Sierra Leone at 63… Same Old Problems
By Mohamed Konneh
The people of Sierra Leone will celebrate another independent on 27th April 2024. The country is exactly 63 Years since gaining independence from our colonial masters the British. This year’s celebrations comes with mix feelings as the country’s capital Freetown remains dark plunged into perpetual blackout.
Sierra Leone emerged from civil war in 2002 and had its first democratic transition in 2007, when promising economic growth driven by the mining industry fueled hopes for a better future ahead.
The perpetual blackout for the past two weeks have created havoc ranging from spoilt food, young baby dying at the PCMH and the continuous heat at night when there is no electricity. This latest development is already adding to the country’s poverty situation, unemployment and the rest.
There are several stories making the rounds these days ranging from the death of the new born child at the Princes Christina Maternity Hospital (PCMH) known as Cottage.
But let me tell you another sad story, a family of four displaced by the Mudslide since 2016 had been living along footstool of Motormeh the famous mudslide area.
The father became a petty trader after losing almost everything after the famous mudslide who struggled to support his children and his sick wife who had a life threaten fracture as a result of the 2016 mudslide.
The elder son is no longer the son he used to be as he has joined a group of young boys who introduced him to the Kush biznes.
This is Sierra Leone at 63 with our young people turning their head to drugs while the country faces electricity challenge. There is also food challenge in the country but let zoom in on this electricity challenge.
Who is responsible for this electricity challenge? According to findings the Electricity and Distribution Authority (EDSA) continue to be non-effective as they could not collect 30 percent of their revenue. There are so many stories around the electricity. Electricity theft is rampant, there is also a fairy tale around the Karpower ship contract, there are allegations of EDSA staff collecting electricity bills and pocketing them at the detriment of the country.
The government in a press release has called on the populace to pray for God’s intervention. This is Sierra Leone at 63. Sierra Leoneans will be marking this year’s independence with disunity, misinformation and disinformation.
A country plague by political intolerance, Happy independence Mama Sierra Leone, but what is there to celebrate?
