Freetown, Sierra Leone – Presidential Spokesman Alhaji Alpha Kanu has sparked renewed political debate after asserting that rice prices experienced sharper increases under the previous All People’s Congress (APC) administration compared to the current Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government.
Speaking during an appearance on Liberty TV Online, Kanu outlined what he described as a more favorable trend in food price management under the SLPP, despite ongoing global economic challenges.
“When the APC took office in 2007, a bag of rice was around Le60,” Kanu noted. “By the time they left in 2018, it had climbed to Le300—a fivefold increase. Under the SLPP, that same bag has risen from Le300 to Le650, just over twice as much.”
Kanu argued that the comparison reflects better economic management by the Bio-led administration amid global inflation and supply chain disruptions.
“The cost of a bag of rice increased five times under APC,” he said. “But under SLPP, the increase is only twofold. That’s a better performance under tougher global conditions.”
The statement comes as the cost of living remains a top concern for many Sierra Leoneans, with food prices continuing to rise and economic hardship deepening for vulnerable households.
Kanu’s remarks have already drawn mixed reactions on social media, with critics questioning the broader economic context and inflationary pressures faced by both administrations.
