• About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Support The African Dream
The African Dream
No Result
View All Result
Friday, September 29, 2023
  • News
    Uganda

    For Failing To Accept LGBTQ+, World Bank Stops Lending Money To Uganda

    Mali and Burkina Faso

    Mali, Burkina Faso, sends delegation to Niger in solidarity

    Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine

    Niger junta appoints new prime minister

    Breaking: Boeing Is Said Close To Issuing 737 Max Warning After Crash

    BREAKING: 189 people on downed Lion Air flight, ministry says

    Crashed Lion Air Jet Had Faulty Speed Readings on Last 4 Flights

    Trending Tags

    • Commentary
    • Featured
    • Event
    • Editorial
  • Politics
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Change Makers
The African Dream
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Change Makers
Home Editor's Picks

The ‘New Direction’ Uncontrollably Swinging To The Wrong Direction – A Tale of Lies And Deceptions

by Abu Bakarr Jalloh
December 19, 2021
in Editor's Picks, Exclusive
0
The ‘New Direction’ Uncontrollably Swinging To The Wrong Direction – A Tale of Lies And Deceptions
76
SHARES
1.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

“The 10 years of APC government misrule and economic mismanagement since 2007 has created considerable suffering for our people. I have seen this first-hand during my nationwide tour of the country. The bad governance of the APC government under President Koroma has made Sierra Leone one of the poorest countries in the World and the third worse country in the World where
people do not have enough food to eat. Ordinary Sierra Leoneans have seen how the APC government’s Agenda for Change transformed itself into the APC Agenda for Corruption and the country is now one of the most corrupt in the world. As if this was not enough, the APC again crafted an Agenda for Prosperity which has since mutated into the APC Agenda for Poverty. We are a rich country bountifully endowed with enormous natural resources but the APC government has made us into a poor people, where our youth do not have jobs, our teachers, our nurses, our
police and all public servants are poorly paid. Under President Koroma’s APC government, our education system has been completely decimated while they send their children to private schools in America and England.”

Words of President Julius Maada Bio in the 2018 SLPP “People’s Manifesto”.

According to data by Statistics Sierra Leone, the cost of food in Sierra Leone increased 17.10 percent in June of 2021 over the same month in the previous year. In 2017, the average inflation rate in Sierra Leone amounted to about 18.22 percent compared to the previous year. This year it has reached the highest rate in ten years! Also, Sierra Leone is currently facing its worst food crisis in a decade, a World Food Program report indicates. The report continues by saying: “Overall, the findings of the 2020 FSMS show a concerning deterioration in food security in Sierra Leone compared to February 2019, with the total food insecure population increasing from 34 percent to 47.7
percent. This implies that almost half of the population of Sierra Leone (3,921,752) are not consuming a sufficiently nutritious diet to live a healthy life.”

See report here 👇WFP-0000114371Download

On 12 May 2018, exactly three weeks after the head of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) pronounced the results of the 2018 general elections in Sierra Leone, current president Julius Maada Bio was sworn in as the president of the Republic of Sierra Leone. After eleven years of the Ernest Bai Koroma-led government, the people of Sierra Leone voted for “change” and “bread and butter” promised as per manifesto, by the “New direction” Paopa government. But since then, the country has seen a persistent increase in the price of basic commodities, little or no activities of infrastructure, a president that is addicted to overseas traveling – all this in an unstable, ineffectual and shambolic economy which is aided by reckless spending by political vampires and zombies.

READ ALSO

Uncontrolled Waste Management Practices in Freetown and Their Effects

Timothy Musa Kabba: Sierra Leone’s New Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Set to Make Waves on the Global Stage

Before the 2018 general elections in Sierra Leone, the country’s two main political parties, the All People’s Congress and the Sierra Leone People’s Party faced off to convince the people of Sierra Leone why they should vote APC or SLPP. The SLPP, which had the current president as their flag barrier, promised the people of Sierra Leone to resolve the “bread and butter” issue and stabilize the economy in less than a year. In the SLPP 2018 manifesto called “People’s Manifesto,” let’s not forget that the current President Julius Maada Bio, in his 2018 manifesto promised the people of Sierra Leone “unlimited jobs, food, education, and health services”. Today, the “unlimited jobs” have turned to limited jobs, the “unlimited education” has turned to a crippling education, the “unlimited food” has turned to an unlimited food crisis, and the “unlimited health services” have turned to unlimited depleting health services. He promised Sierra Leoneans Dubai and gives them a South Sudan Pro Max+.

“The people of this country are yearning for change and change is inevitable and inescapable. The SLPP is ready and prepared to lead this democratic change on 7th March 2018. In these Elections, I am again offering the nation hope and a new promise that Sierra Leone will be better for all under my leadership. I promise a New Direction for Sierra Leone as a united, peaceful, progressive, dynamic, confident, enterprising and happy nation where the people have unlimited access to jobs, food,
education and health services and where there is equal justice and equal opportunity for all. We must transform Sierra Leone into a Middle Income Country of the 21st Century”.

Words from President Julius Maada Bio in his 2018 manifesto

As the country is currently facing its worst food crisis in a decade, the president and his family are busy flying around the world like a Tsetse fly in tropical Africa. Africanist Press, the country’s leading investigative digital media press, reported that the president and his wife spent over LE 10,000,000,000 on a lavished trip to Lebanon whilst one of the country’s biggest hospitals, Connaught, lacks constant electricity, oxygen supply, medicine for the sick, and sometimes even PPEs for nurses and doctors to work. But this doesn’t seem to disturb the president or give him sleepless nights. In December 2020, Africanist Press reported that the president and his wife “spent more than Le5.2 billion (over US$520,000) on travel costs and per diems”. Remember, this is a president that said he will make “corruption unfashionable”.

One doesn’t need to be a professor in Economics to be aware of the crippling state of the Sierra Leonean economy. The World Food Program (WFP), in a report, says that over 4.7 million people in Sierra Leone are food insecure (that’s 66% of the country’s 7.8 million population). The report by WFP shows the number of people in Sierra Leone facing severe hunger has tripled (3×) in the last ten years.

In the just-released Audit Report, estimated cash losses under this current regime amount to over LE 113,000,000,000 (One hundred and thirteen billion Leones), more than double for estimated cash losses for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 financial years. Even though these findings seem more true, the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission seems to be not bothered. It may look like the Anti Corruption Commissioner is, perhaps, more concerned in chasing the opposition. Perhaps, it could be the commissioner is scared to call to question his paymaster; as the saying goes “you don’t bite the hands that feed you”. Even before the revelations of the Audit Report findings, the Africanist Press seems to have been releasing eyesore findings which the President and his wife, the First Lady, have been squandering billions of Leones through per diem and exuberant overseas traveling that are yet to yield significant changes in the health sector, infrastructural sector, and most importantly basic commodities. In the 2019 Audit Report, the Auditor General describes illicit payments involving the First Lady Fatima Bio, the then-chief minister Professor David Francis and the then central bank governor Kelfala Kallon. These damning reports by the Auditor General were, unfortunately, not debated in parliament and the Anti Corruption Commission decided not to indict the aforementioned three.

Excerpt from the Audit Report 2020

Sierra Leoneans were/are not expecting change overnight, but for the smallest things like food prices, electricity, pipe-borne water distribution, and basic healthcare services – this government has woefully failed in addressing the aforementioned areas of national concern. In fact, the president himself, with no iota of respect and shame intentionally ridiculed Sierra Leoneans who are concerned about his zero-yield excessive overseas traveling by saying on a national TV that “ladies and gentlemen, I will continue to fly”. This, thus, can be justifiable to the fact that the president cares less about the struggles his people are enduring every day to make ends meet. Just like Nigeria’s Buhari, the Sierra Leonean president has become an addict to planes. He could barely stay in the country for a week without traveling. This has confused so many who are asking if the president doesn’t have a cabinet to represent him in some international bilateral conferences, which could save the country billions of Leones.

Although there have been positive strides in some areas, in terms of overall performance, the results of this administration in the last three and a half years would show F (Fail).

Tags: Government of Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneSierra Leone Government

Related Posts

Uncontrolled Waste Management Practices in Freetown and Their Effects
Editor's Picks

Uncontrolled Waste Management Practices in Freetown and Their Effects

August 9, 2023
Timothy Musa Kabba: Sierra Leone’s New Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Set to Make Waves on the Global Stage
Editor's Picks

Timothy Musa Kabba: Sierra Leone’s New Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Set to Make Waves on the Global Stage

July 27, 2023
Sam Bangura
Editor's Picks

Sam Bangura: The Bank Governor Who Died For Defying Orders From The President

July 17, 2023
Top 10 Highest Paid Presidents in Africa 2023
Editor's Picks

Top 10 Highest Paid Presidents in Africa 2023

June 30, 2023
Cape Agulhas – The Famous Place in South Africa Where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean Meet
African Stories

Cape Agulhas – The Famous Place in South Africa Where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean Meet

June 28, 2023
Innovators from Sierra Leone Developed EASY S.T.E.M Server, Revolutionizing Internet Access for Students in Remote Areas
Education

Innovators from Sierra Leone Developed EASY S.T.E.M Server, Revolutionizing Internet Access for Students in Remote Areas

June 23, 2023
Next Post
UNICEF Donates 77 Solar Powered Refrigerators To The Ministry of Health and Sanitation To Strengthen The Cold Chain System

UNICEF Donates 77 Solar Powered Refrigerators To The Ministry of Health and Sanitation To Strengthen The Cold Chain System

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

POPULAR NEWS

University of Sierra Leone

University of Sierra Leone Ranked Among Top Universities In Sub-Saharan Africa 2023

July 21, 2023
The Ugly and Frustrating Side Of Being A COMAHS Student – Anonymous Student

The Ugly and Frustrating Side Of Being A COMAHS Student – Anonymous Student

August 21, 2023
Albert D. Bangura

Brilliant Sierra Leonean Bags Overall Best Graduating Student In Cyprus University

July 15, 2023
Sam Bangura

Sam Bangura: The Bank Governor Who Died For Defying Orders From The President

July 17, 2023
Sierra Leone Police arrest senior military officers over plot to undermine democracy

Sierra Leone Police arrest senior military officers over plot to undermine democracy

August 2, 2023

EDITOR'S PICK

Uncontrolled Waste Management Practices in Freetown and Their Effects

Uncontrolled Waste Management Practices in Freetown and Their Effects

August 9, 2023
Match Facts – Sierra Leone Vs Equatorial Guinea

Match Facts – Sierra Leone Vs Equatorial Guinea

January 20, 2022

A Rise To Dictatorship? Tunisian Protesters Oppose President Kais Saied’s Authoritarian Rule

April 11, 2022
Kechi Okwuchi

From surviving a horrific plane crash to an MBA graduate with distinction

September 26, 2023

Read More

About – The African Dream

The African Dream is a groundbreaking digital media platform that has emerged as a powerful catalyst for change, showcasing inspiring, positive, and compelling stories from across the African continent.

Follow us

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Mary Eliza Mahoney: The First Trained Black Nurse in America
  • World’s Oldest Living Woman Celebrates Her 117th Birthday
  • Belford Vance Lawson Jr: The First African American To Win A Supreme Court Case
  • Ralph Metcalfe: The Black Sprinter Who Was The Fastest Human In The World In 1934
  • About Us
  • Meet The Team
  • Support The African Dream
  • Contact Us

© 2023 The African Dream Sl.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Meet The Team
  • News
    • Recent News
  • Support The African Dream
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us

© 2023 The African Dream Sl.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

STAY CONNECTED BY SUBSCRIBING TO OUR FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

The African Dream will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
 

Loading Comments...