By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Sierra Leone is a blessed land. We are rich in diamonds, gold, bauxite, iron ore, fertile land, abundant water resources, and above all, resilient people who have survived war, disease, hunger, and countless political betrayals. Yet, despite these gifts, our nation continues to limp in6 shame at the bottom of every human development index. Why? Because for decades, successive governments have chosen to preside over stagnation instead of transformation, self-interest instead of nation-building, and excuses instead of solutions.
The truth is clear: Sierra Leoneans want a government that brings real change, not one that keeps us in perpetual standstill. For sixty-three years after independence, we have been running in circles, repeating the same mistakes and expecting a different result. Today, we are poorer than countries that were once at our level. We are more dependent on aid than ever. And the promise of a better Sierra Leone remains a mirage to the ordinary man in Kroo Bay, Kailahun, or Kabala.
> “True progress in Sierra Leone will come only when leadership prioritizes people over politics and vision over vanity.”
Eddison Lee-Johnson, Former President Milton Margai College
These words ring true because, at the heart of Sierra Leone’s stagnation is leadership failure. Since independence, our politics has been dominated by two parties SLPP and APC. Both have failed us. They come with sweet words and lofty promises but govern with arrogance, corruption, and incompetence. Sierra Leone has never had a truly visionary leadership that places country above self. Instead, we have had politicians who treat the nation as a personal estate, using state resources to enrich themselves and their cronies while the people sink deeper into poverty.
Our leaders are comfortable flying around the world, begging for aid, while refusing to harness our own wealth for development. They make excuses about “global economic hardship” but live in opulence, throwing lavish weddings and buying mansions abroad. Leadership in Sierra Leone has become about showmanship, about how many awards you can buy from dubious organizations, rather than about results that touch the lives of ordinary citizens.
Corruption The Cancer Eating the Nation
No single factor has brought Sierra Leone backwards more than corruption. It is the cancer that has destroyed our institutions, eroded trust, and kept us poor. Billions of dollars have been siphoned away from our people by those who were elected or appointed to serve them. From inflated contracts, ghost workers, illegal mining concessions, to the looting of COVID-19 funds corruption is everywhere.
Even the Anti-Corruption Commission, instead of being the fearless watchdog, has become part of the problem. The man who should be the guardian of integrity is himself accused of flaunting unexplained wealth. How can a nation develop when public office is seen as the fastest route to riches? How can schools, hospitals, and roads be built when resources meant for them end up in private pockets?
> “Economic growth without equitable opportunity is not development it is stagnation dressed in numbers.”
— Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba, Kenyan Orator
Until Sierra Leone confronts corruption decisively not selectively, not for political show, but for real, our nation will remain crippled.
A Broken Economy
Our economy is stagnant because it is built on the wrong foundation. We rely almost entirely on exporting raw minerals and importing everything else from rice to needles. This dependency makes us vulnerable and keeps us perpetually poor. Sierra Leone should not be a nation that imports rice when we have fertile lands and abundant water. We should not be a country that exports iron ore and imports nails.
The lack of industrialization has left our youths unemployed and restless. Every year, thousands graduate from universities with no jobs waiting for them. They become Okada riders, street traders, or worse, risk their lives crossing deserts and seas in search of greener pastures. The economy has failed them.
Our currency, the Leone, is one of the weakest in Africa, not because we are cursed, but because mismanagement and waste have destroyed investor confidence, while political instability and corruption discourage private enterprise.
> “A nation cannot thrive when the wealth of its resources enriches the few while the masses endure perpetual deprivation.”Alpha Amadu Jalloh, Monopoly of Happiness Unveiling Sierra Leone’s Social Imbalance
This statement captures the harsh reality that has left generations of Sierra Leoneans frustrated and disillusioned.
Education and Health Pillars Ignored
Education and healthcare remain underfunded, mismanaged, and inaccessible to the majority. Schools lack basic materials, qualified teachers are in short supply, and children are often forced to drop out. Hospitals are understaffed, ill-equipped, and unable to provide basic services. The human cost is enormous lives lost, potential wasted, and futures stolen.
A country cannot thrive when its children are denied knowledge and its citizens denied healthcare. A government that ignores these pillars chooses stagnation over progress.
The Call for Real Change
Sierra Leoneans are no longer asking for empty promises. They want a government that works. They want leaders who are accountable, transparent, and committed to transforming the country rather than enriching themselves. They want policies that empower rather than oppress, programs that educate rather than neglect, and projects that build rather than destroy.
This is not radical thinking. It is basic governance. It is what any responsible nation owes its people. It is what Sierra Leoneans deserve.
The time for excuses is over. The era of inaction must end. Sierra Leone has the resources, the people, and the potential to become a thriving, modern nation. What it lacks is leadership committed to change.
We cannot afford to continue accepting governments that stagnate while the people struggle. We cannot tolerate leadership that prioritizes self-interest over national interest. The people demand real change, not stagnation.
The path is clear: confront corruption decisively, harness our resources responsibly, invest in education and health, and empower citizens to participate meaningfully in governance. This is how Sierra Leone moves forward.
Sierra Leoneans are ready. The question is are our leaders ready to answer their call
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