Over the past seven years, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, has had the rare privilege of leading Sierra Leone through a period brimming with both immense opportunity and critical national need. Yet, as the sun begins to set on this administration’s second term, the disillusionment among Sierra Leoneans has reached unprecedented levels. The SLPP can no longer hide behind campaign slogans, historical grievances, or international headwinds. The party has no defensible position or viable excuse for its systematic failures across nearly every sector of governance.
From the outset, the SLPP government entered office with lofty promises: human capital development, inclusive governance, anti-corruption reform, infrastructural transformation, and economic revival. These were not just campaign rhetoric; they were commitments etched into the very soul of the party’s New Direction manifesto. Yet seven years on, the lived reality for most Sierra Leoneans is one of increased poverty, eroded trust in public institutions, crumbling infrastructure, and economic despair.
Economic Mismanagement and Broken Promises:
Perhaps the most glaring failure of the SLPP government is its mishandling of the economy. Inflation has soared, the Leone has depreciated significantly, and the cost of living has skyrocketed beyond the means of the average citizen. The much-touted “bread and butter” issues that were supposed to form the cornerstone of the government’s focus have been ignored or woefully mishandled. Basic commodities are now out of reach for many, and unemployment, especially among the youth, has worsened.
Despite consistent support from international financial institutions and donor partners, including the IMF and World Bank, the government has little to show in terms of sustainable economic reform. Public debt has increased sharply, with little accountability for how loans have been utilised. Instead of empowering local enterprise and boosting agricultural productivity, the economy remains heavily import-dependent and fragile, exposing millions to hardship from global shocks.
Corruption: An Unfulfilled War Cry for Compensation:
When President Bio came to power in 2018, he vowed to wage war on corruption, an endemic disease that has long plagued Sierra Leone’s development. Initially, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) under Francis Ben Kaifala was seen as a beacon of hope. However, over time, the war on corruption began to look selective and politically motivated. High-profile cases involving SLPP insiders were either under-investigated or quietly swept under the rug, while political opponents were swiftly prosecuted, often in controversial circumstances.
This inconsistency has not only eroded the credibility of the ACC but has also disillusioned citizens who once believed in the president’s anti-graft agenda. Genuine transparency has been replaced with lip service, and the institutional reforms necessary to build a corruption-resistant state have largely stalled.
Collapse of Democratic Norms and Human Rights:
The SLPP has also presided over a steady decline in democratic freedoms and human rights protections. From the handling of protests to the crackdown on dissenting voices—journalists, civil society, and opposition figures—the government has repeatedly shown an intolerance for criticism. The August 10, 2022 protests, which ended in tragedy, remain a stain on the administration’s record, with no transparent investigation or accountability provided for the lives lost.
Freedom of speech, a cornerstone of any functioning democracy, has been curtailed under various guises. Government critics have been intimidated or detained, and the political climate has become increasingly polarized and hostile. Rather than fostering inclusive governance, the SLPP has too often acted with authoritarian tendencies, betraying the very democratic ideals it once championed.
Education and Health: Rhetoric Beats Reality:
While the Free Quality Education (FQE) initiative remains one of the few flagship policies of the Bio administration, its implementation has fallen far short of its promise. Classrooms remain overcrowded, teachers are underpaid, and educational outcomes have not significantly improved. In rural areas, access to quality education remains a distant dream.
In healthcare, the story is similar. Despite some investments in infrastructure, the health system is still ill-equipped to serve the needs of the population. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these weaknesses brutally, with frontline workers lacking protective equipment, and hospitals facing chronic shortages of drugs and personnel.
Infrastructural Development: No Tangible Pointer(s):
Infrastructure was supposed to be another key pillar of development. Yet, apart from scattered road projects and cosmetic renovations, there is little evidence of the kind of national transformation the SLPP promised. Many rural communities remain cut off from basic services, and the much-promised energy and water sector reforms have produced limited results. The capital, Freetown, continues to grapple with flooding, poor sanitation, and unregulated urban expansion, while rural development remains grossly neglected. One fundamental sickness of this SLPP Bio-led government is that, they talk more than what they actually do. For instance, the highway from Bo-Towama to Mattru Jong launched on the eve of Bio’s coming to power in 2017; supposed to have connected settlements of an estimated 40,000 or so of their own supporters, is still a dream. Had the European Union not intervened to construct the bridge over the Jong River that connects to the other sides of Bonthe District where President Bio hails from, there would have been nothing to write home about the futility of that project.
A Leadership That Refuses to Accept Responsibility:
Perhaps the most damning indictment of the SLPP administration is its persistent refusal to take responsibility. Whenever criticism is leveled, the response is predictable: blame the past government, blame the opposition, blame the global economy, or blame misinformation. This reflexive deflection has only deepened public frustration. After seven years in power, the SLPP can no longer operate as if it is in opposition. The time for excuses has long expired.
Leadership is ultimately judged by results, not rhetoric. And the results of the past seven years are unmistakable: a nation poorer, angrier, more divided, and less hopeful. The SLPP’s opportunity to make meaningful change was real—and it was squandered.
As Sierra Leone looks ahead, it must come to terms with the failures of the past seven years. The SLPP government has failed to deliver on its promises, failed to unite the nation, and failed to uphold democratic norms. No amount of spin, propaganda, or blame-shifting can erase this truth. Accountability must be demanded—not only through ballots, but through civic pressure, legal scrutiny, and historical judgment. The SLPP has no defence, and no excuse left. The verdict lies with the people.