The main opposition party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), sharply criticized the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) during their third parliamentary monthly press conference held earlier today at the APC political office in Brookfields. The conference centered on the critical issue of food security in the country, with the APC accusing the SLPP of failing to deliver on its promises under the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative.

Honorable Ibrahim Barrie of the APC delivered a scathing assessment, declaring that the SLPP “is unable to feed the nation,” despite the government’s much-publicized ‘Feed Salone’ program, which was designed to address the nation’s food security challenges. Barrie argued that the initiative has failed to achieve its objectives, citing the SLPP’s alleged lack of the necessary skills and strategies needed for successful implementation.

The APC further underscored their concerns by presenting alarming statistics, claiming that 99 out of every 100 Sierra Leoneans are currently facing food insecurity. They described this as a situation where citizens are forced to settle for whatever food is available, rather than being able to afford the types of food they prefer. This, according to the APC, is a direct indication of the failure of the ‘Feed Salone’ project.

In a bid to offer solutions, Honorable Alpha Jalloh of the APC recommended that President Julius Maada Bio should conduct unpublicized visits to agricultural sites to gain a firsthand understanding of the challenges on the ground.

Jalloh emphasized that these visits should be focused on identifying and addressing the real issues, rather than being mere public relations exercises.

The APC’s criticisms come at a time of growing concern over food security in Sierra Leone, raising questions about the effectiveness of government policies aimed at tackling the issue.