MP Aruna Larkoh Calls for Government to Address Rising Costs and Economic Challenges Affecting Citizens

by Benjamin S Conteh 

Hon. Aruna Papay Larkoh, an opposition MP from Tonkolili District, recently urged the Sierra Leonean government to take a more realistic and people-centered approach in addressing the country’s economic hardships. Speaking to the House of Representatives, Larkoh encouraged parliamentarians to “lower their temperatures” during political debates and focus on the pressing issues affecting everyday citizens, particularly as the cost of living continues to escalate.

Larkoh criticized the current government’s priorities, suggesting they are out of touch with the challenges facing ordinary Sierra Leoneans. He pointed to the recent presidential address, which, he argued, misrepresents the country’s economic reality. Larkoh expressed particular concern over the projected price hikes for essential goods like rice, which he believes will increase drastically next year. He warned that these rising costs could undermine the government’s “Feed Salone” initiative, which aims to reduce food insecurity.

Highlighting inconsistencies in government policy, Larkoh noted that while rice prices have surged to nearly one million leones in old currency, wages have remained stagnant. “Today, the minimum wage is too low to even cover a basic bag of rice,” he said. Comparing the current situation to the previous administration, Larkoh observed that the minimum wage under former President Ernest Bai Koroma was sufficient to buy two bags of rice, with additional money left for other expenses.

Larkoh also criticized the Tormabum rice project, calling it a “failure” and urging the government to deliver tangible results instead of empty promises. He advocated for transparency in addressing the economic challenges facing Sierra Leoneans and emphasized that the “jargons in speeches” do not align with the daily realities of poverty and food insecurity.

In conclusion, Hon. Larkoh called for a more collaborative and transparent approach to national issues, urging the government to prioritize policies that truly address the well-being of Sierra Leone’s citizens over political rhetoric.