By Alusine Fullah

The issue of hardship is a perennial issue. As it stands, hardship has been come so tense that even the unborn generation are now afraid to be born in Sierra Leone. To be honest, the problem of hardship in Sierra Leone has gone out of hands. Hardship is strangulating the entire society. Because I have the constitutional mandate under section 11 as a journalist to critically examine the work of government and bring to their attention those areas where they are getting it wrong, I will continue to conch out and represent those who cannot speak and be heard. I will continue to ask those critical questions that will definitely lead to societal change.

Sierra Leone is a high tax country. I have been wondering why good fish is so scarce and expensive here. I have been wondering why other food stuffs like rice, onion, palm oil are so expensive. As I write, I am still wondering of your entire “beautiful” manifesto, but things are getting from bad to WORST!! I am still wondering of all the minerals we have in this country we still have poor educational system; poor health system, poor road network; poor electricity supply, poor water supply, etc. I am have been wondering of all the foreign financial aid hardship is still biting Sierra Leoneans deep. Yes, of your entire fly fly, in my reticent moment, I am still pondering why things are still moving from bad to worst. I thought you promise change!!!

Every year, we see ‘good’ Financial Year, but practically it is really not reflecting on the lives of the people. Yes, we see the 2023 Financial Year Budget for which was themed as: “Addressing the needs of the vulnerable in the context of the multiple crises.” But wait, does that budget that was in tune of Thirteen Billion Seven Hundred and Forty-four Million, Two Hundred and Seven Thousand Leones (13,744,207,000) addressed the needs of the vulnerable people (poor people) in this country? Certainly not!!

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in addition to our ongoing interventions in education, health, agriculture and other sectors, Government has been providing social safety nets to the most vulnerable through targeted cash transfers. In this regard, Government has secured additional grant financing of US$30.0 million from the World Bank towards the ongoing Social Safety Nets (SSN) Project. This additional financing will enable Government to expand the coverage of cash transfers from 30,000 to 100,000 extremely poor households, which make up 14 percent of the poor. In addition, Government has also secured another grant financing from the World Bank under the Productive Social Safety Nets and Youth Employment Project. Under this project, Government will provide additional cash transfers to fifteen thousand (15,000) households. The project also includes an income-generating component that targets eight thousand (8,000) poor people who are engaged in productive activities and a labour-intensive public works component supporting seven thousand (7,000) youths.

As black out continues to consume Sierra Leoneans, I am still pondering if the New Direction Government has fulfilled the 2023 Financial Year promises:

Government, with support from development partners, will continue to implement projects in the energy sector, including the following; i. electrification of district headquarter towns; ii. installation of solar mini-grids in rural communities; iii. rehabilitation and extension of the Bo-Kenema distribution system; and iv. installation of 40 megawatts of containerised solar solutions with battery storage through the World Bank Regional Energy Project.

Yes, as a water crisis continues to bite deep, I am still pondering if the New Direction Government has fulfilled the 2023 Financial Year promises:

In the water sector, Government, with support from development partners, will continue to implement the following water projects:

1. the Lungi Water Supply Project in Lungi and its environs; ii. the Six-Towns Water Supply Project in Kabala, Kailahun, Kambia,

Moyamba, Pujehun and Magburaka; iii. phase II of the Three-Towns Water Supply Project in Bo, Kenema and

Makeni; iv. construction of water supply systems in the Bonthe Municipality; v. restoring water supply at IMATT and Hill Station; vi. the Emergency Water Supply Project in the Western Area; vii. Construction of 100 solar-powered boreholes; and viii. the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Revamping Project.

As the aged and the youth of continue to lavish or languish, I am still wondering if the 2024 Financial Budget is reflecting on their lives. It will be really better if was budgeted for them is implemented. In line with that, the budget reads:

The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security is allocated NLe17.0 million, of which, NLe5.0 million is for social safety nets (cash transfers to the aged). The Ministry of Youth is allocated NLe7.0 million, of which, NLe 3.6 million is for the National Youth Commission. The National Youth Service is allocated NLe3.4 million. The Ministry of Youth is allocated NLe5.5 million for administrative expenses. The National Sports Authority will receive NLe99.1 million, of which NLe93.9 million is for sporting activities.

Honestly, let us take it out of joke or politics, things are really tough for Sierra Leoneans especially for the lay men. More and more is needed to alleviate the lives of the people. Policy is one thing but implementation is another.