By Basita Michael
In the name of attracting foreign investment, it appears the Government of Sierra Leone has quietly launched a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) scheme. A video circulating on social media state that American nationals are the first beneficiaries. Yet the government has said nothing officially. There have been no announcements on government channels, no parliamentary debates, no published guidelines. The programme seems to have crept into existence in complete silence.
The irony is bitter. Sierra Leoneans struggle for years to secure visas to the United States, enduring rejections, humiliations, and financial losses. Meanwhile, our government is opening the back door to wealthy foreigners, granting them citizenship and passports in exchange for money. This double standard is offensive to ordinary Sierra Leoneans whose only dream is a fair shot at opportunities abroad.
The questions are many, and the answers are absent:
• Was there public or parliamentary consultation before this programme was launched?
• Who authorised it, and under what legal framework?
• Where are the legal notices, regulations, or policy documents?
• Who are these new citizens, and what due diligence was done to vet them and ensure they are credible individuals?
• Where is the money going? Into the consolidated revenue fund or private pockets?
• What are the investments being made, and do they benefit ordinary citizens?
.At a time when Sierra Leone is under scrutiny for drug trafficking, financial crimes, and weak regulatory systems how can we ensure that the introduction of such a scheme would prevent turning Sierra Leone into a haven for money launderers, fugitives, and opportunists seeking to bypass global checks?
There’s no doubt that Citizenship by investment and similar initiatives can potentially lead to economic growth, yet without the proper legal basis, and effective government oversight, such initiatives look more like cash grabs than serious development strategies.
If this programme is truly about genuine investment in our people and institutions, not just passports for sale, then let it withstand public scrutiny. Let the government disclose the legal basis, the beneficiaries,the investments, and the financial flows of the program. The government must also submit the scheme to parliamentary oversight and allow for an open public debate. Independent audits should be commissioned to verify how funds are used and how applicants are vetted. Anything less feeds the suspicion that this is not about national growth but about enriching a few behind closed doors.
See video below:
