By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, can we talk? Once again, you have set our beloved Sierra Leone on a disheartening path, one paved with broken promises and unchecked arrogance. The latest figures from the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) serve as a stark reminder: in 2023, Sierra Leone managed a dismal 35 out of 100, only to slip further in 2024 to a gut-wrenching 33 out of 100. These numbers are not mere statistics; they are a mirror reflecting our nation’s deep-rooted malaise, a nation struggling under the weight of corruption that gnaws away at the very foundations of our state.
Corruption, Mr. President, is not just an abstract concept confined to bureaucratic jargon; it is the very enemy of effective and sustainable governance. Each point lost on that index represents a setback for every Sierra Leonean who dreams of a government that works for its people. Instead, our public and private sectors are mired in practices that inhibit progress, undermine trust, and weaken the state’s functionality. And while you continue to amass accolades and awards, symbols of international validation, our people are left to grapple with the tangible consequences of your policies.
I have been trying to impress this truth upon you during our many discussions, yet it seems my words have fallen on deaf ears. How is it that we are witnessing a country descending further into disgrace while you, Mr. President, bask in the glow of international recognition? Your penchant for awards and public adulation may earn you a place in the spotlight, but it does nothing to address the corrosive behavior that infects your administration.
Take, for example, Mr. Francis Ben Kaifala. His ostentatious display of wealth has become a spectacle in its own right, a grotesque parody when compared to global titans like Elon Musk and Bill Gates. In the context of Sierra Leone, his flaunted riches are less an emblem of success and more a damning indictment of a system that rewards greed over integrity. Mr. President, have you ever paused to question how Mr. Kaifala amassed such wealth? Have you examined the true source of his income, or the possibility that his fortune is built on the very corruption that now condemns our nation? The extravagant purchase of multiple houses abroad, an indulgence that now seems to be the new norm, speaks volumes about misplaced priorities in your government.
While our nation is increasingly being tarnished in the eyes of the world, you continue to collect awards as if they are badges of honor that can erase the stain of misgovernance. What do these awards truly signify, Mr. President? Do they validate your actions, or do they merely serve as a convenient distraction from the grave issues that plague our society? When neighboring Liberia celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of its armed forces on Armed Forces Day, why is it that you find yourself on the receiving end of accolades? It is as if you have traded the true call to service for a shallow pursuit of personal glory.
Your unyielding obsession with publicity, travel, and self-aggrandizement is more than just a personal flaw; it is a systemic weakness that has allowed unworthy individuals, like Alusine Kanneh at the Department of Immigration, to remain in key positions of power despite serious controversies. Mr. President, the question is not simply about who receives an award or who gets a prestigious post. It is about the integrity of the institutions that are meant to serve the people of Sierra Leone. When individuals implicated in scandals continue to hold sway over governmental departments, the entire fabric of our democracy is jeopardized.
It is also high time we address the more personal aspects of your leadership. The troubled state of your domestic life, exemplified by the well-known rift between you and Mrs. Fatima Bio, speaks volumes about your inability to listen and adapt, even in your personal affairs. Rumors of a prolonged estrangement, with reports of you not sharing the same bedroom for nearly two years, do more than merely tarnish your personal image; they cast a long shadow over your capacity to govern effectively. How can a leader who fails to nurture his own household be expected to mend the fractures within a nation?
Furthermore, Mr. President, the matter of your personal life extends beyond your marital discord. The revelation that you have fathered over 23 children across Sierra Leone is not just a scandalous footnote; it is indicative of a broader pattern of behavior that erodes public trust. If we were to conduct a census of women within your inner circle, I dare say that very few would be found to be innocent bystanders in this saga of indulgence and neglect. The prevalence of personal excesses within your government is a clear reflection of a leadership style that prioritizes personal gratification over national progress.
The troubling fact remains that despite the overwhelming evidence of mismanagement and corruption, you continue to allow figures like Mr. Francis Ben Kaifala to hold sway at institutions meant to be the bulwarks against corruption, namely, the Anti-Corruption Commission. Why do you insist on keeping him in place? Is it not the responsibility of your administration to root out corruption from its very core? Similarly, why does Alusine Kanneh continue to serve at the Department of Immigration, despite being mired in controversies that weigh heavily on our nation’s reputation both at home and abroad? These are not minor oversights; they are systemic failures that reflect your inability or unwillingness to enforce accountability within your own ranks.
The decisions you make, or choose not to make, send a dangerous signal to those who might otherwise aspire to serve the nation with honor and integrity. By clinging to figures who flaunt wealth without accountability, by rewarding self-serving behavior with accolades, and by allowing personal indiscretions to dictate public policy, you are actively undermining the very pillars of state governance. This is not just a political misstep; it is a betrayal of the trust that the people of Sierra Leone have placed in you.
Mr. President, in a world where leadership should be defined by transparency, accountability, and a genuine commitment to the public good, your actions stand in stark contrast. Instead of forging alliances that bolster the state’s ability to serve its people, you have fostered an environment where personal ambition trumps collective progress. You have, in essence, created a system where power and privilege are concentrated in the hands of a few individuals whose interests are more aligned with personal enrichment than with the welfare of the nation.
Mr. President, I am not alone in my concerns. The disillusionment among your supporters and the broader populace is palpable. We see a nation caught in the vice of corruption and mismanagement, a nation whose global standing is deteriorating even as you adorn yourself with international honors. The stark contrast between the accolades you receive and the tangible decline in the quality of governance is not lost on those who live with the consequences of your policies every day.
The international community, too, has taken note. Sierra Leone’s slipping ranking on the CPI is more than just a number; it is a warning shot across the bow of global accountability. In an era where transparency and good governance are increasingly demanded by citizens around the world, your actions risk isolating our country from much-needed international support and investment. This isolation will not only hamper our economic development but will also further erode the public’s trust in the government’s ability to steer the nation towards a prosperous future.
It is imperative that you, Mr. President, reexamine your priorities. Instead of chasing awards, accolades, and personal validation, focus on the foundational reforms that can transform our nation. Address the rampant corruption that has become synonymous with your administration. Enforce strict accountability measures at all levels of government, and do not hesitate to remove those who fail to uphold the values of integrity and service.
As I say these words, I am acutely aware that they may fall on deaf ears. Yet, I remain steadfast in my belief that the people of Sierra Leone deserve better, a government that is truly committed to their well-being, one that is unafraid to confront its own shortcomings and to enact the necessary changes for genuine progress.
Mr. President, tomorrow I will return with further observations, this time focusing on the troubling statements made by your Information Minister regarding a potential standoff with the Dutch government over the matters involving Adebayo and Jos Leijdekkers (Umar Sheriff), your son-in-law. The international ramifications of these controversies underscore the urgent need for a government that is both accountable and transparent. ” Yu nor Go Say Ar nor Bin Tel Yu”
Mr. President, let me be unequivocally clear: the path you are currently treading leads not to a resurgent Sierra Leone, but to a legacy marred by corruption, nepotism, and personal excess. It is time to abandon the distractions of awards and self-aggrandizement and to confront the hard truths about the state of our governance. Our nation deserves a leader who puts service above self, a leader who understands that true power lies not in the accumulation of wealth and accolades but in the sincere dedication to the people’s welfare.
Mr. President, the ball is in your court. Will you choose to heed these warnings and steer Sierra Leone toward a future marked by integrity and progress, or will you continue down the treacherous path of self-interest and neglect? The eyes of the nation, and indeed, the world, are watching. Insha Allahu Mr. President, I will bring forth some international protocols that I am sure your attorney general and minister of justice must have advised you on, but I still believe I have to bring that here for the people who are eavesdropping on us to be my witnesses.
