May 10, 2021
My 17 or more years acquaintances with the man I have often called an icon can best be summarized thus: For those who may have known JJ Saffa much earlier, they will have novels to write but my knowledge of this man stems from mid-2004 when I was serving in both the Njala University Student’s Union Government and the National Union of Sierra Leone Students as a senior statesman.
PRE-SLPP YEARS
JJ Saffa by 2004 was the World Bank’s Human Capital Development Specialist at the Sierra Leone Country Office. This job positioned him to help secure the Bank’s funding for major Government projects like the re-introduction of Local Councils and the establishment of new Decentralization Secretariat etc.
Whilst at the Bank, JJ Saffa acted several time as Task Team Leader for major World Bank projects in both Sierra Leone and Liberia. This was the enviable job master JJ Saffa declined when he voluntarily resigned to serve the SLPP. What a sacrifice! When he resigned, several people were of the opinion that it was going to be the greatest mistake he would ever make. One evening, he told me: “we all need to sacrifice at some point for Sierra Leone…this is my sacrifice”. The next day he tendered in his resignation. As a young graduate then, comprehension of such a “sacrifice” was rather paradoxical knowing the selfish exuberance in my quest for a job.
The rest is history as there are hundreds of his peers and younger ones who benefited from his World Bank magnanimity that are heading Regional and Global Organizations today.
J J SAFFA AS HEAD OF THE SLPP SECRETARIAT
The arrival of a highly skilled, academically balanced; but politically a middle class man at the SLPP National Secretariat as National Secretary General was highly welcomed. His election de-mystified the political stereotype then about “The Prince of SLPP”. This was David “defeating” Goliath. An unprecedented history about JJ Saffa’s election as National Secretary General was that almost all best brains and professionals across the political divide in Sierra Leone morally and financially supported JJ Saffa. This body later came to be known as the Reform Group. The best collection of brains ever mobilized.
At the SLPP Secretariat his first assignment was to design a functional management review platform for all Elected National Executives and Staff of the Secretariat. Job Descriptions were designed for everyone.
The next immediate action point was to develop a Strategic Plan for the Party especially as we were approaching elections. Unfortunately, poor Solo B couldn’t hear that part of the school bell while it rang and instead told JJ Saffa to handle it at the Secretariat level while he led his campaign.
JJ Saffa quickly developed a sound Financial Management Guide that is used even today at the Secretariat. A National Gender policy was developed and since then am not sure it has ever been revisited.
An aggressive media policy and strategy was developed that led to the establishment of the UNITY RADIO. It’s unquestionable that operating the Unity radio then was the best that ever happened to the SLPP. It gave hope to party members. The APC was quick to raise negative campaign against radio stations for political parties and our party leadership then fell for such , thus Unity Radio was taken off air.
In the period leading to the elections, Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad know that party functions were relocated to Spur Road, the then residence and office of the party flag bearer. The rest is history, thus the poorly resourced Secretariat could do nothing to stop the regime change agenda that was already in high motion.
IMMEDIATE POST SLPP SECRETARIAT YEARS
When the SLPP lost the 2007 elections, there were several offers made to JJ Saffa for international jobs but the selfless JJ told me “we have to bring back the SLPP to power”. For him, picking up an international job was the easiest thing. Even his one time “STOP PRESS” friend then President Koroma made several offers for JJ Saffa to join him, which he would turn down each time it is made.
Between 2007-2018, JJ Saffa committed 90% of his time to intra SLPP politics. When eventually Brig Rtd Maada Bio was elected flag bearer of the SLPP in 2011, the best of JJ Saffa was seen all over. Maada Bio, knowing the competencies of JJ Saffa worked with him to actualize those political strategies that were left unattended to in 2007.
The political dynamics and the role played by JJ Saffa in the 2018 elections is an open chapter in a public library for all to read. JJ Saffa believed in and trusted HE Bio even before he became President.
A friend of mine is writing a book he has titled: “THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT…THE CASE OF JULIUS BIO”….it will interest you to know that his sole respondent for informed analysis and insights is JJ Saffa.
JJ SAFFA AS MINISTER OF FINANCE
Do I need to say more? JJ Saffa remains Sierra Leone’s enviable Finance Minister that has enjoyed the highest donor support from our development partners. Not even during or the immediate post war years did Sierra Leone ever enjoy such high fiscal support. Today, almost every quarter of our financial year, Sierra Leone gets a big boost/support from our development partners.
Within Regional and Global polity, JJ Saffa occupies an enviable seat among his colleague Ministers of Finance. He still remains their undisputed leader.
Stabilizing the economy especially in the areas of prudent fiscal management, stabilizing the Leone, regular budgetary support, and an enviable increase in own source revenue collection is the envy of other economies around us.
Today at the Ministry of Finance, every officer has a job description. They never had one before but when JJ took over, he started the entire recruitment process for all Ministry staff and EVERYONE can now boast of a job description. Walking along the corridors of the Ministry will expose you to a professional ambience that is characteristic of international best practice. You no longer have a Ministry that is expressly as open like Youyi building. Visit to the Ministry of Finance is now purpose led.
Infrastructure wise, the development specialist just launched a research/dissertation complex for Economics students across the country within the Finance Ministry; where they can access up-to date resources relevant for their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The facility is well equipped with recreational facilities for all its visitors. The long awaited electronic lift has been installed. It remains the fastest in the country for now.
As the New Chief Minister, let’s see “WHAT WILL JJ SAFFA BRING TO THE TABLE DIFFERENTLY.
THIS IS MY J.J SAFFA IN FEW WORDS.
© Chief Matoe