By Marcus Bangura
Fellow Sierra Leoneans,
Today, let us pause and reflect not just on where we are as a nation, but on the Sierra Leone we truly want to build.
Sierra Leone is a country blessed not only with rich land full of natural resources and fertile soil, but also with resilient people, strong cultures, and a history that has taught us hard but valuable lessons.
Our past has known pain, conflict, injustice, corruption and mismanagement of state resources, poverty, missed opportunities and broken trust in leadership. Yet our past has also shown courage, unity in crisis, and the unbreakable spirit of a people who refuse to give up on their nation. These experiences must not define us forever; instead, they must guide us toward doing better.
Today, the most important question before us is not what Sierra Leone was, but what kind of Sierra Leone do we want to build together?
The Sierra Leone We Want in Development
The Sierra Leone we want is one where development is not measured only by tall buildings in Freetown, but by clean water in the villages, good roads linking communities, quality schools, functional hospitals, reliable electricity, and jobs for our youth.
Development must be people-centred, not politician-centred. It must reduce inequality, not widen it. It must empower women, protect children, and give young people hope beyond migration and survival.
True development is when every citizen, whether in Koinadugu, Pujehun, Kambia, or Western Area, feels the presence of the state in a positive way.
The Sierra Leone We Want in Democracy
Democracy is more than elections every five years. The Sierra Leone we want is one where every vote counts, every voice matters, and every citizen is respected regardless of political affiliation.
We want a democracy where opposition is not seen as an enemy, and criticism is not treated as betrayal. A democracy where leaders listen, institutions function independently, and power is exercised with humility and responsibility. Democracy must serve the people; do not silence them.
The Sierra Leone We Want in Good Governance
Good governance means accountability, transparency, and service. We want a Sierra Leone where public office is not a shortcut to wealth, but a platform for service. Where public funds are protected, not plundered. Where state institutions are stronger than individuals. A well-governed Sierra Leone is one in which rules apply equally to the powerful and the powerless, and in which leadership is guided by integrity and competence, not by patronage.
The Sierra Leone We Want under the Rule of Law
The rule of law is the backbone of any serious nation. The Sierra Leone we want is one where justice is not for sale, and where the law does not favour the rich, the connected, or the politically protected. Courts must be independent. Law enforcement must be professional. Citizens must trust that when they seek justice, the system will work for them, not against them. Without the rule of law, there can be no peace, no investment, and no lasting development.
The Sierra Leone We Want in Human Rights
Human rights are not a privilege; they are a birthright. We want a Sierra Leone where freedom of expression is protected, journalists are safe, women are respected, children are protected, and no citizen lives in fear of abuse by the state or by society. Human dignity must be at the centre of governance. A nation that violates its people’s rights undermines its own future.
The Sierra Leone We Want in Law-Making
Laws should reflect the will, needs, and values of the people. We want a Sierra Leone where laws are made through consultation, not imposition. Where Parliament truly represents the people. Where bad laws are reviewed, and good laws are enforced. Law-making must promote justice, equality, development, and national unity, not division or control.
The Sierra Leone We Want: Peace, Love, and National Unity
Above all, we want a peaceful Sierra Leone. A nation where political competition does not turn into hatred. Where ethnic, regional, and religious differences are sources of strength, not division. Where we see each other first as Sierra Leoneans before anything else.
Peace is not the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, inclusion, and mutual respect. Love for the country must rise above party colours and personal interests
Collective Responsibility
The Sierra Leone we want will not be built by the government alone.
It requires citizens who care, leaders who serve, institutions that work, and a shared national vision. Every Sierra Leonean has a role to play in the home, the school, the workplace, the community, and the nation. As the proverb says: “A country is not built in one day, but it can be destroyed in one day if we are careless.”
Let us choose the harder but better path, the path of integrity, justice, peace, and love for Sierra Leone.
The future is watching us.
