Sierra Leone, once clinging to hope for transformation under the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), is now grappling with an overwhelming tide of hardship, disillusionment, and decline. From skyrocketing prices of basic commodities to the symbolic and literal burning of national landmarks, the legacies of the SLPP administration under President Bio is being etched in the memories of citizens as a period of suffering unlike any in recent history.
Unbearable Price Hikes: A Nation Struggles to Eat and Survive
Under the SLPP, the cost of living has quadaluped beyond imagination. The price of rice — Sierra Leone’s staple food — has surged from Le 250 to a staggering Le 1,000 per bag depending on the Kg, making daily meals a luxury for the average household. Fuel, once affordable at Le 6,000 per litre, now sells for Le 30,000, sending transportation costs into the stratosphere and affecting every aspect of life and business.
Even the most basic necessity — water is no longer within easy reach. A packet of drinking water that cost Le 2,000 has jumped to Le 8,000, leaving countless families unable to access clean, and safe hydration. See below a comparison between past APC rule and current SLPP government.
APC SLPP
Bag of rice Le250 Le1, 000
Petrol Le6,000 Le30,000
Bundle of water Le2,000 Le8,000
Stable Electricity Supply Unreliable Electricity Supply
Former President Koroma Travels out Less President Bio Travels out Frequently
No Attempted Coup. Several Attempted Coups Uncovered
No Election Rigging Alleged Rigging of 2023 Presidential Election
No Frequent Fire Outbreaks Frequent Fire Outbreaks
No Serious Drugs Scandal Serious Drugs Scandals
Dollar Rate ($100) Le750 Dollar Rate ($100) Le2,400
Few Diplomatic Missions Establishment of Many Diplomatic Mission
Few MDAs Creation of Many Ministries, Departments and Agencies
Control of state Expenditures Uncontrollable state Expenditures
Few Taxes on Businesses Many Taxes Imposed on Businesses
National Symbols Crumble as Hope Burns
The physical and symbolic decline of the nation has been underscored by two heartbreaking events: the fire at State House, the seat of executive power, and the collapse of the iconic Cotton Tree — a powerful symbol of Sierra Leone’s heritage and resilience. These events, whether due to negligence or mismanagement, stand as tragic metaphors for a nation in crisis, where even its strongest foundations are crumbling.
Blackouts and Broken Promises: Darkness Reigns
Electricity supply, which citizens hoped would improve, has reached its worst state in decades. Entire communities are plunged into darkness for days, with businesses shutting down and students forced to study by candlelight. The promise of development and digital transformation has instead resulted in a system riddled with inefficiency, incompetence, and corruption.
Suffering Multiplied: A Bleak Comparison with the Past
If the administration of former President Ernest Bai Koroma (EBK) and the APC was criticized for challenges, then today’s suffering under the SLPP has doubled twenty times over. From joblessness and inflation to insecurity and poor service delivery, Sierra Leoneans from all walks of life agree: things have never been this bad.
The streets are filled not with hope but with hunger. Markets are quiet not from peace, but from poverty. And the youth, once promised a future of prosperity, are fleeing the country in desperation, drowning in despair and unemployment.
Conclusion: A Call for National Awakening
This is not merely a political debate — it is a national emergency. The statistics do not lie. The pain on the faces of the people is real. The SLPP’s legacies, unless drastically turned around, will be remembered not for progress or patriotism, but for the suffering, silence, and sadness it imposed on a once-hopeful nation.
Sierra Leone deserves better. The people demand answers. And history will not forget.
