If ECOWAS Projects Took Six Months, Why Is Sierra Leone Still Stalling?

If ECOWAS Projects Took Six Months, Why Is Sierra Leone Still Stalling?

Lawyer and governance specialist Ibrahim Yusuf Bangura has challenged the slow pace of Sierra Leone’s national development, arguing that the rapid delivery of projects ahead of the ECOWAS Summit proves what the nation can achieve with genuine commitment and coordination.

Speaking on Liberty Online TV, Bangura contended that Sierra Leone’s current state is inexcusable. He pointed to the swift transformations made during the regional summit preparations as clear evidence that major infrastructure and public service goals can be met in record time.

"There were so many things that changed quickly during the ECOWAS Summit," he noted, highlighting the massive cleaning exercises and infrastructure upgrades completed in just six months.

For Bangura, this sudden burst of efficiency raises a critical question: why isn't this same level of urgency applied to the broader national development agenda?

“The question then becomes, why are we where we are now?” he asked.

He suggested that the bottleneck lies in the effectiveness of national institutions, questioning whether they have been truly empowered to function independently and efficiently.

"Systems and institutions should function automatically," Bangura argued, stressing that results should not require extraordinary interventions or special events to be realized.

To illustrate his point, he referenced the recent 14-hour parliamentary debate on the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025. He noted that while the Speaker has often lamented poor lawmaker attendance, the chamber was packed for this specific session.

Bangura observed that during the constitutional amendment debate, Parliament was filled with Members of Parliament who remained in the chamber for about 14 hours.

This high turnout, he suggested, shows that lawmakers can demonstrate immense dedication when they prioritize an issue. He questioned why this same level of persistence is not consistently applied to other pressing national concerns.

Bangura concluded that Sierra Leone has already proven its capacity for rapid progress. He urged leaders to apply that same standard of accountability and drive to the country's long-term development challenges.