London, United Kingdom, 22 June 2026 – Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has said that while Government has made significant progress in stabilizing food prices and ensuring the availability of essential commodities, the country’s greatest economic challenge remains low household incomes.
He declared that the next phase of reforms would focus on creating jobs, expanding livelihoods and increasing the purchasing power of Sierra Leonean families.
Government Highlights Progress in Stabilizing Food Prices
Speaking during the Civic Day engagement in London, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh told a packed hall of Sierra Leoneans that the Government had made significant progress in stabilizing the prices and availability of essential commodities, but acknowledged that the country’s biggest economic challenge today is low household income.
“Over the years, Government has worked very hard to stabilize commodity prices through a number of interventions, including import substitution, pricing regulation and targeted tax incentives. Today, commodities such as rice, flour, onions and vegetable oil are available in our markets, and their prices are competitive compared to many of our neighbours in the region.”
Low Household Income Remains the Biggest Economic Challenge
The Vice President said that while the availability and affordability of food had improved, the real challenge was that many households still lacked sufficient income to meet their daily needs.
“The big challenge today is not necessarily food prices; it is household income. Even when commodities are available and relatively affordable, many families cannot buy them because household incomes remain low.”
Government Prioritizes Job Creation and Higher Household Earnings
He explained that too few income earners were supporting large family units, placing enormous pressure on household finances, adding that: “The number of Sierra Leoneans who are supporting entire households is still very limited. That is why increasing household income has become one of Government’s highest priorities.”
Feed Salone Designed to Expand Household Incomes
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh said that that was the fundamental thinking behind the Government’s flagship Feed Salone initiative and its broader employment agenda.
“The overarching objective behind Feed Salone and our job creation agenda is to drive economic growth that expands household incomes. If we do not address household income, lower commodity prices alone will not significantly improve the everyday lives of our people.”