By: Uncle Sankara
Dr.Hannah Isata Macarthy the commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) is a household name when it comes to development in Sierra Leone.
Under her tutelage, the name NaCSA has rebranded itself as a transformational developmental institution that caters for the basic needs of people from all works of life in particular the poor of the poorest.
It was 7:30am at Charlotte Street in the Center of the City, the burden of a long queue of passenger vehicles worsened by other unmovable cars parked on the two flanks of the Street left little space for scores of pregnant and sucking mothers, Youths, Young and old descending from Garrison Street heading for the NaCSA headquarters office. On the other side of the road from Siaka Steven Street, You cannot stop counting the same heading to the same destination.
NaCSa doors were yet to be opened, but the converging crowd had already blocked the main gate, workers ask for excuse to pass through the strange faces from everywhere, upon the conversations that followed among the beaming smiling faces, a tall fair in complexion woman dressed in a Gara suit became the center of attraction.
When the main doors were finally opened, a long queue passed the security post heading for the first floor to receive their financial packages.
While in the waiting, a young lady entertained the ears and memories of her colleages as she recalled the history of NaCSA.
She said: “Today, Reminds us of an African adage which says that “when you born a child ensure that you take the greatest care for him or her to be someone worth emulating”, She furthered that NaCSA was the initiative of SLPP’s President Tejan Kabia.
It was established to solve the social problems in society be it individually related, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Agriculture and Commercial boost. Its aims, Objectives and performances attracted the International Community which wasted no time to pour in financial resources. But upon the change of government in 2007, NaCSA became dormant and most of what was poured in was slashed by more than 60% from directives form the top.
Now, she said, With President Bio’s governance, the relationship between NaCSA and society has been renewed.
President Bio in his wisdom, appointed a woman technocrat in the name of Commissioner Dr.Sao Kpato Hannah Isata Macarthy as Commissioner who is blessed with an over whelming experience in NaCSA’s operations and more so its targeted focus.
Dr. Hannah Isata Macarthy is no stranger to NaCSA’s problems; she is an expert in social works including field related activities.
In her years of association with the cadre of NaCSA, she was admired as a simple and tolerable woman with an enviable character in the ambit of creativity and the will to find better solutions to societal challenges.
Her performance gives credence to President Bio’s signatory of the women empowerment bill tabled in Parliament to become an Act. President Bio is confident that if women are given the political will to manage Corporate Responsibility, they sometimes leave a better legacy than men.
This is a woman that draws the distinction between good work and unbiased benefits and this is why Dr. Macarthy and team have occupied a space in the minds and souls of millions of Sierra Leoneans as the last umbrella of hope in ensuring development is taken to hard to reach places. For anyone who may not get the message about the changing culture at NaCSA, Your neighbour will be the best to tell a better story.