Swegbeh SLPP

*Bag Of Rice: Le7000, 000

*Palm Oil: Le700, 000

*Petrol (a litre) Le21, 500

*Sardine: Le17, 000

*Bread: Le10, 000

* Jean Trousers: Le200, 000

*Transport Fare (Freetown to Kailahun): Le400, 000

“Swegbeh SLPP,” were the exact words  of Sierra Leone’s star artist,  Emerson Bockarie who was accusing then SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) for corruption, incompetence,  moribund and lacklustre leadership. The Music legend sang against the then ruling party under President Ahmed Tejan Kabba for an  economic hardship that was badly impacting the people’s lives. Emerson  blamed the bad times on President Kabba for failing to cut down on the high  cost of living which was spinning out of control. Although the music was released over 15 years ago, it is much more relevant to today’s socio-economic situation.

Under President Julius Maada Bio’s watch, the economy has been badly battered than at anytime in the country’s history in spite of attractive promises made in 2018. The President assured Sierra Leoneans of fixing the economy, lowering  prices of commodities, controlling inflation and improving living standards. These promises were embedded  in SLPP’s 2018 manifesto popularly known as the ‘People’s Manifesto.’ Voters were moved by the promises, and Bio became President in the face of  high expectation.

Providing food and cutting down on prices were the most acute needs at that time. The voters’ famous rally song sent a loud and compelling message to President Bio that they urgently needed food and low prices in the short run. “TOLONGBO NOR DAE SIDOM YA, ANGRY BOKU” which means APC(All People’s Congress)  would no longer rule because  hunger was too much.  Bio was therefore expected to fix the food problem first as a way of  hitting the ground running.

Within the first 100 days which is now a template for assessment of  new presidents, it became clear that Bio could not solve the the food problem in Sierra Leone let alone fix the economy. By his disposition, it appeared as if food problem was not a priority for his government although he used to say that it was unfair for Sierra Leoneans to purchase a bag of rice at Le200, 000 (two hundred thousand Leones). He went on to state that a bag of rice was just Le50, 000 (fifty thousand Leones) before 2007.

It could be inferred from the President’s  statement that he would ensure the price goes below 50, 000. The current situation however has proved that Bio’s statement is a mere hoax. A bag of rice today stands at Le700, 000, a price that stuns and shocks every Sierra Leonean either rich or poor, young or old, SLPP or APC. Nobody expected that, under Bio’s leadership, a price for a bag of rice will reach that level.

It has today drastically changed the food or dietary habits of many Sierra Leoneans who are seeking subtitutes or alternatives. A huge number of Sierra Leonrans now depend on inferior food just to keep life going since they cannot afford rice as usual. A Freetown resident and mother of three, Adama Conteh says it usually takes them days for them to eat rice. “Since rice is expensive now, I and my kids at home will depend on other food stuff especially ‘foo foo’ and ‘Yebbeh’ (porridge) for home consumption.

We pray that the President who wins this election will lower down the price of rice,” Adama  prayed to God in sadness and disappointment. Adama is not alone in the prayers; others are also prayed too. Although Freetownians are badly affected  by the hard times, those in the provinces are the worst hit. Video footages on media platforms show how upcountry men live on cassava at the moment.

For many homes especially in the South-East, Casdava is nowtheir staple food. Bo city and other parts in the Southern region have gained fame for living on sliced cassava known in Mende as ‘TANGAJESSE.’ The high price does not stop only at food but also other related items. Price of palm oil, a locally processed commodity in Sierra Leone  has hit a record high.

The price of palm oil before 2018 hovered around Le180, 000 (one hundred and eighty thousand Leones) to Le200, 000 (two hundred thousand Leones).

Now, the price stands at Le700, 000 (seven hundred thousand Leones) for a jerry can making it difficult for many people especially low-income earners to afford it. The  President has also found it difficult to contain the situation at the last hour. The price of Petroleum, one of the most sensitive  commodities in Sierra Leone, has shot up beyond imagination, and fears that it might further rise remains high.

Before 2018, a price of litre was between Le4,500 (four thousand five hundred Leones) and   Le6, 000 (six thousand Leones). But, it is never the same again when President Bio took over state governance in 2018. The price started spiralling out of control between 2020 and 2021 the peak or mid-point of Bio’s leadership. Now, the price stands at 21, 500 (twenty-one thousand, five hundred Leones) for just a litre.

In the black market,  the price is more than the recognised market price.  Black marketers (jebu sellers) sell at the price of Le23, 000 (twenty-three thousand Leones) or Le25, 000 (twenty-five thousand Leones) especially during fuel shortages.

The Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) finds it difficult to stabilise the oil price,most times, during situation the agency is required to act.  By the low file it keeps on frequent fuel crises, accusing fingers are being pointed at the regulator for colluding with fuel dealers. Many say they share the loot.  Fear is rife that the price will remain as it is until Bio goes out of power in June, 24.

Petroleum is both political and strategic: it has been used to depopularise governments or remove them from power. A shift in its price will also affect almost every commodity and service in the economy. Since its price sky-rocketed, prices of basic goods and services too has moved in similar direction.

An ordinary  sardine is currently sold at Le17, 000 (seventeen thousand Leones), a price that has surprised everyone. How can a commodity which was sold at Le3, 000 (three thousand Leones) could suddenly rise to such price level remains the most frequently asked question. One cannot mention sardine and leave out bread; the two are complementaries  although there are other  substitutes.

Through former Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, SLPP promised to address the bread-and-butter challenge in the country within a short time. President Bio even  went further  in promising Sierra Leonrans that he would construct a bakery for an increased production of bread in Sierra Leone, but

the e bakery, to date, is yet to be constructed, and Sierra Leoneans are not sure whether the President would accomplish the promise as he slowly rides into the sunset. The hope that Bio would win June 24 election remains faint. Even the most confident in Bio’s  government has lost hope of a victory in the polls. The price of a real-sized  bread stands at Le10, 000 (ten thousand Leones) instead of Le2, 000 (two thousand Leones) which was the normal price in the good and sweet old days.

Even prices of personal wearings have been badly affected by the economic meltdown. A  Jean trousers recently sold between Le70, 000 (seventy thousand Leones) and Le80, 000 (eighty thousand Leones) today goes for Le200, 000 (two hundred thousand Leones) and above. The high market price has driven customers away, and tough times are visible in most  market centres in the city and provinces.  A trader in clothes,  Mabinty Kamara told this medium that sales have considerably fallen to a record low owing to the high prices.

“In the past, I used to sell between Le3, 000, 000 (three million Leones) and Le4, 000, 000 (four million Leones) a day. Now, I cannot even sell  Le400, 000 (four hundred thousand Leones). Customers are running away from the high prices,”  Mabinty told this press in a recent interview. As prices of goods rise to unbearable heights, so is the transport fare in the country soaring. Movement from one point to another within the city has been made extremely difficult. Prices cannot just fit pockets, and drivers do not reach passenger’s  destinations. Sometimes,  they resort to unexpected  changes of direction with intent to extort or exploit.

The situation remains tougher for those venturing to travel to the provinces. The fare from Freetown to Kailahun in the farthest East today is tagged at Le400, 000 (four hundred thousand Leones) excluding the return trip.  What a big blow to Sierra Leoneans?

Before 2018, Le70, 000 (seventy thousand Leones can take one from Freetown to Kailahun.  It is a different case under Presidential Bio as fares for movement from Freetown to other parts of the country remain high.

To be on the safe side, many Sierra Leoneans have cut off trips from either the provinces to Freetown and vice versa. It goes without saying that the hikes in prices owes it to the uncontrollable foreign exchange rate for which Sierra Leone is well known. Currently, 2, 300, 000 (two million, three hundred thousand Leones) chases a US$100, a very big margin when compared to the old days.  Before 2018, just Le700, 000 (seven hundred thousand Leones) goes into US$100.

Although two finance ministers and one Bank Governor  have been set aside, the exchange rate and the economy still remain in deep mess.  At this stage, it it is also  safe to say that Bio’s government has run out of options: it can neither control inflation nor stabilise the exchange rate. Sierra Leoneans, at this stage, are in dire need of a need of another President who can fix the economic problem. Can Samura Kamara be that President?