Sierra Leoneans Deserve Better

In 2018, then-Presidential candidate, Julius Maada Bio, openly criticized the former All People’s Congress (APC) administration, accusing it of economic mismanagement that had left Sierra Leoneans struggling with high prices on essential goods. At the time, a 50-kilogram bag of rice, Sierra Leone’s staple food, was priced at NLe 200. Bio promised to ease this economic burden, positioning himself as the leader who would restore economic stability and improve the standard of living for the average Sierra Leonean.

However, six years into his tenure, this commitment remains largely unfulfilled. Today, the price of a bag of rice has surged to NLe 1,200, marking a staggering sixfold increase that has strained household budgets, and highlighted the economic hardship experienced by many citizens. What was once an already difficult cost of living under the previous government, has escalated to levels that are now nearly unsustainable for many. Instead of fulfilling his pledge to bring down the cost of living, the situation has worsened under Bio’s administration, leaving many to question the government’s priorities and its capacity to address these basic economic challenges.

The increase in staple food prices is not an isolated issue, but rather a symptom of a wider economic crisis that has enveloped Sierra Leone. The rising cost of rice, an essential food item in nearly every household, signals deeper issues within the economy, including currency depreciation, inflation, and a lack of effective policy interventions to stabilize prices. Food inflation has reached such critical levels that it has impacted the purchasing power of citizens across the socioeconomic spectrum, pushing more households into poverty.

The spike in rice prices and other essential goods has a direct impact on poverty and hunger levels in the country. As families struggle to afford food, malnutrition rates are expected to rise, especially among children, who are the most vulnerable to food insecurity. The financial strain is further amplified by increases in the cost of other basic necessities like cooking oil, fuel, and healthcare services, compounding the everyday challenges of Sierra Leoneans and eroding whatever progress the government claims to have achieved.

This economic hardship is a stark reminder of the promises made by President Bio and his administration, promises that have thus far gone unfulfilled. For many citizens, these unkept promises feel like a betrayal, given the hope and trust they placed in his leadership. With the next elections on the horizon, citizens are left to weigh the evidence of his governance against the aspirations he once championed. Will he and his administration finally take concrete steps to curb inflation and make essential goods more accessible, or will they continue to deliver little more than rhetoric, while the cost of living spirals out of reach?

The current reality demands accountability and transparency from the government. Citizens deserve to know what measures are being put in place to control food prices and stabilize the economy. Without decisive action, the promise of economic relief will remain just that; a promise, perpetually out of reach for those who need it most.

This call to action is urgent: A stable economy, where essential goods are affordable, should not be a distant dream. It’s time for the government to demonstrate real commitment to economic reform, addressing the root causes of this crisis, and taking meaningful steps to ease the suffering of its people. The time for excuses has passed; the people of Sierra Leone deserve leadership that delivers real change and tangible results, not just broken promises