Hon. Alpha Jalloh Expresses Doubts Over Feed Salone Success

Hon. Alpha Jalloh, a prominent figure in Sierra Leone’s political landscape, has recently voiced his concerns about the government’s ‘Feed Salone’ initiative. Hon. Alpha jalloh drew the government’s attention to learn from the already failed youth farms program and depoliticize the feed salone program, and to also put robust and strict monitoring and evaluation framework in place. He also asked government to treat the hunger issues in the country as an emergency, the way we treated ebola and covid, because it is nothing short of an emergency, citing the WFP survey which states 82% of Sierra Leoneans are food insecure. While the program was initially heralded as a key instrument for ensuring food security in the country, Hon. Jalloh argues that it has failed to deliver on its promises due to poor implementation.

In his remarks, Hon. Jalloh acknowledged that the ‘Feed Salone’ project was built on a solid foundation with a clear and ambitious goal—to transform Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector and provide sufficient food for all citizens. However, he noted that despite its good intentions, the project has not produced the expected results. “We see ‘Feed Salone’ as a failed project that had a very good plan, but was poorly executed,” he stated.

Hon. Jalloh highlighted that the challenges facing ‘Feed Salone’ are not isolated, but rather part of a broader pattern seen in other government initiatives. He pointed to the Free Quality Education program, the youth farming initiatives, and the bread-and-butter agenda, as examples of projects that, despite having a common focus and agenda, have struggled to achieve their objectives. According to him, all these initiatives share a similar fate—great on paper but lacking in effective implementation.

“The ‘Feed Salone’ project was designed to be a flagship initiative of the President, aiming to achieve significant results within three years,” Hon. Jalloh explained. “But the people are still waiting to see the tangible outcomes of this program.” He questioned the financial sustainability of the project, noting that while the government has allocated $1.4 million for ‘Feed Salone,’ there remains a deficit of $116 million, which poses a significant challenge for its success.

Hon. Jalloh emphasized that for ‘Feed Salone’ to succeed, it requires more than just theoretical planning—it demands practical, on-the-ground implementation. “The project needs effective execution, not just rhetoric, to make ‘Feed Salone’ a success,” he urged.

His critique underscores a critical issue within the current administration’s approach to development projects. While the government has launched several high-profile initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans, the lack of effective implementation has led to widespread disappointment and frustration among the populace.

As the country moves forward, Hon. Jalloh’s comments serve as a reminder that well-intended projects must be backed by strategic planning, adequate resources, and competent execution to make a real impact. The success of ‘Feed Salone’ and other similar initiatives hinges on the government’s ability to move beyond lofty promises and deliver concrete results that improve the lives of everyday Sierra Leoneans.