

transferable, marketable

and price negotiable. Knowledge about technology characteristics is

crucial

for bargaining. Technology is a change agent, bringing about changes in attitudes and life styles of people.

Technology is a too] for achieving the goal of development.

Technology is different from technique.

Technology is problem solving. The greater this ability for problem solving at individual, community and country level, the strongerthe self - reliance and the easier the endogenous development.

Technology, therefore, is the processbywhich you apply science to the productive forcesandenergiessocietyforthe goodof the society. So technology must not be developed only for its own sake, technology

must

bemade to be useful to man.

4. Status of ScienceIud Tecbnolou in Sierra Leone 4.1 HjstoricalRaek&touDd

The importance of integrating science and technology in the development process hasbeenrecognizedbythe Governmentof Sierra Leone for a long time now, as is evidenced especiallyin the efforts made over the years of developing improved agricultural production systems. The development of the ACRE project, the various IADLP's are all

examples

of the country's awareness of the importance of technology and scienceto the development of amodern agricultureand the rural sector. The country is richly endowed

with

natural and human resources,

and

processes sizeable potential for utilization of science and technology in the development of mineral-based industries, POWCI't

fisheries. But such policies and strategies should be formulated and

designed in' a form to effectively exploit the available resources and to develop the national capacity as well as the related institutional structures capable of making decisions in the context of national policies and reflecting the overall special, economic, commercial and development objectivesandinterests.

It is also true that Science-based Technology is one of the primary motive forces of development. Indeed, in the development process, science and technology is all embracing. Whether we need more food, increased industrial output, improved health care, more efficient and safer transportation and communication system or comfortable house, technology plays a role.

With theforegoing backdropand thenon-implementationofthat recognition, Sierra Leone became one of the very few pioneering countries in Sub..Sahara Africa to introduce Science Technology in the University. Despite this development, the

country

still lacks a science and technology policy. Even a strategy does not seem to exist.

Consequently, decisionmaking inrespectof scienceandtechnologyhas notbeenstructured.

The lack of a policy does not suggest that attempts have not been made to establish one. Rather, discussions, conferences and meetings in respect of the subject dates back to the late 50s and early 60s. People who have in the past, manifested interest in the subject have largely been those at the University. Itis therefore not surprising that the necessary Institutional Framework and infrastructural set-up in a relevant government department has not materialized. Consequently, development in this area therefore did not go beyond organizing seminars and conferences. It is against the above aforementioned reasons that an Interim Science and Technology Committee was constituted under the direction of the then Ministry of Planning

and

there was no proper organizational arrangements to advance its work.

Gradually the enthusiasm of its members dampened. The Committee was again revived in 1979 and functioned well till the early 80s.An attempt was made in 1980 to have a

legal

framework put in place did not go beyond the Law Officers Department.

4.2

Current

EffQrts to

Promote

Science and

Teclmolo&y

for DeveJopment

In

1992,

following a mission from the

ECA

to Sierra

Leone,

and with the active support and encouragement of that organization, a series of meetings were convened under the auspices of the ment and Planning Division of the Department of Finance, Develop-ment and Economic Planning, the objective of which was to reconstitute

a body

for Science and Technology (8 & T) Committee which was established in the early 19805, but which had been non-functional for some years now.

The meetings were well attendedby representatives interested inscience and technology drawn from Government Departments, the University of Sierra Leone. NGOs, and the Conference of Science Teachers. Consequently, a sub-committee members and their terms of reference was to review the proposals, which already exist for the establishment of a science and technology body and made recom-mendations for

the

rapid implementation of the proposals as

amended.

One of the recommendations of the meeting concerns the establishment of a National Council for Science and Technology under the laws of Sierra Leone. In this regard, the meetings prepared adraft bill which was submittedto government

with

a recommendation for its enactment into law. The full recommendations of the meetings were as follows:

(a) The National Council for Science and Technology should be a body established with authority and in-dependence compatible with its proposed role in development.

(b) The Council should have a legal status. To this end the interim committee' prepared a Draft Bill entitled "The National Council for Science and. Technology Bill"

submitted to the Government of Sierra Leone for enactment by the end of 1993.

(c) A National Workshop should be organized as soon as possible to invite inputs and sensitize the public on issues pertaining to science and technology in develop-ment and to formulate the eledevelop-ments of a science and technologypolicyfor Sierra Leone.

(d) Allocation should be made from public funds to func-tional and research activities of the Science and Technology Council.

As a follow-up to the implementation of the recommendations enumerated above, the sub-committee met the secretary of State of the department of finance, Development and Economic Planning on the 8th February, 1993, the objective of which was to brief him on the activities of the sub-committee on science and technology for development so far. As a result of. this meeting, the following recommendations emerged as the consensus AD IDEM:

(i) An Interim Council be formed whilst the draftbill is in the process of legalization.

(ii) Allocations of monies should be made from public funds to support PROTEM PORE activities of the Interim Council.

4.3 The R&D Situation

The current situation in this area demonstrates that various extension service units and various R&D institutionswith various R

&

D projects are in operation. In the agricultural sector, there are, for example, the Rice Rukupr Research project, the Integrated Agricultural development- projects, Land Resources survey project, the projects at the Njala University College, the projects in

the

Forestry and Agricul-tural Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Teko Veterinary Station which operates a breeding program and undertakes studies into methods for improving on the productivity of local breeds of livestock.jete.

At the University of Sierra Leone, R&D work is undertaken -for exampletodevelop alternative sources of energy in order to reduce certain adverse effects which the price spiral in petroleum products introduced into the economy; to introduce local materials into all classes of building construction and collect sufficient data for the preparation of building codes and specifications, in the investigation of the marine environment, etc.

The Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography (IMBO) and the Advisory Servicein Technology Research and Development Unit

(ASTRAD)

at

Fuorah

Bay College are also engaged in

,the

kind of R

& 0 activities described above.

Activities are undertaken in the areas of food and beverages examination with specific reference to medico-legal needs in the field

of Public Health research. Also, the Small Scale Industries Unit of the Department of Trade and Industry has extension services for small scale industries.

In the mining sector, the research activities are directed to the urgent need for small scale industries which would utilize the urgent need for small scale industries which would utilize mineral resources such as bauxite and iron ore. The GeologyDepartment of FBC and Geological surveys Department of Government are now engaged in surveys to determine the economicpotential of mineral deposits. But in the manufacturing industry, where it is necessary for industrial research"tobeundertaken, in order to solve industrialproblems, limited R&D

is

being dome. By and large R&D is undertaken in many institutions, but the whole effort in the view of the author is largely un..

coordinatedsince each R&D institution operates asitwere in isolation without appropriate links to each other and to a central institution which could co-ordinate their activities. Moreover, there is concern about the Orientation and major duplication of on - going research efforts. No serious attempt is being made to commercialize the results (ifany) of R&D through adequateextension services which should be set up to guide manufacturers, especially those of small - scale enterprises, to prospective industries (e.g. small scale industries).

In addition, the pursuit of~R & D relevant to national needs dependson the availabilityof appropriatelytrained

manpower,

funding and research facilities. These three prerequisites have never been met in the country (production and economic sectors) and therefore the much neededdevelopmentof indigenous entrepreneurs goes unattended to: Because of this situation the industrial

problems.

to be tackled

for

~rural development which; for Sierra Leone should be an area for prime concentration, have not been adequatelyhandled, since R&D does not concentrate as well as

it

should on technological development of

rural

areas. As can be seen from the background, natural R&D policies for

Sierra Leone are expressed mostly through statements in the Develop-ment plans for 1985/86. the policies relevant to S & T are directed at programs and activities other than those which can be recognized as impacting specially upon R&D conduct and management. The role of research indevelopmentisomitted; and so arepolicies on conceptand the financing of R&D activities. the plan is seen as providing the response to independent influences of expressions from Parliament and the Cabinet. Yet the concern usually expressed in Government circles about the state of S & T in the country and the need for strengthening local capabilities is not reflected in a plan coming from an organ of Government with such a - high policy mandate as the Department of Finance, Development and Economic Planning. In the Foreign Investmentarea,the plan recognizes deficiencies in the local operations of some modem manufacturing and mining industries. Nevertheless, the issue of transfer of Technology is not explicitly raised; neither are R &

D identified as activities necessary for correcting the deficiencies, for which declared policies are required. The following examples of policies and programs extracted from the current development plan underthemanufacturing and mining sectors indicate the point.

Manufacturlna Sector Eumple

Dans le document The influence of economic and development policies on science and technology in Africa (Page 183-192)