After eleven years of senseless civil war in my country Sierra Leone, the main opposition APC (All People’s Congress) tried so hard to put the stability of the country. they tried to put certain modalities in place by providing basic amenities like adequate water supply, electricity, and transportation, constructing new roads, and bringing in various sectors that would give thousands of Sierra Leoneans jobs which enhanced greatly the standards of living in the country. They also tried to stabilize the exchange rate between foreign currencies to our Leones.
from Ibrahim Kabia and Edmond Kombe
However, in 2018 the APC lost power and a new seating government came under the stewardship of President Maada Bio. The people voted for change, peace, and more stability in the country. One of his speeches that he gave some years back at the United Nations Summit was all about criticizing the leadership of Ernest Bai-Koroma and that he could fix the economy for the entire country as a whole.
In my entire life of existence, I could say this is the worst governance I have seen so far. Instead of the country moving forward it is the other way round.
Upon his arrival in office in 2018, he set up an investigation commission. For me this commission was senseless because it was like a witch hunt on the past government wherein some of their properties were taken by force and some were taken to prison (Pademba Road). Under his tenure corruption has just skyrocketed, as misuse of the consolidated funds, traveling overseas for no good reasons, increasing the wardrobe and salaries of parastatals, and the like.
Another big problem under his tenure is that the rights of citizens are been tempered severely. Some people have been sent to prison unlawfully, killing citizens when they tend to protest and voice out their opinions.
There is nothing like a free press in the country, journalists can’t even dare to write against the injustices that are occurring in the country.
For instance, on August 10th, over a hundred Sierra Leoneans were killed in prison which was unlawful, the basic right to life was violated without any lawful recognition.
Another problem is that the economy has dropped drastically. The cost of living in Sierra Leone is a whole story for a generation.
Even the average Sierra Leonean cannot live on one dollar a day nor talk about being able to eat three squire meals a day. The exchange rate has dropped to the extent that office workers cannot earn about 100 dollars a month. Quite recently there was a press release that stated that there is going to be an increment in taxes for every sector of commodities that is going to be imported into the country. Imagine as I write, a bag of rice is about eight hundred thousand Leons (38 Euros). The basic commodities are all expensive now in the country which is making life very difficult for the average Sierra Leones.
