APA-Freetown-(Sierra Leone) Millions of Sierra Leoneans are heading to the polls on Saturday to vote for a new president amid torrid economic times characterised by a weak local currency, high inflation, as well as growing violence.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, inflation was on the rise in Sierra Leone, with the annual percentage increase in prices in 2018 reaching 19%, according to Statistics Sierra Leone.
In comparison, the year-on-year inflation rate increased from 16.65% in January 2022 to 43.05% in April 2023, about 159% increase in prices.
Prices of goods and services have been largely pegged to the US Dollar that has appreciated in value against the Sierra Leonean Leone by 85% over the same period, according to Bank of Sierra Leone.
Also, the global energy crisis has contributed greatly to the sharp increase in fuel prices, resulting in high inflation across all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction and service.
In August 2022, there were protests in Freetown and several northern towns about soaring costs of living, resulting in more than 20 deaths as security agents fired at protesters.
Moreover, on Monday, police officers fired rubber bullets and teargas at supporters of the opposition party, All People’s Congress (APC), during a protest in the capital Freetown calling for the Chief electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Konneh, to step down after allegations of electoral fraud.
One protester died in clashes with the police near the headquarters of the APC in Freetown last Wednesday.
Approximately 3.4 million Sierra Leoneans are registered for Saturday’s general election in which incumbent President Julius Maada Bio is seeking a second and final five-year term.
Many say the polls come at a right time to test how far Bio has come in terms of assuaging the plight of ordinary Sierra Leoneans and how they feel about five years of his leadership.
His biggest challenger is Samura Kamara of the main opposition APC party, who narrowly lost to Bio in the last election.
Kamara, who has also promised to intensify efforts in job creation, has pledged to work towards transforming Sierra Leone from a consumption to a competitive production economy.
This will be the fifth election since the end of the country’s brutal civil war, which ended in 2002.
11 other candidates are vying for the presidency in the exercise whch also include election for parliamentarians and local council representatives.
ABJ/APA