By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, what a busy and wonderful week for you and your government! It is ironic that, for quite some time now, each day brings a new form of celebration, all stemming from one singular source: funding from the United States the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). As I’ve said time and time again, if the criteria required to access that fund were strictly adhered to, you and your government wouldn’t have even a remote chance of receiving it. Never. Nada.
Yet, here we are, with your sycophants busy twisting this narrative, making it seem as if you’ve brought heaven down to earth. Mr. President, let me ask you a very straightforward question: “Na Wetin Mek Yu Dae Fool Wi Ol Tem Ba?” On what basis was this MCC agreement granted to Sierra Leone? You and I both know that there are strings attached, but you didn’t bother telling the people the full truth about everything in the agreement, did you? It took the U.S. Embassy in Freetown to release a statement before the people got even a glimpse of the real terms.
This press release divulged a crucial detail: the funds will only be disbursed when your government fully implements the Tripartite Agreement you signed with the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and the international community. And yet, your minions are conveniently omitting this from the discussion. Instead, they’re out spreading lies and sowing confusion, giving the impression that your “good work” is solely responsible for the MCC signing ceremony. But Mr. President, this is far from the truth.
I’ve cautioned you many times about these grandstanding photo ops, they do more harm than good. It’s becoming evident that saying one thing to the international community while doing the complete opposite back home isn’t working. Mr. President, “Yusef yu nor Dae Lan o”.
Let’s take a moment to look at this situation through a different lens. Do you even recall how many times you’ve celebrated announcements from the Americans that Sierra Leone has “qualified” for MCC funds? Even you may have lost count at this point. But let me tell you something the Americans are playing a game with you. The agreement is full of conditionalities, and if you truly look between the lines, you’ll see that the U.S. is far more interested in protecting its own interests than ensuring your success.
Think about it, Mr. President: if the MCC were to apply its eligibility requirements strictly, Sierra Leone would never make the cut. Look at the records. Be honest. Deep down, you know that we don’t meet the criteria, and yet, here we are being fed this illusion that the country’s performance under your leadership somehow merited this funding. If you have any doubts, check your conscience tell me honestly if we deserve this by merit.
As a Sierra Leonean, I must admit that I’m pleased at the prospect of these funds being used to ameliorate our electricity crisis. God knows we’ve struggled long enough with this issue. But Mr. President, let’s be real here are you prepared to adhere to the terms of the Tripartite Agreement? Because I know that’s not in your heart. You’re used to saying one thing and doing another, and the Sierra Leonean people have become all too familiar with this pattern.
If I may offer you some unsolicited advice, don’t even entertain the idea of taking the funds without meeting the agreement’s stipulations. You may think that somehow you can dodge the hard parts and still secure the money, but if you don’t follow through, this MCC funding will remain elusive. Worse, if you’ve tied your success both politically and personally to these funds, then you’ve already got failure knocking at your door.
It’s sad, really, Mr. President. Your government seems more preoccupied with the optics of success than with doing the actual work that success requires. Look around you, your aides and ministers are gleefully parading around, basking in the glow of these celebrations as if the MCC funds have already solved all our problems. But it’s all smoke and mirrors. There’s no substance behind the façade. The people are still suffering, the energy crisis is still crippling our economy, and the terms of the agreement will remain unfulfilled.
How many times will the U.S. government dangle this carrot before your eyes before you realize that this isn’t a victory? You’re being strung along, Mr. President, and so is the nation. The MCC agreement, which could have been a moment of genuine progress for Sierra Leone, is being spun into a false narrative of achievement. And the truth is, this illusion won’t hold forever.
So, let’s go back to the real issue at hand. The Tripartite Agreement. This agreement is not just a formality, Mr. President it’s a commitment to addressing real, systemic issues in our political landscape. These are issues that you have long evaded. You cannot simply sign an agreement with the international community and then abandon it when it’s no longer convenient.
The people are watching, the opposition is watching, and yes, the international community is watching. You may have won this round of photo ops, but if you fail to implement the terms of the agreement, the backlash will be swift. And the MCC funding? It will slip through your fingers, just like so many other promises that have been made and broken during your time in office.
Mr. President, the clock is ticking. You’ve been given a moment of grace, but this grace period won’t last forever. If you truly want to make progress real progress, then it’s time to take the Tripartite Agreement seriously. Engage with the opposition, fulfill your promises, and stop misleading the people with half-truths and empty victories.
It’s time to stop playing this game of international optics. The people of Sierra Leone deserve more than just photo ops and grand announcements. They deserve real leadership, real solutions, and real progress.
The ball is in your court, Mr. President. Will you rise to the challenge, or will you continue to celebrate illusions while reality slips away?
