In a significant development today, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has decided to lift the travel ban that had been placed on government officials and others.
This decision comes after weeks of speculation and debate regarding the restrictions, which were imposed on past and current government officials.
The official statement, signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Julius Sandi, announced the immediate removal of all travel restrictions.
“The General Public is hereby informed that His Excellency the President has lifted, with immediate effect, all travel restrictions currently in force,” the statement reads.
While the statement did not provide a specific explanation for this decision, it is expected to be met with enthusiasm by government officials who were adversely affected by the ban.
The travel ban, which had been in effect for several months, had previously been communicated to ministers through a memorandum instructing them to cease all foreign travel. This move had been made amid concerns that some officials were exploiting foreign trips to increase their per diem allowances.
The travel ban had also been imposed on another 11 former officials who served under former President Ernest Bai Koroma’s administration. The 11 officials included his former Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh and almost all of his former Cabinet ministers during his administration between 2007 and 2018, as well as chiefs of departments and state agencies
It is worth noting that President Julius Maada Bio had been a vocal critic of his predecessor’s frequent travels while serving as the opposition leader.
During his election campaign, President Bio promised to reduce excessive foreign travel, a promise that had resonated with many Sierra Leoneans.
However, it is clear that the decision to lift the travel ban has sparked discussions among Sierra Leoneans, especially given the President’s own history of international travel.
President Bio has faced accusations of being one of the most widely traveled Sierra Leonean presidents.
