By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, today, we have some bones to pick. I am not sure if you are aware of the trend or if you’ve noticed that the people are very much aware of the patterns under your government. It’s become a defining feature of your administration. Mr. President, permit me to emphasize this point.
You sit at the apex of a government that is losing the trust of the people, and each day brings more reasons for skepticism. Reports pour in from various departments: Anti-Corruption, Mines, Mental Health, and beyond. Yet, not a single moment has been dedicated to openly divulging the contents of those reports. Mr. President, let’s focus on one such example: the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
When you pose for photo opportunities with Mr. Ben Kaifala, what exactly are you celebrating? Is it the selective prosecution of low-ranking officials to project an image of accountability while the “sacred cows” within your circle roam untamed? Sierra Leoneans are not fooled. They know these reports exist, and they deserve to know what they contain. Transparency, Mr. President, is not a privilege you bestow at will; it is a right that belongs to every Sierra Leonean.
Take, for instance, the case of Paran Tarawally. I refuse to refer to him as “Honourable” because, frankly, there is nothing honorable about him. His actions and those of others like him are emblematic of the endemic corruption within your government. Jaia Kaikai and even your own household, Mr. President, including the First Lady, have not been spared from allegations. What does the ACC report say about these individuals? Did Ben Kaifala include his own questionable dealings in that report? What are the recommendations given by the experts, “Ay Papa God, Ayyy Na Wetin Wi Do Ba, Wae Yu Gi Wi Den Kyn Leader Ya Ba”? “Ar Kpoleh.”.
Mr. President, the people see through the charade. While the small fish are thrown under the bus to create a façade of anti-corruption efforts, the untouchables in your circle enjoy impunity. It is as if your government operates under two sets of rules, one for the powerful and connected and another for the ordinary, struggling Sierra Leonean.
“O Ya nor Shineh, Kuru Konon Gbo Ba Kor Mar Suu.” It means that no matter how oppressive a regime may seem, justice, guided by the Almighty, will prevail. And Mr. President, in this instance, the people’s justice will not wait for divine intervention alone. Sierra Leoneans are watching and growing increasingly disillusioned.
Mr. President, another troubling trend in your administration is the shameless scramble by your ministers to bring investors, not for the benefit of the nation, but for personal enrichment. Consider the glaring case of Hon. Mohamed Sidi Tunis. Leone Rock, a major mining entity, is essentially his private enterprise. No wonder he roams about, throwing cash like a drunken sailor while the country’s resources are being exploited for his gain.
And then there’s the curious case of Napoleon, your deputy mines minister and party secretary general, hailing himself as a saviour for bringing in “hard-up man dem” from India, parading them as investors. Who are these people, Mr. President? Are they genuinely here to develop Sierra Leone, or are they part of another pay-yourself scheme disguised as foreign investment?
Your administration’s approach to mining deals has become a joke. Rather than prioritizing sustainable development and ensuring the country reaps tangible benefits, your ministers are busy cutting side deals, leaving Sierra Leoneans to bear the brunt of environmental degradation and resource depletion.
Let’s not ignore Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, who has taken to singing praises of his so-called intended partnership with EXIM Bank of India to boost energy in Sierra Leone. Mr. President, what exactly is the deal here? Are we to believe this is a genuine effort to inject life into our economy, or is it just another scam unfolding under your watch?
The promises of EXIM Bank bringing a new dawn to energy in Sierra Leone sound too good to be true. And in this case, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It seems either you are scamming Dr. Yumkella, or he is scamming you. Either way, someone is pulling a fast one.
Mr. President, the ordinary Sierra Leonean is not a fool. They know these Indian and Chinese “investors” are here to make a profit and nothing else. Their interest is not in uplifting Sierra Leone but in extracting as much wealth as they can. Yet, your administration continues to court them while selling false hope to the people.
Mr. President, what is most frustrating is that your government operates like a poorly directed play. Optics seem to be the priority rather than actual governance.
When scandals emerge, there’s always a convenient distraction or a hollow promise to investigate. But we all know where those investigations lead, nowhere. The cycle is predictable. Ministers are given free rein to act in their personal interests, while you maintain an air of obliviousness.
This isn’t leadership, Mr. President; it’s abdication of responsibility. And the people of Sierra Leone deserve better. Mr. President, it is not too late to steer the ship in the right direction, but time is running out. You must make the ACC reports, mining contracts, and other vital documents must be shared with the public. Sierra Leoneans deserve to know how their country is being run.
Hold the powerful accountable and stop shielding the sacred cows. If someone close to you is implicated in corruption, they must face justice, no matter their status.
Reform mining policies and Implement transparent mining agreements that prioritize the nation’s welfare over individual greed. Sierra Leone’s resources belong to its people, not a select few.
End political patronage and appoint qualified individuals to key positions rather than filling roles based on loyalty or connections. Meritocracy is the only path forward. Restore public trust, as actions speak louder than words. It’s time to demonstrate that your government values integrity and accountability over self-enrichment.
Mr. President, Sierra Leone is at a crossroads. Your legacy will not be defined by the awards you receive or the photo ops you arrange. It will be defined by whether you had the courage to confront the corruption, greed, and mismanagement that plague your administration.
The people are watching. They are tired of empty promises and tired of being told to wait for progress that never comes. It is time to act, Mr. President, not for your ministers or for yourself, but for the millions of Sierra Leoneans who are counting on you. Sierra Leone deserves better. The question is, are you willing to deliver?
