The All People’s Congress (APC) and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Both parties have held power at different points in Sierra Leone’s history, with each party’s policies and governance having a profound impact on the nation’s socio-economic development-or lack thereof.
As Sierra Leone continues to face significant challenges such as high unemployment, widespread poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and corruption, it is essential to critically examine the role both APC and SLPP have played in shaping the country’s present condition. While both parties have contributed to moments of progress and setbacks, the question of which is more responsible for the country’s current state is complex and requires a detailed exploration of their respective tenures, contributions to development and underdevelopment, and socio-economic policies.
The APC, founded in 1960, has been a dominant force in Sierra Leonean politics, ruling the country for extended periods, most notably from 1968 to 1992 and again from 2007 to 2018. The party has traditionally positioned itself as a pro-business, development-oriented political entity, focusing on infrastructure projects, industrialization, and economic modernization. However, its tenure has been marked by a mixture of both achievements and significant challenges, leading to debates about its long-term impact on Sierra Leone’s development.
During the early years of APC rule under Siaka Stevens (1968-1985), the party pursued policies aimed at promoting industrialization and infrastructure development. Stevens implemented significant infrastructure projects, including the construction of roads, schools, and government buildings, which laid the foundation for modernization in certain sectors. However, much of the APC’s development agenda during this period was marred by corruption, inefficiency, and a growing culture of patronage politics. The economy, while initially benefiting from investments in mining and industry, was gradually crippled by mismanagement and a lack of diversification, leaving Sierra Leone overly dependent on the mining sector.
The APC’s second major era of governance under Ernest Bai Koroma (2007-2018) is often seen as a period of relative stability and renewed focus on development. Koroma’s administration prioritized infrastructure, electricity generation, and public sector reforms. Notably, the APC government under Koroma launched several road construction projects, which improved transportation networks across the country. Additionally, Koroma’s government focused on enhancing access to electricity, particularly in urban areas like Freetown, where power shortages had been a persistent issue for decades.
However, despite these infrastructure improvements, the Koroma-led APC government was criticized for its failure to address deeper socio-economic issues such as unemployment, poverty, and corruption. The APC’s economic policies during this period were largely pro-business, but many critics argued that the benefits of these policies were not equitably distributed among the population. The government’s reliance on foreign investment, particularly in the mining sector, left the economy vulnerable to external shocks, and the lack of diversification continued to hamper sustainable growth.
One of the most significant criticisms of the APC’s governance, particularly during the Stevens and Koroma eras, has been its failure to tackle corruption. Corruption became endemic during Stevens’ rule, with public funds frequently misappropriated by government officials. This culture of corruption undermined public trust in the government and contributed to the deterioration of public services, including healthcare and education.
Under Koroma, while there were attempts to reform the public sector and improve transparency, corruption remained a significant issue. The Auditor General’s reports during this period highlighted numerous cases of financial mismanagement, and despite the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), there was widespread criticism that corruption was not adequately addressed. Many of the grand infrastructure projects, while visually impressive, were plagued by allegations of inflated costs and favoritism in the awarding of contracts.
The APC’s failure to effectively combat corruption has had lasting consequences on Sierra Leone’s development, as funds that could have been used for public services and poverty alleviation were often diverted for personal or political gain. This legacy of corruption is one of the factors that continue to hinder the country’s progress today.
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is the country’s oldest political party, having been founded in 1951. The SLPP has held power at several key junctures in Sierra Leone’s history, including the immediate post-independence period (1961-1967), the Tejan Kabbah era (1996-2007), and the current administration under President Julius Maada Bio, who took office in 2018. The SLPP’s governance has been characterized by its focus on social policies, education, and national unity, but like the APC, it has also faced significant challenges, including corruption, inefficiency, and uneven economic growth.
Under the leadership of Sir Milton Margai, Sierra Leone’s first post-independence Prime Minister, the SLPP sought to build a stable, unified nation. However, the party’s early years in power were marked by challenges in managing the economy, which was still heavily dependent on agriculture and mineral extraction. Margai’s government did invest in education and healthcare, laying the groundwork for future social development, but these efforts were often undercut by political instability and a lack of financial resources.
The SLPP’s most significant contributions to Sierra Leone’s development came during the tenure of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (1996-2007), who is widely credited with leading the country through the aftermath of the brutal civil war that devastated Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002. Kabbah’s government focused on post-war reconstruction, national reconciliation, and rebuilding and establishing institutions. The SLPP, under Kabbah, worked closely with international partners to demobilize former combatants, resettle displaced persons, and rehabilitate the country’s damaged infrastructure.
Kabbah’s administration also implemented important reforms in education and healthcare, with the aim of improving access to these services for all Sierra Leoneans. However, economic recovery was slow, and the country remained heavily dependent on foreign aid and the mining sector. Kabbah’s government faced significant challenges in diversifying the economy and creating sustainable job opportunities for the growing population.
Under the leadership of Julius Maada Bio, who took office in 2018, the SLPP has focused on a more progressive, people-centered agenda, with particular emphasis on education, healthcare, and social welfare. Bio’s flagship initiative, the Free Quality Education program, aims to provide free primary and secondary education to all Sierra Leonean children. While the program has been praised for increasing school enrollment, it has also faced criticism for issues such as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate resources, and inconsistent implementation across the country.
The Bio administration has also introduced reforms aimed at improving healthcare access, particularly maternal and child health services. However, much like previous administrations, the SLPP under Bio has struggled with corruption and inefficiency, with critics arguing that public funds are still being mismanaged, and that the benefits of social programs are not reaching those who need them most.
The SLPP’s economic policies under Bio have focused on reducing reliance on the mining sector and promoting agriculture and tourism as alternative drivers of growth. However, the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and global market fluctuations have posed significant challenges to these efforts. Unemployment remains high, and many Sierra Leoneans continue to live in poverty, despite the government’s efforts to implement inclusive growth policies.
Like the APC, the SLPP has struggled to effectively combat corruption. Although President Bio has made public declarations of his commitment to fighting corruption and strengthening institutions, his government has faced numerous scandals involving financial mismanagement and favoritism. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), while more active under Bio’s administration, has often been seen as selective in its investigations, focusing on opposition figures while overlooking corruption within the ruling party.
The persistence of corruption within the SLPP has undermined many of the party’s development efforts. Public funds intended for healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects have been siphoned off, leading to substandard services and delayed development. This has contributed to a growing sense of frustration and disillusionment among the population, many of whom had hoped for more meaningful change under Bio’s leadership.
When comparing the socio-economic policies of the APC and SLPP, both parties have had moments of success and failure. The APC has traditionally focused on infrastructure development, business-friendly policies, and attracting foreign investment, particularly in the mining sector. However, the party’s failure to diversify the economy and address corruption has limited the long-term impact of its policies.
The SLPP, on the other hand, has placed greater emphasis on social welfare, education, and healthcare. The party’s commitment to free education and healthcare access has been commendable, but the implementation of these policies has been inconsistent, and corruption has continued to undermine their effectiveness.
Determining which party bears more responsibility for Sierra Leone’s current status is not straightforward. Both the APC and SLPP have contributed to the nation’s development and underdevelopment, with each party leaving a mixed legacy of progress and setbacks. The APC’s focus on infrastructure and business development has brought tangible improvements in some areas, but its failure to address corruption and economic diversification has left the country vulnerable to external shocks and persistent poverty.
The SLPP, while making significant strides in education and healthcare, has also struggled with corruption and inefficiency. The party’s progressive social policies have not always translated into tangible benefits for the majority of Sierra Leoneans, particularly given the persistent issues of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
At the heart of Sierra Leone’s ongoing challenges is the inability of both parties to foster long-term, sustainable development that benefits the entire population. The nation’s reliance on external aid, foreign investments, and a limited range of industries has left it vulnerable to global economic fluctuations, while internal issues like corruption, nepotism, and poor governance have repeatedly stifled progress.
Both parties have played significant roles in shaping Sierra Leone’s current status, and it would be overly simplistic to claim that one is more responsible than the other. However, the consequences of their respective tenures can be analyzed to draw key lessons about governance, development, and socio-economic policies.
The APC’s long tenures, especially under Siaka Stevens and Ernest Bai Koroma, have left a complex legacy. Under Stevens, the party laid down the foundation for some industrial and infrastructure development but allowed corruption to become endemic, fostering a culture of mismanagement that eroded public trust and weakened state institutions. Koroma’s era, while marked by infrastructure projects and some economic growth, failed to address core socio-economic issues like widespread poverty and unemployment. The APC’s approach to governance often favored grand projects, but lacked the attention to inclusive economic development and social policies that would have addressed deeper structural problems in Sierra Leonean society.
While the APC’s focus on infrastructure is commendable, the party’s failure to tackle corruption, diversify the economy, or provide equitable development has contributed significantly to the country’s ongoing challenges. The party’s governance often left behind those in rural areas and the poorest sectors of society, and its pro-business policies often benefited a small elite while the general population saw little improvement in their living standards.
The SLPP, particularly under Tejan Kabbah and Julius Maada Bio, has also left its mark on Sierra Leone. Kabbah’s role in rebuilding the nation after the civil war cannot be understated, and his government’s focus on reconciliation and reconstruction laid the groundwork for future stability. Bio’s administration, with its emphasis on free education and healthcare, has made significant strides in addressing social inequalities, even if the implementation has been fraught with challenges.
However, the SLPP’s governance has also been hampered by corruption, inefficiency, and the inability to generate sustainable economic growth. While its social policies have been well-intentioned, they have not always been effectively executed, leading to mixed results. The persistence of corruption, even under a government that claims to prioritize anti-corruption efforts, has been particularly damaging. The SLPP has struggled to provide the kind of transparency and accountability needed to ensure that public resources are used for the benefit of the people, not for personal or political gain.
When comparing the socio-economic policies of the APC and SLPP, it becomes clear that both parties have strengths and weaknesses. The APC’s pro-business stance and focus on infrastructure have brought improvements in transportation and urban development, but these policies have not always translated into widespread economic benefits for the average Sierra Leonean. The APC has consistently fallen short in addressing the broader social and economic needs of the country, especially in terms of creating jobs and improving public services like education and healthcare.
The SLPP, in contrast, has focused more on social welfare, with programs aimed at improving access to education and healthcare. Bio’s Free Quality Education initiative is one of the most ambitious social programs in Sierra Leone’s history, and it has the potential to bring long-term benefits if implemented effectively. However, the SLPP’s economic policies have not always created the kind of growth needed to lift people out of poverty, and the party has also failed to diversify the economy or significantly reduce unemployment.
Both parties have struggled with governance issues, particularly when it comes to corruption. Despite their rhetoric, neither the APC nor the SLPP has made significant progress in eradicating corruption or creating truly transparent, accountable governance. This failure has had a profound impact on Sierra Leone’s development, as public funds that could have been used to improve infrastructure, healthcare, and education have instead been siphoned off by corrupt officials.
In the end, the current status of Sierra Leone is the result of decades of governance by both the APC and SLPP, with each party contributing to both the country’s progress and its setbacks. The APC’s focus on infrastructure and economic development has brought some tangible improvements, but its failure to address corruption and create inclusive growth has limited the long-term impact of its policies. The SLPP, while making strides in education and healthcare, has also struggled with corruption and inefficiency, and its social programs have not always delivered the promised results.
Sierra Leone’s ongoing challenges-poverty, unemployment, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure-are the result of deep structural issues that neither party has fully addressed. Both the APC and SLPP must take responsibility for their role in creating and perpetuating these problems. Moving forward, it is essential for Sierra Leone’s political leaders to learn from the mistakes of the past and focus on creating a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable system of governance that can foster sustainable development and improve the lives of all Sierra Leoneans.
The future of Sierra Leone depends not on the triumph of one party over the other, but on the ability of its leaders to rise above partisan politics and work together to address the country’s most pressing challenges. Only by doing so can Sierra Leone truly achieve the potential that its rich natural resources, cultural diversity, and resilient population offer.