SLPP and APC Clash on Governance Impact in Heated Debate

A high-stakes televised debate on AYV on Sunday brought two of Sierra Leone’s leading political voices head-to-head over a pressing national concern: the impact of political infighting on governance and the cost to ordinary citizens.

The program, hosted by Victor Jones, examined the growing tensions between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party and the main opposition All People’s Congress, moving beyond routine political rhetoric to focus on how these divisions affect everyday life in Sierra Leone.

Representing the government, Moses Sellu Mambu, National Publicity Secretary of the SLPP, defended the administration’s governance approach. A former civil society advocate turned political strategist, Mambu argued that what is often described as “infighting” should instead be viewed as part of the democratic process.

He maintained that the government remains firmly committed to its development agenda, particularly its flagship “Big Five” priorities. According to Mambu, many of the challenges faced by citizens are driven by external global economic pressures rather than internal political disputes. He urged the public to look beyond what he described as “political noise” and focus on the long-term stability the government aims to deliver.

However, offering a starkly contrasting perspective, Alfred Mikailu Koroma, speaking on behalf of the APC Publicity Secretariat, argued that the consequences of political divisions are far from theoretical.

Koroma described the situation as a “governance vacuum,” attributing it to persistent political stalemates and insufficient dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition. He stressed that while political actors remain locked in power struggles, ordinary Sierra Leoneans are grappling with rising living costs and limited economic opportunities.

“The price is being paid by the people,” Koroma emphasized, noting that the continued deadlock risks eroding public trust and slowing national development.

Throughout the discussion, Victor Jones challenged both representatives to respond to mounting public frustration, underscoring a widening divide between the government’s focus on long-term vision and the opposition’s emphasis on immediate economic hardship.

The debate concluded with a cautionary note: unless political actors prioritize national cooperation over partisan interests, the burden of political infighting will continue to fall heavily on ordinary citizens—particularly young people, traders, and struggling families across the country.