In a heated debate during the presidential address in Parliament on Friday, November 7, 2024, Hon. Amidu Hola Mansaray, an opposition MP from the All People’s Congress (APC) representing Koinadugu District, strongly criticized President Julius Maada Bio’s speech, dismissing it as “sugar-coated vibes” that failed to reflect the harsh realities faced by Sierra Leoneans.
Hon. Mansaray pointed to the lack of infrastructural development in his district and the broader northern region, stating that since the Bio administration came into power in 2018, not a single kilometer of road has been constructed in Koinadugu.
He emphasized that this neglect was part of a broader trend of underdevelopment under the current government.
“I am not surprised,” Mansaray said during his speech. “If the roads leading to President Bio’s own hometown are in poor condition, if the roads to the residences of key government officials like the former Speaker, Dr. Abass Bundu, and the current Speaker of Parliament are deplorable, then what hope do we in Koinadugu have? Charity begins at home.”
The opposition lawmaker also raised concerns about the country’s rising cost of living, arguing that the government’s economic policies have failed to alleviate the struggles of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
He highlighted that the minimum wage in the country is insufficient even to purchase a bag of gari, a local staple, and expressed dismay over the economic hardship faced by people in both the north and the southeast. Mansaray stressed that despite earlier promises of change, the price of food commodities, especially rice, has remained high across the country, including in regions such as Kenema, Bo, and Moyamba.
Turning to the government’s much-publicized “Feed Salone” program, Mansaray expressed skepticism over its potential success. “We in Koinadugu are not convinced that this program will make any meaningful impact,” he said. “This is not out of malice, but out of our lived experiences—there is simply no visible progress.”
He also addressed the growing issue of youth unemployment and the rise in drug use, particularly the abuse of Kush (marijuana), arguing that young people are being pushed into this lifestyle due to a lack of economic opportunities. “The youth are not entirely to blame for turning to Kush,” Mansaray noted. “If they had jobs, they wouldn’t need to resort to smoking drugs.”
