Sierra Leone : From a regional leader to a forgotten legacy

### **Sierra Leone: From a Regional Leader to a Forgotten Legacy**
*By Reggie Cole – 11th October 2024*

Sierra Leone, once a trailblazer in West Africa, is now a shadow of its former self. The country has numerous “firsts” in its history—ranging from being the **first British Crown Colony in Sub-Saharan Africa (1808)** to having the **first railway in West Africa (1898)** and **first airline in the sub-region (1927)**. Freetown, the capital, was even the headquarters for the British Colonial Administration, and the country hosted the first **tropical hospital (1925)** and the **first university in Sub-Saharan Africa—Fourah Bay College (1827)**.

Yet, despite these historical milestones, the reality today is bleak. The pioneering railway is defunct, the national airline has long disappeared, and the education system, once the pride of the region, is failing to deliver. Sierra Leoneans, who were once trailblazers in governance, law, and education, now live in a nation ranked among the poorest globally.

Where did we go wrong? This rapid decline is a symptom of decades of mismanagement and political incompetence. Take, for instance, the **APC** and **SLPP**—two parties that have dominated Sierra Leone’s political landscape. Since independence in 1961, both have failed to capitalize on the country’s historical strengths and potential. Their leadership has been characterized by corruption, poor economic decisions, and a total disregard for nation-building.

Today, Sierra Leone’s GDP stands at around $4 billion, a far cry from where it should be considering its mineral wealth and historical precedence. While Ghana and Nigeria, which once looked to Freetown for legal and educational guidance, have surged forward with economies of $80 billion and $500 billion respectively, Sierra Leone has been left behind.

Is it not time we demanded more from our leaders? Why are politicians so quick to flee to the West the moment they leave office? People like **David Francis** of the SLPP and **Palo Conteh** of the APC spend their entire tenures promising change, only to seek personal gain abroad once their influence wanes. It is as though Sierra Leone is nothing more than a transient experiment for these politicians—an experiment they abandon when convenient, treating the nation and its people like disposable resources.

Shouldn’t we impose a **24-month travel ban** on all former office holders to ensure they remain and face the realities of the systems they’ve shaped? Such a policy would force them to endure the crumbling healthcare, dilapidated roads, and power shortages that 99% of citizens confront daily.

### **A New Vision: The Pack of Wolves**
But we cannot wait on failed leadership. I, Reggie Cole, and my *Pack of Wolves* intend to reverse this trend and rewrite Sierra Leone’s destiny. With a strategic economic plan, we aim to propel the nation’s GDP to **$50 billion** within 60 months and increase GDP per capita significantly, ensuring every Sierra Leonean benefits from the wealth of the nation. Our goal is to restore Sierra Leone’s status as a leader in the region—a nation that can stand proudly on the global stage once more.

The time for empty promises is over. It is time for strategic actions and visionary leadership.