For seven years now running, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) under President Julius Maada Bio has governed this nation with a dangerous cocktail of deception, propaganda, and empty promises. From 2018 to the present day, Sierra Leoneans have been treated to a theatre of false hope-where political rhetoric has replaced genuine leadership, and truth has become the first casualty of governance. It is now time to call things by their real names: the SLPP should stop lying to the people. Sierra Leoneans have endured enough.
When the SLPP came to power, they rode on the banner of “New Direction,” a slogan that promised transparency, accountability, and progress. They vowed to fix the economy, fight corruption, improve education, feed the nation, and create jobs for the youth. Seven years later, what we have is a mountain of unfulfilled promises, worsening poverty, hunger, and unemployment. The lies have become unbearable. Citizens are tired of hearing the same political chorus every year-“we are working hard” and “the results will soon show”-while the reality on the ground tells a completely different story.
Take, for instance, the much-hyped Feed Salone Project. It was announced with pomp and pageantry, touted as the government’s grand solution to end hunger and achieve food self-sufficiency. Billions of Leones were allocated, and countless press releases flooded the media. Yet, farmers across the country continue to cry for fertilizers, tools, and access to markets. Food prices are skyrocketing, and the average Sierra Leonean can barely afford two meals a day. How can a project meant to feed the nation turn into another public relations gimmick? It is time the SLPP stopped feeding the public with false success stories while the people starve.
Then came the Free Quality Education (FQE) program-the government’s supposed flagship policy. Initially, it won applause and international recognition. But today, its cracks are glaring. Overcrowded classrooms, poorly paid teachers, lack of learning materials, and declining examination results have exposed the harsh reality behind the slogan. Parents who were promised free education are now forced to buy everything, from textbooks to report cards. The term “free” has lost its meaning. The truth is that the FQE is collapsing under the weight of mismanagement and political lies.
The SLPP’s deception doesn’t stop there. The government’s narrative about economic progress is perhaps its biggest lie. Officials boast of “macroeconomic stability” and “growth,” but ordinary citizens are living in one of the most difficult economic periods in modern history. Inflation is high, the national currency keeps depreciating, and job opportunities have dried up. Instead of being honest about the economic mess, the government keeps releasing glossy reports and hiring praise-singers to polish its failures. The reality is simple: Sierra Leone’s economy is struggling, and the people are sinking deeper into poverty.
Another grand illusion is the so-called fight against corruption. The SLPP claimed to be waging war against graft, but what we’ve seen is a selective and politicized anti-corruption campaign. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been quick to target opposition figures while turning a blind eye to scandals within the ruling circle. Ministers, directors, and top SLPP loyalists accused of corruption are either defended or recycled into other lucrative positions. The “fight against corruption” has turned into a tool for silencing critics rather than promoting integrity. This double standard is another lie that Sierra Leoneans can no longer tolerate.
Even the promise of infrastructural transformation has become a political charade. The Lungi Bridge-once portrayed as a symbol of modern Sierra Leone-has vanished from public discourse. Every year, new timelines are announced, but not a single pillar has been laid. Roads across the country are deteriorating, hospitals lack essential drugs, and power outages are worse than ever. Yet, the government insists everything is fine. It is this continuous denial of reality that has eroded public trust in the SLPP.
The lies have reached every corner of governance. From employment statistics to foreign investment claims, the government has mastered the art of exaggeration. Every problem is blamed on past governments or global crises, while no one in power takes responsibility. Sierra Leoneans have become disillusioned and angry. They feel deceived by a government that once promised change but instead delivered excuses.
But what the SLPP fails to understand is that truth cannot be hidden forever. The people are not blind. They see the decay in their communities, the hunger in their homes, the hopelessness in their youths, and the corruption that flows unchecked in high offices. Every false statement, every manipulated report, and every sugar-coated speech only deepens the gap between the rulers and the ruled.
Sierra Leone needs honesty, not hypocrisy. The time has come for the SLPP to drop the mask of propaganda and confront the nation’s realities with sincerity. Leadership is not about manipulating statistics or silencing dissent; it is about taking responsibility and acting in the interest of the people. No amount of lies can cover up the suffering of millions of citizens who struggle daily to survive.
The ruling party must remember that every false promise erodes its credibility. Every deception breeds resentment. And every lie told today will become a political weapon tomorrow. The people’s patience is running out. Sierra Leoneans are no longer interested in speeches; they want results, truth, and dignity.
In the end, governance is a sacred trust. When leaders choose lies over truth, they betray that trust and lose the moral authority to lead. The SLPP must wake up and realize that the era of deceiving citizens with propaganda is over. The people are watching, and history will judge harshly those who misled a nation already broken by poverty and despair.
Enough of the lies. Enough of the deception. Sierra Leone deserves better-honest leadership, not political trickery. The SLPP should stop lying now. The people have suffered enough.