President Bio’s Five Years in State Governance: A Mixed Bag of Successes & Failures

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The 4^th April, 2023 marked the fifth anniversary since the ruling SLPP Government, under the Presidency of Dr. Julius Maada Bio, gained control over State Governance and as well marked the last year, out of the five years, that the Government should be in control of governance thereby paving the way for fresh elections to be held on the 24^th June, 2023.

Understandably, varied views have been expressed in different quarters as to whether those years in State Governance were either fruitful, in line with development or rather they were wasted and unproductive years.

The resultant arguments that have so far emanated are tailored around individuals’ political loyalties and patronage manifesting themselves in those who strongly believe that the five years that the SLPP had been in control of the political administration of the country were indeed fruitful evident in the transpiration of meaning development policies and projects.

On the other hand, others have argued that the five years of SLPP rule marked the darkest days in the history of this country as the SLPP Government, under President Julius Maada Bio, sent this country backward and there is nothing good to write home about or to celebrate of those years.

However, one thing that is incontestable but which some are oblivious of or are deliberately refusing to accept is the fact that the SLPP Government took control at a time when indeed the world experienced shocks, with the outbreak of the corona virus, that negatively stalked all development activities and brought even the developed countries to their knees. Economies were seriously shattered as the virus continued to wreck havoc on lives. There were global economic dislocations which were later compounded with the setting in of the Russia-Ukraine War.

However, it is good to say that the SLPP Government managed the situation very well with the establishment of structures that were mandated to lead the fight against the virus. Because of successful interventions by the Government, the spread of the virus was drastically curtailed thereby preventing more deaths caused by contracting the virus.

There is a school of thought which firmly believes that the Government failed woefully in implementing sound economic policies that would have helped to offset inflation. The depreciation of the Leone to the dollar has been a reference point of how rotten the economy has become. Failure, on the part of the Government, to embark on productive activities for exportation to earn foreign currency has been said to be partly responsible for the poor performance of the economy.

Therefore the global economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the failure to undertake productive activities are now manifest in high prices of essential commodities creating serious hardship for many save only those entities that were badly affected and were financially rescued by the Government as well as direct cash transfers to vulnerable persons in society, including disable persons.

In the area of enhancing Freedom of Expression the Bio led administration could be patted on the back for repealing the obnoxious 1965 Public Order Act that criminalizes Libel and Sedition. In the past it was used to muzzle journalists.

However, since it was repealed the country made successful inroads in allowing people to criticize the Government without the latter cracking down hard on critics.

In the same vein, the Government also commendably did well in abolishing the death penalty and replacing it with life imprisonment.

Another area where the SLPP led Government made a mark is enhancing human capital development by introducing the Free Quality Education with its attendant radical inclusion policy that have seen an increasing number of children being enrolled for schooling and giving pregnant girls and disable persons the opportunities to access education. Although fraught with challenges the outcomes have been very positive and welcoming.

Fighting corruption saw a huge leap under Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Ben Keifala, evident in the recovery of colossal sums of monies that were siphoned by politicians and public officials.

However, some have said that the fight against corruption has been selective with those in opposition and critical of Government are targeted leaving off the hook those who are the real perpetrators simply because they are connected to the system.

In terms of energy supply, no matter what is said, achievements have been made. Though there is still room for improvement, yet energy output increased with many rural communities benefitting from solar grids.

The Government has taken the praise for building an International Standard Airport – Before now, not all flights could venture to land in the country’s airport, which was the main issue why many investors never jet down in the country.

Some have maintained that with the construction of an international standard airport, Sierra Leone is now able to accommodate more airlines, which will lead to increased tourism and investment in the country.

The passage of the Gender Act that gives more opportunities to women to participate in public life has been widely acclaimed by various women groups in the country . Some have called for its popularization to avail women the opportunity to make use of the provisions it offers.

Fighting rape is considered as a sterling achievement as hitherto the rate at which rape cases were reported was very alarming. Under the leadership of President Bio rape was declared a public emergency and with the enactment of tougher laws and established of Sexual Offences Court the spate has drastically reduced.

With the scaling up of the First Lady Hands Off Our Girls Campaign the dignity and respectability of young girls were restored.

President Bio has been heavily criticized for spending hugely on overseas travel with the aim of attracting foreign investments.  Critics have maintained that the amount of money expended on these travels could have been used otherwise to improve the economy and better the lives of the vast majority.

Equally so, the Government has been heavily lampooned for its negative  human rights record as references were made to the Tombo, Makeni , Pa Demba Road Prison insurrection and the August 10, 2022 incident all said to be instances when protesting youths were cold-bloodedly massacred underscoring that it is only a repressive Government that will act in that way.

Indeed, the list will go on and on but one thing which many have expressed indignation over is the fact that there has been too much of marginalization of opposition figures or those who do not see eye to eye with the Government to an extent that those who were up there prior to the five years now find themselves at the lower rungs of society.