By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, “Morning O! Morning! Ar Don Cam Back Tiday.” I am back today because I am not sure whether you are aware of the SCHOOL FEEDING program you initiated through the Ministry of Education. This program was heralded as a beacon of hope, a step towards leveling the playing field for our children across Sierra Leone. Yet, as I observe its implementation on the ground, I am compelled to ask: why is it that only government-funded schools are benefiting from this noble scheme?
From the outset, the SCHOOL FEEDING program was supposed to be a comprehensive initiative, ensuring that every child in our nation, regardless of where they attend school, receives proper nutrition to fuel their learning and growth. But as it stands, this program seems to be selectively implemented. I refer you, Mr. President, to the arguments laid out in my book, “Monopoly of Happiness: Unveiling Sierra Leone’s Social Imbalance,” where I argued that in Sierra Leone, there has been a discernible bias. Like leaders before you, you have given more preference to those in Freetown and to schools in regions that are considered strongholds of your party. This favoritism is not just a minor oversight; it is a glaring injustice that undermines the very essence of equal opportunity.
I want to be candid with you, Mr. President. Sometimes, I feel sorry for you. I tend to believe that, in some cases, it is the people you placed in charge who are derailing your projects. The SCHOOL FEEDING program, which had the potential to uplift countless communities, is now being tainted by negligence and mismanagement. The evidence on the ground is disturbing in several instances; the rice provided under the scheme is not reaching the intended beneficiaries but is instead being sold in the market across the country. This practice not only deprives our children of the sustenance they desperately need but also calls into question the integrity of the officials managing the program.
The troubling trend does not end here. There are credible reports suggesting that school principals and head teachers, those entrusted with the welfare of our young minds, are implicated in this scandal. It is not enough for us to passively observe; we must demand accountability. Mr. President, we need an investigation into these school administrators. They must be held accountable if they have indeed been misappropriating resources meant for the children. Yet, I understand your predicament: who are we going to depend on to conduct such an investigation when the current Anti-Corruption Commissioner has repeatedly shown that he “does not worth the salt” when it comes to confronting corruption?
It is high time for decisive action. Our children deserve to have every drop of nourishment guaranteed to them by the SCHOOL FEEDING program. They deserve a future free from the shackles of malnutrition and inequality. This is not a matter of political favoritism; it is a matter of moral responsibility. You, Mr. President, hold the key to rectifying this imbalance. A thorough, transparent inquiry must be conducted to unearth the full extent of the mismanagement and ensure that every child, regardless of the school they attend, benefits from the program.
Yet, the mismanagement of public projects does not stand alone. There is another issue, simmering beneath the surface, that threatens the very fabric of our national credibility: the handling of the Jos Leijdekkers saga. The police’s recent actions have raised serious concerns about the consistency and impartiality of our law enforcement agencies. It appears that the investigation into the Jos Leijdekkers matter has been overshadowed by an incident involving Dr.
Samura Kamara. Why, Mr. President, are we allowing the police to distract us from a matter of grave public interest by inviting Dr. Kamara for an interview at the police headquarters? Why are sleeping dogs being stirred when they should be left undisturbed?
Mr. President, we are all aware of what hangs over your re-elections. Had the APC been a party of sober, principled people, they would have seized the opportunity to challenge the electoral process by filing a court case within the stipulated seven days after the announcement of the results that declared you the winner. Instead, what we see is a pattern of complacency and strategic distraction. You must thread skillfully, Mr. President, to avoid these distractions. Let the police do their work; focus on ensuring that Jos Leijdekkers is handed over to the Dutch government, thereby restoring our credibility in the international community. Only by decisively addressing this issue can we begin to heal the wounds inflicted by inconsistency and selective enforcement of the law.
I cannot overstate the gravity of the situation, Mr. President. The police, which should be a symbol of law and order, are showing us every day that they are not serious about upholding the law with the consistency that our nation so desperately needs. Why would they choose now to question Dr. Samura Kamara for declaring himself President-Elect as far back as June 2023? Such actions do not inspire confidence; they erode the trust that the people have in our institutions. Mr. President, you cannot kill a dead horse. Let us not rehash old controversies to divert attention from the pressing issues at hand. Instead, channel your energy and authority into mending the fractures in our system.
Mr. President, the roots of our national challenges lie in the way public projects are managed and how accountability is enforced. It is a systemic problem that goes beyond individual acts of corruption; it is a reflection of a broader malaise that permeates our public administration. Mr. President, if we are to move forward, we must address both the symptoms and the underlying causes. The SCHOOL FEEDING program is a perfect microcosm of the wider issues: mismanagement, political favoritism, and the misuse of public resources. These are issues that require a comprehensive strategy, one that involves stringent oversight, transparent auditing, and, most importantly, a commitment to fairness.
Allow me to be clear. I do not intend to attack you personally, Mr. President. My words are not meant to be an affront to your authority but rather a call for reflection and reform. Sometimes, leadership requires the courage to confront uncomfortable truths and to make difficult decisions for the greater good. In this spirit, I urge you to consider the following: investigate the misappropriation of the SCHOOL FEEDING program resources, hold accountable those school administrators who have strayed from their duty, and appoint a trustworthy and effective Anti-Corruption Commissioner who will not be swayed by political considerations.
Moreover, the handling of the Jos Leijdekkers saga. Mr. President must be revisited with the utmost seriousness. Let the law take its course. Do not allow political expediency to hinder the pursuit of justice. Our international standing, and indeed, our own self-respect, depends on our ability to deal with such matters transparently and impartially. The people deserve to see that even those in positions of power are not above the law.
Mr. President, “Wae Yu Get Problem Yu Kin Fen Ol Kyn Way Fo leh E Don Na dat Mek Yu Kin Go Fen Tin Fo balance Ol tin, Yu pekin Don Oba come Di Media Fo E Foundation Wae Nobody nor Bin Sabi pas wae Jos Leijdekkers Married am naw e dae ol oba.” When problems arise, they must be addressed head-on, not obscured by a barrage of media spin or political maneuvering. Likewise, the issue is by succumbing to distractions such as the recent focus on Dr. Samura Kamara. As some have put it, “Do Ya Commot Beyen Dr. Samura Kamara Saaful becos E get E yon Wae E Dae APC pass pa ram.”.
Mr. President, this is not merely a critique; it is a plea from a citizen who believes in the promise of Sierra Leone. We are a nation brimming with potential, yet our progress is stymied by a failure to live up to the ideals of equality and justice. The SCHOOL FEEDING program was meant to be a transformative initiative, a way to ensure that every child, irrespective of their background or location, could grow up healthy and well-nourished. But if we allow corruption and favoritism to dictate its implementation, we are dooming our children to a future of inequality and missed opportunities.
Mr. President, it is time to restore faith in our public institutions. It is time to show that even the highest offices in the land are willing to set aside personal and political interests for the sake of the common good. Mr. President, I urge you to take immediate action: launch an independent investigation into the mismanagement of the SCHOOL FEEDING program, enforce strict oversight of the schools receiving these benefits, and address the broader issues of corruption within the system. Let us also not allow distractions, such as the handling of the Jos Leijdekkers saga, to overshadow our primary duty to serve and uplift the people.
Mr. President, the challenges before us are not insurmountable, but they require a steadfast commitment to justice and accountability. Your leadership has the potential to transform Sierra Leone, but only if you are willing to confront these uncomfortable truths and implement the necessary reforms. Our children, our schools, and our nation deserve nothing less.
Mr. President, can we talk? Yes, we must talk about fairness and justice and about the future of our beloved nation. Let us begin that conversation now.
