Households Battle Food, School Expenses
By Ishmail Saidu Kanu
President Julius Maada Bio has admitted that many Sierra Leoneans endured severe economic hardship over the past year, as the rising cost of living placed immense pressure on families nationwide.
In his Christmas message, the President acknowledged that parents struggled to provide food and pay school expenses, while traders and farmers faced uncertainty in their livelihoods.
He said his government is fully aware of the suffering and takes the concerns of citizens seriously.
President Bio, however, said there are encouraging signs that the economy is beginning to recover.
He pointed to declining prices of rice and other essential commodities, a stable exchange rate, and reduced and steady fuel prices as evidence that conditions are easing.
The President also noted that inflation has dropped to single digits, the lowest level in nearly 20 years, crediting the improvement to careful economic management, increased local food production, and disciplined public spending.
President Bio assured citizens that his administration remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable, stressing that measures taken today will not create hardship in the future.
He reaffirmed that food security remains a national priority.
According to the President, the Feed Salone programme is already producing results, with increased local food production, improved rice self-sufficiency, and greater support for farmers through better inputs, equipment, and access to markets.
“When farmers do well, the whole nation eats,” the President said, underscoring his government’s focus on sustainable growth and national resilience.
