By Alpha Amadu Jalloh—Author of “Monopoly of Happiness: Unveiling Sierra Leone’s Social Imbalance”
Mr. President, it amuses me when I read the latest press release from the National Revenue Authority (NRA). Honestly, I laughed out loud, not because it was funny, but because it was tragically absurd. In one of the paragraphs, the statement indicated that if you are planning to have a party in Sierra Leone, you must pay a certain fee to the NRA before you are cleared to proceed, or the NRA will stop you from proceeding. “ayyy wae mi go don cook fo mi get together NRA go stop mi fo enjoy”. Mr. President, since we get clearance to demonstrate from police, we must now balance that with a clearance to enjoy ourselves, this indeed a balancing act. Bravo, Mr. President.
Let me pause here to ask a question. Are we now charging fees for joy, Mr. President? Is this where we are? After all the suffering, deprivation, and stress your administration has placed on us, you are now coming for our moments of celebration.
Bo, Mr. President, “fo leh pipul get dem smol get-together en ladida wae nor to profit-making venture, naw wi need fo pay fo dat sef? Ar Kpoleh!”. “Bra, na sansan yu wan trowae na wi smol dorti gari so”
I beg, Mr. President, that you make my book, “Monopoly of Happiness: Unveiling Sierra Leone’s Social Imbalance”, your new manifesto. It could educate your administration about how your policies are not only wrong but are slowly suffocating the people of this nation. Perhaps then you would realize the depth of the damage you are inflicting.
Yes, Mr. President, I do see your point, after you and your administration have depleted the state’s coffers, our consolidated funds, you are now grasping at straws to generate revenue by any means necessary. But let’s be honest with ourselves, this idea is absurd. Now, even for people to host small gatherings to momentarily forget their hardships and dance their worries away, they need clearance from the NRA?
What’s next, Mr. President? Will we soon need permits to cook our meals at home? Fees to eat, sleep, or go to the toilet? Oh, wait many of these are already taxed indirectly, even though no services are provided in return. Mr. President, this madness must stop.
We understand that Sierra Leone’s financial situation is dire, but whose fault is that? Let me remind you, your government has sold almost everything of value in this country. From our sands to our fish, from our fertile lands to our minerals, you’ve auctioned off Sierra Leone like it’s an inheritance from your father.
Our natural resources, which belong to the people of Sierra Leone, have become the personal property of you and your inner circle. It’s as if the nation is under the control of a monopolist who determines who breathes in and out, who eats and who starves.
Through your poor leadership, Mr. President, you have turned Sierra Leone into a nation where survival is a daily struggle. People go to bed hungry, wake up hopeless, and now, even their small moments of joy are under siege.
Mr. President, have you paused to consider what it means for the average Sierra Leonean to throw a party? It’s not about luxury or extravagance; it’s about survival. It’s a way for people to appease their weary souls after enduring the Bio-made difficulties of daily life.
Yet here we are, with your administration deciding to tax even these small acts of defiance against despair. This isn’t governance; it’s repression.
Do you realize what this means for your legacy, Mr. President? If this continues, North Korea will soon be considered freer than Sierra Leone. You’re turning us into a dystopian society where every aspect of life is regulated, monetized, and controlled by the state. Wi don taya, Sir!
I urge you to look deep within yourself, Mr. President, and reconsider this decision. Let the people have their moments of joy. Let them dance, sing, and celebrate without the burden of another fee hanging over their heads.
Sierra Leoneans have suffered enough. They endure poor healthcare, broken infrastructure, skyrocketing living costs, and a leadership that appears more interested in globe-trotting than solving domestic problems. At least allow them the dignity of celebrating life in their own land, without asking them to pay for it.
Mr. President, this new policy is just one example of how far your administration has strayed from the principles of good governance. It’s part of a larger pattern of exploitation and mismanagement. You’ve prioritized the interests of foreign investors and your cronies over the well-being of the people.
The NRA’s party fee is not about generating revenue for the state, it’s about control. It’s about squeezing every last ounce of freedom from a population that is already on its knees.
When will it stop, Mr. President? Bo, Mr. President, we’re not asking for much. We’re not asking for miracles. We’re just asking for a government that listens, that cares, that puts the people first.
The NRA’s decision to tax private parties may seem like a small issue, but it’s symbolic of a much deeper problem. It’s a reflection of an administration that has lost touch with the people it serves. Revoke this policy, Mr. President. Let the people breathe. Let them celebrate. Let them live.
Mr. President, Sierra Leone deserves better than this. We deserve a government that sees its people as partners, not as sources of revenue. We deserve leaders who value our happiness, not just our labor and taxes.
You have an opportunity to change course. You can choose to listen to the cries of your people, to address their concerns, and to make their lives better. Or you can continue down this path of exploitation and repression.
The choice is yours, Mr. President. But remember, history will judge you. And the people of Sierra Leone will never forget.
Wi taya o wi don taya lonta!
