By Ragan M. Conteh

The Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, has strongly criticized President Julius Maada Bio’s administration, asserting that the President should apologize to the nation for what he describes as failed promises and widespread misgovernance in his New Direction administration.

According to Opposition Chief Whip, prior to assuming office, President Bio made a series of grand promises ranging from Free Quality Education, improved healthcare, food security, justice, and equitable distribution of resources which painted a utopian picture of Sierra Leone’s future.

However, he argued that these promises have turned out to be illusions as the country plugs into deeper crises.

Opposition Chief Whip lamented that President Bio’s tenure has reversed many gains made by the previous APC government, whose initiatives such as infrastructure development and jobs creation were undermined by political rhetorics rather than on a continuation of the constructive works started by the past government.

Opposition  Chief Whip backed his claims with documented evidence, citing findings from official audit reports to expose the scale of mismanagement across key sectors under the Bio administration.

Health Sector was in decline, as he cites audit reports from 2021 to 2023.

Opposition Chief Whip described the health sector as one of the most mismanaged sectors in Sierra Leone.

He listed critical shortages in hospitals including Connaught, Bo, Kenema, Magburaka, and Kambia ranging from basic medical equipment to a lack of specialist doctors.

The Opposition Chief Whip emphasized that hospitals were operating without essential tools such as oxygen concentrators, ambulances, blood bank facilities, and mortuary equipment.

He pointed out that Connaught Hospital, for instance, relies on a single blood refrigerator over a decade old, while Bo Hospital has non-functional freezers.

Neglect of the Bumbuna Phase II Project.

The Opposition Chief Whip also condemned the government’s discontinuation of the Bumbuna Phase Two Hydroelectric Project, describing it as a grave mistake.

The project, he explained, had the potential to generate 152 megawatts of renewable energy, thus creating over 2,500 jobs, while improve energy stability.

He noted that despite multiple attempts by the company involve to engage the government and adjust terms and conditions favorably, the administration chose to suspend the project for what appears to be a political or regional reasons.

This decision, Opposition Chief Whip argued that that has deepened the country’s energy crisis.

“President Bio should apologize to the nation for this,”he said.

He said the Bio administration has been misled the people, weakened institutions, and derailed national development.

In his closing remarks,  Opposition Chief Whip urged young people to remain law-abiding and committed to national development. He said the future of Sierra Leone rests on their shoulders.