By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, I hope you’re doing well, though, in all honesty, I’m unsure of your current whereabouts. No flattery intended here. Sierra Leoneans are deeply troubled, and they need your attention. Today, I must raise some grave issues that are tearing our country apart, issues that demand more than mere promises. These aren’t easy matters to discuss, but it is time for frankness. Mr. President, Sierra Leoneans are losing faith. Justice, security, and the basic rights that should be protected are slipping away from them, and the silence is deafening.
Mr. President, one of the most pressing concerns today is the growing epidemic of sexual violence. Horrifying cases of rape continue to surface, yet it feels as if justice is being twisted and diluted to favour the influential and powerful. For the average Sierra Leonean, especially for victims and their families, the fight for justice has become a costly, uphill battle against a system that appears to favour the wealthy and connected. Our laws are failing the people, and perpetrators with influence seem to go free while victims and their families are left with lifelong scars.
Mr. President, it is time for bold action. If our justice system allows the wealthy to sidestep responsibility, what hope does the average Sierra Leonean have? The people are beginning to wonder if there is any justice left for them in their own country. This isn’t the nation you promised. Families who have lost loved ones to violence and trauma deserve answers; they deserve action and accountability. These victims are looking to you, Mr. President, as the leader who can put a stop to this gross inequality. They need your commitment to ensure that no child, woman, or man feels abandoned by their own justice system.
Mr. President, another dark cloud looms over our education sector. As we approach the end of the first term, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results have yet to be announced. Parents, students, and teachers are in disarray, wondering when this will be resolved. Education, the very foundation of our country’s future, is left in a state of limbo. How do we expect our youth to progress when they are left in the dark about their own academic achievements?
Mr. President, the delay in BECE results is more than just a delay; it’s a message to our youth that their education isn’t a priority. When we sideline education, we sideline the future of our country. Teachers, the very backbone of our educational system, are also left to suffer with delayed salaries. How can we expect teachers to perform their best when they’re left struggling to make ends meet? Not just teachers, but many government employees are feeling the strain of these delays as they try to support their families without the income they depend on.
Mr. President, it’s hard to ignore the irony in this darkness. The literal darkness blanketing Freetown each night mirrors the symbolic darkness enveloping our country. Electricity is still a luxury in the capital, and it’s baffling that we continue to face such hardship in this era. In many homes, darkness has become a reality rather than a temporary inconvenience. We need sustainable solutions, not quick fixes. The people deserve basic amenities that improve their lives and give them dignity. This isn’t just about lights in Freetown; it’s about fulfilling your promises to Sierra Leoneans who have placed their faith in you.
And Mr. President, while we are on the subject of promises, let’s talk about your wife, the supposed champion of women’s rights in Sierra Leone. Mr. President, an eight-year-old girl was recently raped and poisoned to death, yet we’ve heard nothing from the Office of the First Lady. No statement, no condemnation, no support for her family. Isn’t this precisely the sort of atrocity that a champion of women and girls should be addressing? Her silence sends a chilling message to the people, one that says these heinous acts don’t merit her attention or action.
Mr. President, this silence is compounded by the outcry over the recent Air Sierra Leone scandal. Dr. Sylvia Blyden exposed shocking details that have left the public questioning the legitimacy of Air Sierra Leone. When Air Sierra Leone was announced, there was celebration, fanfare, and promises. But as it turns out, the excitement was based on a house of cards. The website isn’t even functional; tickets cannot be bought, and routes are still not operational, and the worst is that the plane itself is considered unsafe in Nigeria, where it used to run as XeJet. People feel deceived, and their trust in government initiatives continues to diminish. It’s disheartening to see Sierra Leone’s hopes for progress dashed once again. Mr. President, this is about more than just an airline. It’s about the reputation of our nation and the faith of our people.
These issues, the failures in justice, education, public services, and even high-profile projects like Air Sierra Leone, are all symptoms of a larger problem. Mr. President, Sierra Leoneans are beginning to believe that you have disregarded them. As you jet from country to country, you appear increasingly disconnected from the everyday struggles of the people who elected you. We’ve seen photos of you alongside Raila Odinga and President William Ruto in Kenya, but these aren’t the images we need to see. Sierra Leoneans want to see their president on the ground, working for them. The leaders you stand with, Mr. President, look at you in those photos with a body language that reflects their thoughts on you, and it isn’t flattering.
Bo, President Julius Maada Bio, “Yu nor go sidom en do yu woke wae wi elect yu fo?” It’s a question that’s echoing across the nation. People are tired, Mr. President, exhausted by a government that seems more concerned with its image abroad than its duty at home. When will you prioritize the people who trusted you with their votes?
Sierra Leoneans want transparency, Mr. President, especially regarding the nation’s finances. People are asking, “Where is our money going?” They see you traveling the world, attending summits and conferences, but what about the promises made here at home? Public funds are meant to serve the public, and yet the people are being kept in the dark. “Bo wi don taya wit dis labo,” they say. It’s time for answers, and it’s time for change.
Mr. President, we need you to listen. The cries of the people should not fall on deaf ears. Justice should not be a luxury for the powerful alone, and education should not be treated as a mere afterthought. Teachers, children, families, victims of violence, and every Sierra Leonean deserve better than this. They deserve a president who prioritizes them, who protects their rights, and who keeps his promises.
The people are asking you to take a stand, to address these issues not with empty words but with action. They are asking for a president who is truly present in Sierra Leone, one who cares enough to tackle the problems here at home. Mr. President, the time has come to answer their calls.
