By George M.O. Williams
The flagbearer aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC) party, Dr. Kaifala Marah has urged for a national conversation that transcends political affiliations and legislative boundaries, stressing the importance of inclusive dialogue in charting Sierra Leone’s path to prosperity.
He made this statement on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during his national dialogue initiative, themed “A Nation at the Crossroads” at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown.
In his keynote address, Dr. Marah emphasized that governance should not be tied solely to political and legislative houses but must be a platform that brings everyone on board to exchange ideas and cross-fertilize development strategies.
“The essence of this meeting is to learn from each other and to cross-fertilize ideas,” Dr. Marah stated.
He described Sierra Leone as a nation at a crossroads, grappling with the devastating depths of a national crisis, and called for urgent reforms to steer the country toward progress.
Dr. Marah lamented the alarming deterioration of Sierra Leone’s economy, highlighting the collapse of the national currency, the Leone, which he said has depreciated by over 200 percent.
He criticized what he termed “unnecessary government spending” and pointed to the nation’s ballooning public debt burden, compounded by high interest rates.
He also condemned the politically driven redenomination of the Leone, arguing that it had exposed the country’s economy to external shocks.
He cited that recent World Bank data shows the current economic turmoil is a result of fundamental mismanagement.
“One in four children suffers from malnutrition,” Dr. Marah said. “These are not just statistics; they are real people, and their suffering highlights the failure of the social contract between the government and its citizens.”
Reflecting on his tenure as Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Marah said the development strategies were then focused on investing in national productivity and human capital.
He credited those policies with establishing strong macroeconomic frameworks that improved government accountability, enhanced revenue collection, and promoted fiscal discipline.
Dr. Marah advocated for private sector development and investment-friendly policies, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the establishment of a National Economic Council to advise the government, and infrastructural modernization to spur growth.
He also laid out key development priorities such as: Agricultural Transformation and Food Security: A comprehensive plan for agricultural nationalisation and support systems to boost productivity and ensure food sufficiency.
Energy Security and Infrastructure Development: Accelerating infrastructure projects to link rural agricultural areas to urban markets.
Human Capital Development: Expanding access to technical and vocational training, especially for women, and providing tools to empower all citizens, including the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Governance and Judicial Reform: Strengthening the judiciary to uphold good governance and enforce accountability.
Digital Transformation: Leveraging technology as a catalyst for national development and restoring international confidence in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Marah closed his remarks with a strong call to action: “Sierra Leone deserves better. The time for change is now. The opportunity is before us, and we must act—together—for now and for the future.”
He stressed that national development should be guided by five key pillars and supported by credible institutions and good governance practices to ensure sustainability and inclusiveness.