An attempt to increase the
salary of President Ernest Bai
Koroma ten-fold has sparked a
public outcry and forced the resignation
of his senior aide.
Koroma claimed he was
unaware of the proposed raise and
had not approved it.
The requested pay hike also provided
retroactive pension payments
dating back to 1996 for former
President Ahmad Tejan
Kabbah and other senior members
of the previous administration.
Secretary to the President,
James Sanpha Koroma, who
resigned, claimed not to have been
the one proposing the increases,
but he accepted responsibility.
“The president says 2.5 million
leones is enough for him– he’s not
interested in any increment,’’ the
presidential press secretary told
Reuters.
Daily life is a struggle for most
Sierra Leoneans, who face erratic
supplies of light and water,
appalling roads and poor access to
health and education services.
The proposals sent to parliament
last week would have upped the
president’s pay from 2.5 million
leones to 25 million leones a
month. A similar raise was proposed
for his vice president,
Samuel Sam-Sumana.
