By Hassan Osman Kargbo
I must say if you are in Sierra Leone for the past months or so, you would realize that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) $ 480 million Compact Grant that was approved sometime in June this year had been one of the topical discussions in the country. And finally a release from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education confirmed that the government of Sierra Leone has signed the $480 Million Energy Compact with the MCC to support transformational investment and development in its energy sector in the country.
However, citizens have raised serious concerns whilst others questions whether this Grant from MCC could come and change the current energy problem in Sierra Leone. Because, it is not a secret that the country had experienced a lot of energy problem over the years. The Inflation in the country is nothing good to write home about.
The government and other party loyalty are celebrating what they called big achievement from the MCC, but could it be reflective to the people considering the fact that the country is in bleak where Inflation has spread its wings across every sector of the economy, causing immense distress to the citizens. The question on everyone’s minds is whether or not they MCC compact would solve the long standing energy problem in the country.
Recently, the country experienced $40 million debt to Karpowership which came as a shock to many Sierra Leoneans in the country. The company’s move to cut off power had caused serious concern within the nation and on the international stage. Because the citizens are without substantial energy to power their homes, the severity of the situation puts more pressure on the government as citizens’ demand for answers in its energy deficits. Sierra Leone’s inability to alleviate any of its mounting debt overtime highlights financial struggles and the fiscal irresponsibility of the Sierra Leonean government. Now that the government has signed the MCC Grant which others say it’s a good news for the country, but the issue now is the implementation mechanism. Because, for far too long the country had experienced incessant Power cuts. And this have prevented the citizens of Sierra Leone especially Freetown from reaching their optimal productivity. Unlike power outages in other West African nations, blackouts in Sierra Leone have lasted for over a decade now and it has subjected many households, businesses to long periods of darkness. In a world dependent on electricity for day to day activities, the lack of electricity has disrupted many essential services, such as life-saving hospital care, and other areas in the country.
Sierra Leone is less about 8 million population and the people still struggling for basic amenities with the entire grant from international partners. The country is still dwelling in the same sufferings when other nations are progressing.
The impact of inflation is felt throughout the country, from the busy streets of Freetown to the quiet villages of the east, north, and south. The cost of living has surged, and the daily struggle to make ends meet has become a never-ending battle.
Celebrating MCC and other huge amount from development partners seems like a cruel joke in the face of such adversity. As citizens struggle to cope with the economic crisis in the country, citizens are hoping to have better living conditions but every now and then it’s the same story.
Sierra Leone stands at a crossroads, where the ideals of freedom and prosperity must align with the practical difficulties faced by its people.
Can a nation truly be free when its citizens are shackled by the chains of economic hardship? It is time for the nation to take a hard look at its economic policies and prioritize the well-being of its citizens.
We just hope that this Grant from MCC will surely change the narrative because It is extremely difficult for most Sierra Leoneans to afford a square meal a day. And the rising price of fuel keeps competing on a daily basis.
The MCC grant came at a time when a lot of Sierra Leoneans do not have access to jobs and food. And also under the terrible watch of the President, things had been going down the drain. And many say President has failed to create jobs, peaceful, cohesive, and productive nation couple with the hardship.
In all of these, the SLPP government needs to hold the MCC and other grant with utmost seriousness so that the ordinary man could benefit from it. Let it don’t be business as usual in the country so that people will realize the impact of the MCC in the country.
