Sierra Leone's Passport Crisis: Corruption and Mismanagement Undermine Economic Growth

 





Sierra Leone's passport is currently ranked #70 among residence and citizenship by investment programs. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone's "Passport Bros" are offering passports for prices as low as $140,000.


Why is this occurring?


It is due to President Maada Bio and his associates being deeply involved in corruption, which allows kleptocracy to prosper at the expense of the citizens.


No country in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region should be selling passports for $140,000, except Sierra Leone, where it is reported that a drug lord finances the president.


To acquire citizenship in Sierra Leone, one must make a donation of $100,000, purchase property worth $200,000, invest $1.5 million, provide $400,000 per investor, and pay $150,000 to the University of Sierra Leone.


Some non-Africans in Sierra Leone are still denied access to its heritage and business opportunities, despite many having contributed significantly more than the $140,000 fee.


In comparison, Europeans and Asians can obtain citizenship within just 90 days with residency rights throughout ECOWAS.


Since Tejan-Kabbah warned about the greed of individuals like Abass Bundu, thousands of Sierra Leonean passports have been sold to land grabbers from other countries.


Essential reforms that could support Sierra Leone in achieving sustained economic growth include fiscal consolidation and better debt management, reconsidering the role of state-owned enterprises, encouraging private sector investment, and improving education to better match skills with market needs.


These suggestions come from the latest World Bank report, yet it appears that these economists are being ignored.

Instead, artificial intelligence (AI) has valued Sierra Leone at only $140,000 of Western investment per person.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hawa Hunt in custody after she was arrested live on air in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Image
In 2023, Hawa Hunt, a popular musician and social commentator, made a striking statement on camera about Maada Bio, Sierra Leone's controversial president.  In the nearly five-minute video , which went viral on social media, Hawa Hunt spoke in Krio, and we've translated key excerpts of her comments into English:  "The man has big guts! He stood up a week ago when Zainab Sherriff accused him of being a killer. They took her away and locked her up. He’s not my president. I’ve told you that Sierra Leone doesn’t have a president. For the past five years, Sierra Leone hasn’t had a president. I see a small child in a bug's skirt jumping around." In retaliation, Maada Bio ordered Hawa Hunt's arrest while she was participating as a contestant in a reality television show, which was broadcast live . This act drew swift condemnation from many. Human rights lawyer Ady Macauley stated, "Arresting someone on live television is a new low, but it's not surprising. ...
Read more

28 Years Since the Death of Salami Coker

In words that echoed around the world, a commission of inquiry in Sierra Leone held the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) responsible for extrajudicial killings in1992. The junta's attempt to justify these executions retrospectively by decree, on the basis that the 26 people were alleged coup plotters, was an unlawful abuse of executive power, the commission said. In particular, the Commission found that the deputy chairman of the NPRC, Solomon A.J. Musa, was personally responsible for acts of torture on detainees. They called the executions a flagrant violation of international standards.   Among those executed on December 29, 1992, were: Lt. Col James Yaya Kanu, former commanding officer of the 4th Battalion James Bambay Kamara, former Inspector General of Police Corporal Mohammed Mansaray, alias Candapa of the 1st Battalion Warrant Officer Class 1 Kargbo, alias Fernando of the 1st Battalion headquarters Lieutenant colonel (Rtd.) Kahota M.S. Dumbuya, Army Head...
Read more

Ebola: The More We Learn, the More We Realize How Much We Don't Know

Image
Alex Bonapha, chairman, Kailahun District Council O bservers say the controversy erupting in Kailahun over the case of a dead baby might just open up critical questions on the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. "While the child appears to be at the center of this controversy, the real question being raised here is the mode of transmission: Is this virus transmitted or transfused?" asks Chernor Bah, chairman of the African Socialist Movement of Sierra Leone. Bah thinks “we need to listen to Mr. Bonapha's concerns.” A lex Bonapha is chairman of Kailahun District Council. In a tersely worded statement sent out Saturday, Bonapha said: "We are strongly contesting the validity of the one case today in Kailahun.  A young child of 9 months, fell ill and was hospitalised at the Nixon Memorial Hospital in Segbwema. They requested blood transfusion and a donor offered his blood. Eventually the child died and a swab was collected to verify the cause of death. It is this...
Read more