Food and Money in Sierra Leone

Three years ago, none other than The Lancet published a study listing Sierra Leone among the West African countries that enjoy healthier diets than their counterparts in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan or Canada.

The Lancet, which is among the world's best known general medical journals, surveyed dietary quality among men and women in 187 countries between1990 and 2010 and published their peer-reviewed results in March 2015.

Taken together, the consumption of sugary drinks, saturated fats, sodium, and processed meats in industrially advanced countries can't match the goodness of healthy foods eaten in Sierra Leone, such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fish, as well as foods containing fiber and omega-3s.

Hearts are bleeding now it has been confirmed that Sierra Leoneans not only eat healthily but also cook some of the best Jollof. No news there, either. Sierra Leone shut down the West Africa Jollof debate more than three years ago according to Swit Salone. Check out the Cooking Wardrobe for a recipe.



The other reality we have to contend with is the Sierra Leonean Leone has long been bumping along the bottom with Africa’s weakest currencies measured against the U.S. Dollar. 


This week, Ismail  Akwei listed the Leone among the "Top 7 most worthless African currencies in 2019 that need a serious revamp" for Face2FaceAfrica.

"The Sierra Leonean Leone would benefit greatly from the West African ECO if it is implemented as planned, but the poor country would have to meet the criteria set aside to be able to benefit from the single currency,"  Akwei wrote.

In Africa's weakest list, Akwei looks at currencies that have struggled to stay afloat in the exchange market since 1961, failed to show economic growth, or move out of the weak economic zone.


Sao Tome and Principe, Dobra: a dollar is 21,561 dB.
Guinean Franc: a dollar is valued at 9,127.35 GNF.
Sierra Leonean Leone: a dollar is valued at 9,100 SLL.
Ugandan Shilling: a dollar is valued at 3,691.15 UGX. 
Madagascar’s Ariary is valued at 3,655.10 MGA to a dollar.
The Tanzanian Shilling: a dollar is valued at 2,300 TZS.
The Burundian Franc is valued at 1,839 BIF to a dollar.

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