Sierra Leone today is going through a lot of daunting challenges that have continued to put the West African Nation on the limelight for all the negative reasons. Since the last four years, the country has been witnessing so many upheavals while the government of President Julius Maada Bio tries to put things under control much to the disappointment of the government and the citizenry, as situation continues to go haywire.

As tension continues to rise on the political front especially between the ruling SLPP-led government and the major opposition parties in the country such as the APC, NGC and UP,  the economic hardship, the rule of law, inflation, financial malfeasance, corruption and injustice continue to take a toll on the lives of a majority of the people, all of which have culminated into a wave of civil disobedience and protests that have rained catastrophe and wreaked wanton havoc on lives and property in the country. A case in point is the resulting August 10 massive protests that took the lives of at least 21 civilians and six police officers in cold blood.

And following this harrowing experience by a nation that has gone through a bitter and catastrophic 11-year civil war, it is but fundamental and wise that lessons are learnt both by the powers that be or governments and the people, who always suffer the brunt of the political and economic mismanagement and ultimate failures by their governments.

However it seems current unfolding events and circumstances in the country are posing serious threats and concerns to the people of the land. Issues ranging the upcoming voter registration, to inflation, EDSA tariff, the 8/10 Special Investigation Committee, the Abacha Street traders predicament, and the torrential rains’ disasters, all make a mixed bag of national concerns by the people as interviewed and gathered by Forum newspaper.

Hence the following comments and statements by the people and various interest groups in the country give a picture of worrying concerns in the hearts and minds of Sierra Leoneans on the above stated issues at stake.

Voter Registration:

Mary Dumbuya, a student: I just want to let the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone do the right thing by making sure that the process  is well organised so as to allow us to get registered peacefully without hindrance. I am set and ready to go and register as the registration commences on the 3^rd of September. And my advice to my colleague students who are 18 and above or who are going to be 18 years of age by the 24^th of June 2023 is to go and register at the registration nearest to your house. As the chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission stated:  ‘Voter card is the most effective weapon the ordinary man [woman] would have over their politicians.’ It is true that our voter card would help us to regulate politicians who would need our votes. So let’s go and register en masse when the voter registration exercise starts.

The 8/10 Special Investigation Committee

Aruna Bangura, a youth: The Special Investigation Committee appointed by the Government is not a fair selection of the members of the committee. This is because most of the members starting from the chairman are members of the ruling Sierra People’s Party (SLPP). A majority people in this country know that the chairman and many other members of the committee are also working for the government. How do would we have confidence that they would do justice to the investigation and come out with the truth of what led to the violence during the August 10 demonstration. We have no trust or confidence in that investigation committee. It is not a fair committee.

Rashid Dumbuya Esq, Executive Director of Christian Lawyers Centre (aka Legal Link): Save for a few, almost all of the members of the Special Investigation Committee are conflicted in one way or the other. This is the case because they are presently holders of public offices in the state and receiving salaries at the behest of the government.

For example, it is reported that the Chairman of the Special Investigations Committee, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, is presently the Chairman of the Independent Procurement Review Panel and also a full time employee at the University of Sierra Leone. Also, it is rumoured that Edina Swallow, President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association is Director of Legal, Petroleum Unit and a Member of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. Furthermore, Mrs Fatmata Claira Carlton- Hanciles is the Executive Director of Legal Aid Board, Abdulai Caulker is National Security Coordinator at Office of National Security, Abdulai Bangura is the Chairman Political Parties Registration Commission, Dr Victor Massaquoi is the Chairman of the Independent Media Commission while Sheka Mansaray is the Chairman of the Peace Commission.

From the above, it is clear as crystal that all of these committee members are public servants occupying various public offices appointed to by the president and serving at the behest of the President. Like one commentator succinctly opinionated, “it would be highly unlikely for them to reach conclusions that are contrary to the public pronouncements which the President had already made regarding the terrorists and inciters of the violent insurrection against his government on August 10, 2022.

Abacha Street Traders Predicament:

Fatu Savage, a trader: This government and the police are taking advantage of us. Just after the August 10 protest, our business table or stalls were broken and removed from Abacha Street where we find our living. That is too bad for our survival and the education of our children, especially at this time that schools are about to open. We are really disappointed.

Thomas P.A. Babatunde, Executive Director of FoSLYN a civil society organisation: The Metropolitan Police were never involved in the demolition process, nor was the Mayor of the Municipality of Freetown informed about this decision. It is to our notice that the Abacha Street Traders just took their micro credit from some Financial Institutions and should start paying back at the end of the month. Street hawkers are now a prey to the Police Officers, who always seize their goods. None of the MDAs have owned up to the overnight destruction of the Abacha Street Traders market stalls.

This action has a serious economic impact on the Abacha Street women, as well as the resultant effect of no food on the table, and their ability to service medical bills for their families, etc.

Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer also says: I am however extremely concern that although no responsibility has been taken for the overnight destruction of the Abacha Street market stalls, the impact of that action has heard a serious, negative impact on project affected persons, contrary to safeguarding principles. With the proposed timeline for the completion of the open market area at the Sewa Grounds, the earliest date for the relocation of the Abacha Street Traders into the Sewa Grounds Market will be mid-November 2022.

This creates an untenable situation for the approximately 3,000 Abacha Street Traders whose source of livelihood was destroyed overnight. The majority of the Abacha Street Traders are vulnerable women who live on a day to day basis, many are single parents and many are micro-credit users who are now ladened with debts that they cannot pay. The loss of their source of livelihood has increased their vulnerability, has pushed them further below the poverty line and in many cases, will result in their children not being able to return to school next month.

Economic Hardship

Peter Johnson: My main concern is that the while the government is trying to do its best, I think they still need to do a lot on the economic from. Things are hard in this country. Every day prices of goods and services are rising up rapidly. We really need some control and stability in the cost and prices of goods and services.