By Dr. Doma
I’ve had several deep conversations with my friend, Arthur E. Pearce, about the economic struggles in Sierra Leone.
He has been a strong advocate for a living wage, arguing that people should earn enough to meet their basic needs without constantly struggling.
In one of our recent discussions, Arthur expressed his frustration over the rising cost of living. “People are barely surviving,” he told me. “How can we expect them to work hard when they can’t even afford a decent meal?”
His vision is clear, he wants a Sierra Leone where salaries reflect the true cost of living.
Arthur, who joined the opposition APC in May 2023 and is now a key figure in the party’s communications team, recently met with Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah (Chericoco).
A former APC leader in Parliament and the party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Chericoco is now a strong contender for the 2028 presidency.
Their discussion centered on Sierra Leone’s economic crisis and the urgent need for a living wage.
When I later spoke with Arthur, he was excited about Chericoco’s stance.
“He’s serious about this issue,” Arthur said. “He wants to fix our wage system.”
According to him, Chericoco acknowledged the financial mismanagement in government, particularly since 2018.
He criticized excessive spending on unnecessary agencies, inflated salaries for top officials, and an overall bloated public sector.
His proposed solution?
Cut wasteful expenses and use those funds to improve wages—especially for teachers, security forces (RSLAF and police), and civil servants.
Chericoco believes that a fair living wage should at least be SLE 3,000 per month which would transform lives. “It’s not just about higher pay,” he explained. “It’s about dignity and economic stability.
If people earn enough to live, corruption will decrease, and productivity will rise.”
Currently, the minimum wage in Sierra Leone is only SLE 800 per month less than the price of a 50kg bag of rice.
With rising rent, transportation costs, and healthcare expenses, this amount is far from enough. Inflation keeps driving prices higher, making life unbearable for low-income earners.
Many workers, especially in the informal sector, don’t even receive the legal minimum wage, creating massive income disparities.
The government’s policies have made things worse.
The recent ban on commercial bike riders in the Central Business District (CBD) affected over 8,000 people who depend on daily earnings to feed their families.
“You can’t take away someone’s livelihood without providing an alternative,” Arthur pointed out. “That’s not leadership, it’s punishment.”
Meanwhile, youth unemployment continues to rise, fueling the country’s drug crisis, particularly the spread of Kush.
Instead of creating jobs, government decisions are pushing young people further into poverty and crime.
Chericoco’s commitment to a living wage is encouraging, but promises alone won’t solve this crisis.
Real change requires action from the government, opposition, businesses, and civil society.
If other African countries can pay their workers better, why should Sierra Leoneans continue to suffer?
A living wage isn’t just about numbers, it’s about fairness, stability, and national progress. Paying people enough to live with dignity will boost local businesses, reduce poverty, and restore hope for a better future.
