The People vs The Wellington–Masiaka Toll Road Deal.
By: Kamalo
Court: The Court of the Sierra Leonean People. Presiding Judge: Common Sense
Prosecutor: The Daily Toll Payer. Accused: A 27-Year Toll Road Concession Charge One: Economic Betrayal: The prosecution submits that a national highway, built on Sierra Leonean soil, enforced by Sierra Leonean law, and paid for daily by Sierra Leonean citizens, has generated US$172 million, yet returned only about US$1 million to the state.The court finds this figure not merely disturbing, but indefensible. A public asset that enriches almost everyone except the public itself stands prima facie guilty of economic betrayal. Charge Two: Abuse of Public–Private Partnership: The accused was sold to the people as a Build-Operate-Transfer agreement designed to share risk and reward. Instead, the evidence suggests a Build-Operate-Exclude-the-Public arrangement.Nine years into operation, the “transfer” appears theoretical, while the “operate” has been lucratively real, for one side only. The court notes that partnerships, by definition, do not leave one partner impoverished and voiceless. Charge Three: Failure of Oversight: The bench observes prolonged silence from regulators, ministries, and custodial agencies mandated to protect the public interest. Where were the audits?Where were the periodic reviews? Where was Parliament? The court holds that negligence in supervision, whether by omission or commission, constitutes complicity. Charge Four: Suspicion of Corruption While direct evidence of bribery remains unproven, the court rules that persistent allegations of “brown envelopes” thrive only where transparency is absent.In a system where millions flow but records do not, suspicion is not accidental, it is invited.The court reminds the accused parties that secrecy is the natural habitat of corruption. Mitigating Argument by the Defence: The defence pleads contractual obligation, investor protection, and international confidence.The court responds: contracts are not sacred when they bleed the nation dry, and investor confidence cannot be built on public exploitation.
Verdict: On the balance of public reason, the Court of Public Opinion finds the Wellington–Masiaka Toll Road concession: Guilty of short-changing the Sierra Leonean people.Guilty of operating without meaningful accountability.Guilty of symbolizing governance failure in infrastructure management. Sentence: The court hereby orders: Immediate public disclosure of the full concession agreement. Independent forensic audit of toll revenues since inception. Renegotiation, or termination, of unbalanced contract terms. Parliamentary hearings to assign political and administrative responsibility. Until these orders are obeyed, the court rules that every toll paid remains under protest. Court is adjourned,but the people are watching.