By Alpha Rashid Jalloh, PV Freetown Bureau Chief.
Sierra Leone’s renowned political scientist and dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Law at Fourah Bay College, Dr. Osman Gbla is now Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism.
The African Peer review Mechanism is a development instrument of the African Union. Sierra Leone under Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has earnestly committed itself to the new development ideals of the African Union. Dr. Gbla’s appointment to the National Governing Council of the Country’s Peer review mechanism has been described as a step in the right direction.
Dr. Gbla(photo) is a man with a proven track record having made meaningful contributions not only to the development of Sierra Leone but to the sub-region, the continent and the world at large. Amongst his notable achievements are: served as Lead National Consultant in the preparation of the Governance And security Chapter of the Sierra Leone Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2005-2007) Head national Consultant in the preparation of the UN Peace Building Shadow Report for Sierra Leone in 2007, Regular Member of the Review Team (DFID funded) Governance And Civil Service Reform Program in Sierra Leone, Lead Consultant in Review of Post -War Peace Building and Reconstruction Program in Rwanda, Burundi,Mozambique and Sierra Leone, Member of the Regional Working Group in Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and post conflict peace building in West African, Member of the Legal Council of Education for the Sierra Leone Law School.
Apart from research and consultancy, Dr. Gbla has proven to be a prolific writer whose works have been widely read in other parts of the world. These works include; Gbla Osman (2008) Post War U S Foreign Policy Towards Sierra Leone And Liberia in Alusine Jalloh and Toyin Fayola Edition, The United Sates And West Africa Interactions, and Relations (new York University of Rochester Press), Gbla Osman and A. B. Zack Williams Edition (2008) The Conduct Of The Elections: Challenges and Peace Building, The Quest For Sustainable Development And Peace: The 2007 Elections In Sierra Leone(Uppsala Nordic African Institute) Gbla Osman (2006) Security Sector Reform Under International Tutelage in Sierra Leone, International Peace Keeping Vol.13 No.1 (march 2006), Gbla Osman: (2006) Budgeting For The Military Sector In Sierra Leone , The Processes And Mechanisms of Control (In Wugi and Ehoe edition) Budgeting For The Military sector In Africa; Processes And Mechanisms of Control (Oxford University Press), Gbla Osman: Multilateral agencies And Post Conflict Peace Building In West Africa: Lessons From Liberia And Sierra Leone (In Amadu Sesay edition) Civil Wars, Child Soldiers And Post Conflict Peace Building in West Africa (College Press and Publishers).
Dr. Osman Gbla holds a PhD, MSc (majoring in Political Science) and BA degrees from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He also holds a Diploma in Advanced International Conflict Resolution from the University of Uppsala Sweden. Dr. Gbla has also carried out several consultancies individually and collaboratively for national, regional and world bodies including the UN, World Bank, MRU, Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS).
His other skills include; research, political analysis, publications, collaborative team work, organizational management. He is affilited to the African Security Dialogue and Research in Ghana, The Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Center in Ghana, The Center for Development and Conflict Management in Nigeria, The Department for Peace and Conflict Research, University of Uppsala Sweden, The Center For International Affairs (In Hamburg, Germany) The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Sweden and The African Association of Political Science.
Dr. Gbla has carried out innovative programs at the Faculty of Social Science and Law of Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone. He is widely respected for his erudition and contribution to development and peace both in and out of the country.
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