“Why President Bio?” Citizens ask
People who call themselves Sierra Leonean patriots devoid of political or tribal leanings or considerations have asked president Julius Maada Bio why has things continued to get difficult, with the prices of goods and services that were supposed to have been brought down to appreciable or affordable levels continuing to rise.
Since the announcement of the 24 June 2023 presidential elections result, things have taken a turn for the worse.
They complained that not only has the price of fuel gone up twice, and is now trading officially at NLe30 per litre, it is however projected to rise further giving rise to speculations that we are only at the start of a five year problem in the making.
In the communities across Freetown people complain of hearing too many reports of housebreakings, assault cases and cases of fraudulent conversion.
In the midst of all the hardship and suffering, the price of the US dollar against the leone continue to rise, and is now trading at above NLe24 to the leone.
They say after unscrupulous speculators bid higher than the value of the leone against foreign currencies at the readjustment of the leone to the dollar we should expect for the dollar to make more gains against the leone.
The price of fuel, the black gold that determines the prices of all goods and services that need electricity to function, has gone up to NLe30 per litre with some black market dealers selling upward of NLe35 per litre. With the war in Ukraine not looking like it will soon abate, Sierra Leone and countries that depend on Europe to source their grains and fuel should plan and prepare for more hikes in their prices.
A quick glance at the marketplaces across the capital city Freetown would reveal fewer paying customers with a lot of businesses closing down due to poor turnaround.
Those that manage to stay open complained of not being able to sell and be able to pay their employees and handle issues of rent and council taxes.
In the midst of all this assault on the common man, the nation’s electricity distribution authority, EDSA, decided to raise the electricity tariff further compounding the people’s condition. People say they buy EDSA electricity top up without being able to enjoy the light due to frequent power cuts.
Those that want to travel say the airport tax continue to affect them despite assurances that it would be addressed this term.
As the national outlook continues to be bleak, the people have asked: “Why, Bio, why all the hardship?”