Where Are the Voices Of Conscience?

By AARON CAMARA

I wonder about the role of our civil society. Where are the advocates for change? Where are the voices that should be rising in unison to demand accountability and transparency?

It is disheartening to see a lack of unity among those who should be leading the charge for a better Sierra Leone. The responsibility to uplift our nation cannot rest solely on the shoulders of a few; it requires collective action and unwavering commitment from all of us.

And what about our opposition leaders?

In times of crisis, we look to them for guidance and strength. Where are they in this moment of need? Are they advocating for the people, or have they become complacent in the face of adversity? The absence of a strong, united front raises further questions about our future. As we reflect on these issues, let us not lose hope. Healing is possible, but it requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to engage in difficult conversations. We must hold our leaders accountable, demand transparency, and strive to build a society rooted in fairness and justice. Only then can we truly answer the question: Is there balm in Sierra Leone?

Let us come together as a community, united in our vision for a brighter future. It is time for us to rise, to speak out against injustice, and to work tirelessly for the change we wish to see. Together, we can create a Sierra Leone, where hope and healing flourish, and where every citizen can thrive.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Aaron, this is another gem. Thanks a lot. These are the critical questions we should be asking ourselves and our nation, as the people continue to suffer over 60 years after our Independence?

If Sierra Leone, once dubbed the ATHENS OF WEST AFRICA, cannot boast of a single civil society organization, any group of intelligentsia and opposition to hold the government’s feet under the fire, what hope is there for our nation?

When you consider how our nation, seethed with radical activism before Independence and immediately after it, the present state of affairs in our country is pitiful.

Where did all the civil society activists go? Sierra Leone had the most buoyant opposition in Africa in the mid 60s, and that was why it was in Sierra Leone that the opposition defeated and dethroned a ruling government for the first time in 1967.

Is this the Sierra Leone, where even serious politics that holds a dictatorial government to account has gone to the dogs?

Please continue raising these pertinent issues and let some of us give your articles a shout-out in our widely read newspapers , for the records.