-APC Supporters Challenge SLPP 

By Daybreak Newspaper

A fresh political debate is gaining momentum among Sierra Leoneans, with supporters of the All People’s Congress (APC) challenging supporters of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to engage in a serious discussion about the historical contributions of successive governments led by the APC.

The argument being advanced by APC supporters is simple: before political parties engage in arguments about the future, Sierra Leoneans should also examine the country’s historical development record and ask what successive governments actually built, established or expanded.

The APC has played a major role in Sierra Leone’s post-independence political history. The party governed the country for extended periods, including the administrations associated with Siaka Stevens and Joseph Saidu Momoh, before returning to power in 2007 under Ernest Bai Koroma. Official State House records list these administrations among Sierra Leone’s former governments. (Office of the President of Sierra Leone⁠)

However, claims that particular projects or institutions were created exclusively by one political party require careful historical verification, because many national institutions have developed through several administrations over many years.

Nevertheless, APC supporters continue to point to a long list of infrastructure, education, healthcare, financial and energy projects which they associate with APC-led governments.

“Without APC, Would Sierra Leone Have These Institutions?”

Among the projects and institutions frequently cited by APC supporters are the National Stadium, Youyi Building, Bintumani Conference Centre, Sam Bangura Building, educational institutions, hospitals, roads, bridges and energy infrastructure.

Supporters argue that these projects demonstrate the importance of long-term investment in national infrastructure and public institutions.

They particularly point to the expansion of tertiary education, citing institutions and facilities associated with higher education, including IPAM, the College of Medicine, the University of Makeni, Limkokwing University and Ernest Bai Koroma University, while acknowledging that the history and establishment dates of these institutions differ and should be considered individually.

The argument is that successive governments have contributed to expanding access to education, professional training and university-level learning, thereby creating opportunities for generations of Sierra Leonean students.

Roads and Bridges   

Infrastructure is another major area highlighted by APC supporters.

Their list includes the Daru Bridge, Kono Bridge, Kenema-Kailahun Road, Port Loko roads, Kambia-Guinea border road, Hill Cut four-lane road, Wilkinson Road extension, Grafton bypass and the Matotoka-Kono road, as well as road development in district headquarters and other communities.

The supporters’ argument is that road construction has historically been one of the most visible indicators of government investment because roads connect agricultural communities, commercial centres, schools, hospitals and markets.

They contend that improved roads have the potential to reduce transportation costs, increase movement between districts and support economic activity.

Energy: Bumbuna and Dodo   

APC supporters also place considerable emphasis on electricity generation.

They cite the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project as one of the country’s major energy infrastructure milestones and also mention the Dodo Dam in the Eastern Province.

The broader argument is that reliable electricity is essential for industrialisation, education, healthcare, commerce and modern living.

Sierra Leone’s energy challenges have continued across successive administrations, making the country’s historical investments in generation and distribution an important part of the national development discussion.

Healthcare    

Healthcare is another area raised by APC supporters.

They point to hospitals and health facilities including Rokupa Government Hospital, Macauley Street Hospital, Kingharman Road Hospital, Lumley Hospital and Kailahun Government Hospital, while also referring to earlier policies providing medical services for vulnerable groups such as children under five, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

These claims should be assessed institution by institution, because health facilities often undergo construction, expansion, renovation and changes in ownership or administration across different governments.

Nevertheless, the APC argument is that healthcare infrastructure should be viewed as part of the country’s long-term national development history rather than solely through the policies of whichever government happens to be in office.

Banking and Financial Institutions     

APC supporters also cite the development of Sierra Leone’s banking sector, particularly institutions such as the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and Rokel Commercial Bank.

The banking sector has played a major role in facilitating government transactions, private-sector activity, savings, lending and financial inclusion.

Again, the historical development of these institutions spans different periods and governments, so attributing their entire existence or development to one party alone would require more detailed historical documentation.

Military and Legal Education     

Other institutions mentioned in the APC supporters’ historical account include Cockerel Military Headquarters and the Sierra Leone Law School.

The supporters argue that institutions serving national security and professional legal education are part of the country’s institutional foundation and should therefore be included when assessing the historical contribution of governments.

Democracy and the 1991 Constitution      

Perhaps the most significant political point raised in the debate concerns the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.

The Constitution remains the country’s fundamental legal framework, although it has been amended and subjected to constitutional review processes over the years.

The history of the 1991 Constitution, however, cannot accurately be reduced to the contribution of one political party. Sierra Leone’s constitutional development involved military governments, political parties, civil society, legal experts and citizens, and occurred against the backdrop of the country’s transition toward multiparty constitutional government.

Indeed, Sierra Leone’s political history is complex. Official government material records that the APC became a one-party state in 1978, while later political developments eventually contributed to the restoration of multiparty democracy. (Office of the President of Sierra Leone⁠)

That historical complexity should form part of any serious discussion about the APC’s legacy.

The National Stadium and Public Infrastructure   

APC supporters also mention the National Stadium as a symbol of national development.

For many Sierra Leoneans, major public facilities have significance beyond their physical structures. Stadiums, conference centres, government offices, schools and hospitals become part of the country’s national identity and provide services for generations.

The same argument is made regarding the Youyi Building and Bintumani Conference Centre, which supporters regard as examples of public infrastructure associated with periods of APC government.

The APC’s 2007-2018 Era    

The APC’s historical record also includes its return to power in 2007 under President Ernest Bai Koroma.

That period brought another phase of infrastructure development, including investments in roads, energy, telecommunications and public facilities.

Official government records identify Ernest Bai Koroma as President from September 2007 to March 2018. (Office of the President of Sierra Leone⁠)

It is therefore important that any discussion of APC’s historical record considers both its earlier administrations and its 2007–2018 period in government.

But What About the SLPP?

The APC supporters’ challenge to SLPP supporters should also be placed within the broader history of Sierra Leone.

The SLPP is itself one of Sierra Leone’s historic political parties and has governed the country during several important periods. President Julius Maada Bio’s government has highlighted reforms including the repeal of the seditious libel law, abolition of the death penalty, the Free Quality School Education programme and other legislative and institutional reforms. (Office of the President of Sierra Leone⁠)

Therefore, the national debate should not be reduced to the claim that one party alone built Sierra Leone.

Instead, Sierra Leoneans can reasonably ask both major parties to present documented records of what their respective administrations built, reformed, financed, expanded or established, and to explain the measurable impact of those interventions.

A Question for the Political Debate    

The APC supporters’ challenge can therefore be summarised in one question:

What specific projects, institutions, reforms and programmes does each political party believe should define its contribution to Sierra Leone’s development?

Rather than relying only on political slogans, the debate could examine roads constructed, schools established, hospitals built or upgraded, electricity generated, universities expanded, laws enacted, jobs created, industries developed and institutions strengthened.

That approach would allow citizens to compare Sierra Leone’s political history on the basis of documented evidence.

For APC supporters, the long list of roads, bridges, educational institutions, health facilities, energy projects, financial institutions and public buildings is evidence of a development legacy they believe deserves recognition.

For SLPP supporters, there is an equally important opportunity to present their own documented record and explain the contributions made by SLPP governments over the decades.

Ultimately, Sierra Leone’s development is bigger than APC and SLPP.

Every administration inherits something from its predecessor and leaves something for the next government. The real national question is therefore not simply “Who built Sierra Leone?”, but rather:

“What did each government inherit, what did it add, what did it improve, and what did it leave behind for the next generation?”

That is the kind of historical and political conversation that can help Sierra Leoneans understand the country’s journey while holding today’s leaders accountable for tomorrow’s development.