Opposition MPs Criticize President Bio’
s State Opening Speech
By Benjamin S Conteh
An opposition MP representing the Western Urban District, Hon. Mahamoud Mansaray, described President Bio’s recent state opening speech as “a disgrace to Sierra Leoneans,” expressing disappointment with the President’s claims on achievements in education and other key areas.
Hon. Mansaray made his remarks on Monday, November 4th, 2024, during a parliamentary debate on the President’s speech. He expressed dismay over the President’s statements about investments in the education sector, noting that despite these claims, university students are reportedly paying as much as NLe8,000 annually. He argued that this cost has forced many students to drop out, unable to afford such high fees.
At this point, Hon. Joseph Sao Lamin, an SLPP MP and Chairman of Tertiary Education, interjected to clarify that university fees are set at NLe6,000, not NLe8,000, accusing Hon. Mansaray of misleading the public.
Resuming his critique, Hon. Mansaray addressed President Bio’s remarks on electricity expansion, which he contended had shown little tangible progress. He urged Parliament to summon the Minister of Energy to answer questions on the issue. Turning to infrastructure, he criticized the delay in the Kamayama road project, stating it should have been completed sooner.
Hon. Mansaray also highlighted the stalled Mamama project, accusing President Bio of allowing “politics to overshadow governance,” and appealed to the President to avoid letting political interests interfere with national development.
Adding to the opposition’s critique, Hon. Daniel Bangura from Tonkolili District referenced a statement President Bio made in the 2018 presidential debate, where he said it’s “easier to criticize from the outside than to govern.” Hon. Bangura pointed out that the President’s pledges on issues like corruption and employment remain largely unfulfilled, leaving many Sierra Leoneans disappointed. He claimed that the current administration has not made tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.
In a humorous tone, Hon. Bangura thanked President Bio for “reducing inflation on paper,” noting that under the previous administration, a minimum wage could buy two bags of rice with change, while today, it can barely afford half a bag. He emphasized that despite President Bio’s 2018 promise to bring inflation down from 17% to single digits, the exchange rate for $100 has ballooned from 700,000 old Leones to nearly NLe2,500, with inflation severely impacting basic goods.
“After seven years, it feels like there’s a competition between the President and inflation,” Hon. Bangura quipped, underscoring the opposition’s disillusionment with the government’s economic performance.
