September 22nd, 2025
PRESS STATEMENT
NEARLY $1 BILLION WASTED – SLAM-GLOBAL DEMANDS ELECTORAL JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN SIERRA LEONE
The Sierra Leone Advocacy Movement-Global (SLAM-GLOBAL) today issues a powerful call on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone, denouncing the squandering of nearly $1 billion of taxpayers’ money with little to show in development. SLAM-GLOBAL urges both domestic authorities and international partners to take immediate action to ensure electoral justice and hold officials accountable for the rampant misuse of funds. The coalition emphasizes that when elections are crooked, governance loses legitimacy – and the nation’s resources are squandered without delivering truth or progress to its citizens.
In June 2024, Sierra Leone’s government held a high- profile ceremony to launch a US-backed 105MW power project, with a US$412 million financing package from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The initiative was hailed as a “transformative” step to double the nation’s electricity capacity. However, over a year later, this project has yet to deliver tangible benefits, fueling public frustration over the lack of development.
Investigative reports by the Africanist Press, led by journalist Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, have uncovered a staggering pattern of financial mismanagement. According to Bah’s findings, Sierra Leone has accumulated over US$1 billion in external debts-mostly U.S. taxpayer-funded loans and aid-since 2018 with virtually nothing to show for it on the ground. For example, a DFC-funded electricity scheme was meant to transform the power supply, yet citizens continue to suffer frequent blackouts. Over US$500 million in debt was incurred for a “white elephant” power plant project that remains unfinished and non-functional. This blatant waste of funds has robbed Sierra Leoneans of the development they were promised, even as they will be the ones burdened with repaying these debts.
SLAM-GLOBAL echoes Bah’s urgent question: where has all this money gone, and why are the people seeing no benefit?
Crucially, these development failures are occurring in tandem with a deep crisis of governance. The 2023 general elections in Sierra Leone were marred by “irregularities and lack of transparency”, calling into question the legitimacy of the current government. International observers from The Carter Center and the EU noted serious problems in the tallying of results and urged the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) to publish polling-station level results to ensure transparency. To date, the ECSL has failed to release all detailed results, fueling suspicions of electoral fraud. Independent monitoring groups, like Sierra Leone’s own National Election Watch, have reported results that starkly contradict the ECSL’s announced figures, casting doubt on the “victory” proclaimed by the incumbent regime. As a result, broad segments of the populace and the opposition believe the election was stolen. Indeed, the announcement of rigged results sent shockwaves through the nation and beyond, with many observers and citizens openly questioning the legitimacy of President Julius Maada Bio’s government.
“When elections are crooked, there is no truth,” said a spokesperson for SLAM- GLOBAL. “A government that clings to power through fraud has no credibility in managing the funds and resources entrusted to it. Electoral justice is the foundation of accountable governance – without it, billions can disappear while our people remain in poverty.”
What $1 Billion Could Mean for Sierra Leoneans: Instead of vanishing into unfinished power plants and untraceable projects, nearly one billion U.S. taxpayer dollars could have transformed the lives of Sierra Leoneans. To make this wastage plain:
” Education: That money could have built and staffed 10,000 classrooms, giving nearly half a million children a chance at real learning. It could have fed every primary school child for five years, ensuring no child learns on an empty stomach.
” Healthcare: It could have built 100 modern hospitals with maternity wards, labs, and medicines. It could have trained and paid 10,000 new nurses and midwives for a decade, slashing our tragic maternal mortality rate.
” Jobs and Agriculture: It could have created 200,000 jobs for young people through nationwide agricultural and public works programs. It could have bought 50,000 tractors and farm tools packages for farmers, ending hunger and dependency.
” Electricity and Water: It could have brought solar mini-grids to every rural village, ending decades of darkness. It could have provided safe drinking water to every home across the nation.
” Youth Recovery: It could have built 100 drug rehabilitation and recovery centres, offering hope to a generation ravaged by Kush and cocaine.
Instead, Sierra Leoneans remain in darkness, mothers die giving birth, youths roam jobless, and families spend half their income just to eat rice.
As one prominent businesswoman in Freetown put it: “With $1 billion, they could have lit every street and fed our children. Instead, we are left with empty promises and hungry stomachs.”
SLAM-GLOBAL notes that a government lacking a genuine mandate from its people tends to act with impunity, misusing public funds and betraying the public trust. The nearly $1 billion in wasted development money is a painful illustration of this principle. Sierra Leoneans continue to face hardship – from joblessness to power outages – even as their supposed representatives boast of multimillion-dollar projects on paper. This disconnect between promised development and lived reality is evidence of a democratic deficit. The Movement insists that only by restoring the integrity of our elections can Sierra Leone ensure that aid and public funds are used to improve citizens’ lives, not siphoned off or left idle in failed projects.
SLAM-GLOBAL also applauds the international partners who have stood up for the Sierra Leonean people in this critical time. In 2024, U.S. lawmakers took the remarkable step of holding up a $480 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant to Sierra Leone until democratic norms are respected. This act – prompted in part by advocacy from Sierra Leonean civil society and diaspora – sent a clear message that the world is watching and will not bankroll a regime that subverts the will of its people. “We are deeply grateful to those in the international community who have shown solidarity with our quest for democracy,” the SLAM-GLOBAL spokesperson said. “But more must be done: not only to pause new funding until credibility is restored, but to scrutinize and seek accountability for the funds already provided.”
A Call to U.S. Lawmakers and the International Community: SLAM-GLOBAL commends those in the United States who have already taken a stand by withholding Millennium Challenge Corporation funds until democratic norms are restored. Today, we call directly on:
” The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
” The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
” The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa
” The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations
We urge these bodies to act with urgency: open hearings, demand testimony, and initiate an independent audit of all DFC funds disbursed to Sierra Leone. U.S. taxpayers deserve to know how their money was spent, and Sierra Leoneans deserve accountability for the debt now chained to their children’s future.
We also call on ECOWAS, the African Union, and the European Union to link all aid and support to Electoral Justice and financial transparency in Sierra Leone.
Call to Action
SLAM-GLOBAL therefore issues the following urgent demands to ensure Electoral Justice and Financial Accountability in Sierra Leone:
” Immediate Publication of 2023 Polling Station Results: The ECSL must release the complete, disaggregated election results for every polling station without further delay. Only full transparency can confirm the true choice of the people and lay to rest the widespread doubts about the 2023 election outcome. This step is non-negotiable for rebuilding public trust in our democratic process.
” Resignation of Officials Responsible for Electoral Malpractice: All officials and commissioners implicated in the conduct of the flawed 2023 elections should step down or be removed from their posts. It is unacceptable for those who oversaw a process riddled with irregularities to remain in positions of authority. Accountability starts at the top – new impartial leadership is needed at the ECSL and other relevant bodies to implement reforms and prepare credible future elections.
” Independent Audit of DFC-Funded Projects: SLAM-GLOBAL calls on the United States Congress, State Department, and International Anti- Corruption Agencies to initiate a thorough, independent audit of all DFC funds and other foreign taxpayer-funded projects in Sierra Leone. There must be a full accounting for the hundreds of millions of dollars poured into initiatives like the Western Area Power Generation Project. The fact that over $500 million ended up as debt for a non-functional power plant is a scandal of the highest order. American taxpayers deserve to know how their money was used, and Sierra Leoneans deserve to see consequences for any corruption or mismanagement uncovered. This audit should be transparent, with findings made public, and should include recommendations to recover lost funds and prevent such debacles in the future.
In addition to these immediate steps, SLAM-GLOBAL urges the International Community to maintain pressure and support for true democratic governance in Sierra Leone. The pursuit of Electoral Justice in the wake of the 2023 elections is not a partisan issue – it is a national imperative so that the government of Sierra Leone reflects the genuine will of the people. Only a legitimately elected government can honestly steward the nation’s resources and international assistance toward the development goals that benefit the citizenry. The people of Sierra Leone have waited long enough for the promise of democracy and development to be fulfilled. We will no longer tolerate grandiose projects announced with fanfare, only to result in empty fields and unanswered questions. We will no longer stay silent as our votes are disregarded and our futures bartered away.
SLAM-GLOBAL stands united with all Sierra Leoneans yearning for change. We assert that the soul of our nation lies in truthful elections and accountable leadership. As a global Movement comprising concerned Sierra Leonean citizens at home and abroad, we commit to amplifying the voice of the people. We call upon ethical leaders, both domestically and internationally, to join us in demanding that integrity be restored in Sierra Leone’s democracy. Together, we can ensure that every dollar invested in Sierra Leone’s development truly reaches the people, and that every vote cast truly counts. The road to justice may be long, but with unwavering resolve, the people’s will shall prevail.
P.S. We invite you to explore our recently published analysis in a book, “Building a Nation: Good Governance and Democratic Principles in Sierra Leone.” As we unite for change in 2025, this resource provides valuable insights for activists, policymakers, and concerned citizens committed to Sierra Leone’s transformation. Find it here: link.
Signed By:
Dr. Alfred A. Veenod Fullah
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
CC:
” State Dept Press Operations
” Office of Press Operations, U.S. State Department
” Office of the Chairman, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
” Office of the President of Sierra Leone
” Office of the Vice President of Sierra Leone
” Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament
” Office of the Chief Minister of the Government of Sierra Leone
” Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL)
” Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police
” Chief of Defence Staff, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)
” Office of National Security, Sierra Leone
” Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion
” Leonardo Santos Simao, Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)
” African Union (AU)
” Amnesty International
” Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State
” Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs
” The Commonwealth Secretary-General
” Karim Ahmad Khan, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC)
” Richard YOUNG, Chief de Division, Afrique de l’Ouest
” Ms. Ursula Von Der Lyen, European Commissioner
” The United Nations Representative in Sierra Leone
” H. E. Oumar Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission
” Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former VP of The Gambia
” H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
” H.E John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
” H. E. Bassiru Faye, President of Senegal
” H.E Adama Barro, President of The Gambia
” H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of Guinea
” H.E. Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia
” H.E Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast
” H.E Jean-Lucien Savi de Tove, President of the Togolese Republic
” David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Dev Affairs, UK
” Neil Alan John Coyle, MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, UK
” Ambassador Aly Diallo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the UK&I
” Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in the UK&I
” Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, Head of Mission, The Gambia high Commission, UK&I
” H.E Fatimata Dia, Ambassador of Senegal to the UK&I
” H.E Gurly T. Gibson-Schwarz, Ambassador of Liberia to the UK&I
” Her Excellency Josephine Gauld, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of the United States of America to Sierra Leone
” Head of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Canada in Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Germany to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Lebanon to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Iran to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Brazil to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Sweden to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Libya to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Egypt to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Cuba to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Guinea to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of Ghana to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of The Gambia to Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Italy in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Ireland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of India to Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Senegal in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Syria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Turkey in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Mali in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Romania in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Norway in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of France in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Belgium in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of The Netherlands in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Spain in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Serbia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Austria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Denmark in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Russia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of South Africa in Sierra Leone
” Civil Society Movement – Sierra Leone (CSM – SL)
” Media Reform Coordinating Group of Sierra Leone (MRCG)
” Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO)
” Civil rights Defenders – Sierra Leone
” National Elections Watch (NEW) – Sierra Leone
” Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) – Sierra Leone
” Women’s Forum – Sierra Leone
” Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD)
” Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board
” Faith-Based and Interfaith Organizations – (Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone)
” Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL)
” Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone
” Institute of Governance Reform (IGR)
” Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD)
” Children’s Forum Network
” Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) – Sierra Leone
” Awoko Newspaper – Sierra Leone
” Liberty TV Online – Sierra Leone
” Radio Democracy 98.1 FM Station – Sierra Leone
” The New York Times
” The Washington Post
” The USA Today
” The Cable News Network (CNN)
” The MicroSoft National Broadcast Corporation (MSNBC)
” The Fox News
” The Associated Press
” Thomson Reuters
” The National Public Radio (NPR)
” The Brookings Institution
” The Heritage Foundation
” The Center For American Progress
” The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP)
” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
” The MoveOn
” The Democratic National Committee
” The Republican National Committee
” The EMILY’s List
” The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
” The Sky News
” Al Jazeera
” The Independent Television (ITV)
” The Times
” The Financial Times
” The Guardian
” The Daily Telegraph