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Since apologies are now in season, I would like to unreservedly apologize to the health care professionals of Sierra Leone, our doctors, nurses, radiologists, dentists, midwives and all those who toil to keep Sierra Leoneans healthy…
During the recently resolved medical strike, certain members of my government and party may have given the impression that your strike action for higher wages was all an SLPP plot designed to discredit my Administration and prepare the way for a Tokpwoi return to power at 'Sharp Twelve, 2012'.
I now recognize that this is all fantasy and I accept that it is wrong for any trained professional to work for 'Starvation Wages' as successive governments(APC and SLPP) have forced them to do.
I also belatedly accept that ultimately paying doctors and nurses 21st century salaries will be cheaper in the long run since it will cut down rampant free-for-all misuse and naked theft of government drugs and equipment.
I have ordered, henceforth, that the Anti Corruption Commission monitor financial activities in hospitals and bring charges against any medical professional who misuses public equipment.
All transactions in hospitals will now be charged at agreed rates and duly certified RECEIPTS will now be issued. All such monies collected will go to the Consolidated Fund in order to offset the new salaries you will now receive.
So I would like to apologize, in advance, for the more intrusive monitoring that will follow your recent hike in salaries. My government recognizes that some of you will actually suffer a DROP in income with the new guidelines. This is inevitable in building a 21st century Health Care System as part of the 'Agenda For Change'… and I apologize in advance and implore you to earn your new salaries, by giving fellow Sierra Leoneans the best possible care that you can…
I would also like to apologize for the ultimatum sent out on March 20, 2010 threatening all medical health care personnel with 'immediate dismissal and loss of benefits' if they failed to report for work (at old starvation wages) on Monday March 29, 2010.
Like many of the 'careless statements' issued by my government, this was drawn up by the Association of old APC Dinosaurs (AOAD) at our Old Railway Line headquarters without reference to myself, the Hon. Attorney General or any responsible or level headed member of my 'New Agenda' government.
I have since been informed by both my Attorney General and other level headed legal luminaries that this proposal would have been unenforceable and moot in law.
The AOAD is, of course, stuck in a Time Warp and apparently believed that 2010 is 1981 and Siaka Stevens is still in power.
My 'Agenda For Change' recognizes the right of all public workers to withhold their services if they are dissatisfied with conditions of service. I accept, unreservedly, that 'detention without trial', AOAD Thuggery and coercion and intimidation are no longer part of the APC Labour Relations Policy and therefore apologize for giving the impression that we could somehow 'seize' the benefits of professionals who had worked for 20 years and sustain such a matter through the courts; even with judges like APC-Justice-For-Life, Tolla Thompson and Tolerant Ya-Umu on the Bench.
Such a policy would only have resulted in an unending raft of litigation and elevated labour law lawyers like Mr. Blyden Jenkins-Johnston to heroic status. This was not the intention of my 'Agenda For Change' government.
Finally I'd like to issue a personal apology for my lack of faith in our medical care system.
I recently received medical care in the Republic of India for very high blood pressure.
Although this was done at no cost to the State, I now realize that our medical professionals are as equally capable of handling such a relatively routine medical condition as Indian doctors and that the drugs to control it are available (supposedly) from my own government's Medical Stores.
I hereby pledge henceforth to put more faith in our national medical system and our now (respectably paid) medical professionals, and reverse the traditional habit of Heads of State of our beloved country going abroad for treatment of even minor health conditions like in-growing toenails, persistent headaches, bruised elbows etc.etc. My sincere apologies also go to the families of all those who died during the recent Medical Strike. 'Way for do… nar so God say' - una bear yah! Ush!
Yours sincerely,
President Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Fountain of Honour, Defender of the Sick, Friend of The Workers…
Eating Humble Pie State House,
Agenda For Change Avenue,
Freetown.
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Professor Peep! 
