A recent fuel price increase in Sierra Leone has sparked renewed debate about government transparency and the rising cost of living, as opposition figures and civil society groups question the official explanation for the adjustment.
The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has set a new pump price of Le28.50 per litre, describing the change as an increase of Le1.10. However, Richard Konteh, an aspirant for the flagbearer position of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), disputes that assessment, arguing that consumers are experiencing a much larger increase.
Konteh, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, says fuel had already been selling at around Le25 per litre before the official announcement, a price the regulator did not formally acknowledge. From that perspective, he argues, the effective increase is closer to Le3.50 per litre.
For many Sierra Leoneans, this distinction is significant. Fuel prices directly influence transportation costs, food prices, and access to basic services, particularly in a country where most people depend on public transport and informal economic activities.
Konteh has also questioned the rationale for the increase, noting that commonly cited international factors such as Platts pricing do not appear to apply. He further argues that relative stability in the exchange rate over the past year weakens claims that currency fluctuations made the adjustment necessary.
Instead, he points to domestic policy choices, particularly the excise tax on petroleum products, as a key driver of higher prices. According to him, fuel taxes are placing additional pressure on households already struggling with rising living costs.
Public frustration has been growing in recent weeks, with commercial drivers and traders warning that higher fuel prices are quickly translating into increased transport fares and higher food prices. Commuters say even small adjustments at the pump have immediate consequences for daily life.
As the debate continues, civil society groups are calling on the government and the NPRA to provide clearer explanations for fuel price changes and to review tax policies that disproportionately affect low income households.
In a country still grappling with inflation and economic recovery, fuel pricing remains more than a technical issue. It is a daily concern that shapes how people move, work, and survive.
