By Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK)
Sierra Leone’s government is once again prioritizing political manipulation over meaningful governance. The decision to create two new districts and additional communities in the Western Area Rural District is not progressive. It is a reckless diversion from the severe economic crisis crippling the nation.
With inflation soaring, living costs unbearable, and unemployment rampant, the government’s obsession with redistricting exposes its misplaced priorities. This move bloats the bureaucracy, creating unnecessary offices and salaries, while the treasury struggles to meet existing obligations. It is economic vandalism: a strategy to tighten political control through gerrymandering while ordinary citizens suffer.
New districts require infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and services. But where will the funds come from? The government cannot maintain existing systems, let alone finance new ones. This expansion will strain national finances further, deepening poverty and inequality.
Instead of addressing poverty, impunity, lack of opportunity, and drug abuse, the government celebrates drawing new lines on a map. This is not development; it is a betrayal. Sierra Leone must reject this cycle of waste and demand governance that serves the people, not political interests.
