By Jensen Brian Abass Cummings

Sierra Leone’s biggest battle is not just political instability, inflation, or unemployment. It is the war within our minds — the deeply embedded mentality that limits national growth, discourages honesty, and prioritizes shortcuts over hard work. We live in a society where manipulation is often celebrated more than merit, and where loyalty to tribe or party is stronger than loyalty to truth. No matter how many roads we pave or reforms we launch, unless we fix our mindset, we will remain stuck in cycles of failure. It is not merely leadership that must change — it is our collective thinking.

The Culture of Cheating Among Students

In our education system today, many students walk into exams not with confidence born from study, but with Android phones hidden in pockets, ready to “spy” the answers through WhatsApp. Public exams like WASSCE and BECE are no longer tests of knowledge but contests of who has the best connection to leaked materials. Teachers are pressured, parents are complicit, and some invigilators are bribed to look away. A student who has not studied all year, and can barely write an essay unaided, still expects to pass — or even top — simply because they’ve paid into a so-called “expo” group. This mentality produces graduates who lack competence, workers who cannot solve problems, and citizens who expect success without effort. If students no longer value learning, then tomorrow’s workforce will lack both ethics and ability.

Bribery as a Way of Life

In nearly every corner of public life, bribery has become the accepted language. From the issuance of passports to gaining access to hospital beds, from vehicle registration to land documents — a bribe often determines whether your case moves forward or gathers dust. The worst part is that this is no longer shocking; it is expected. Citizens budget for corruption the same way they budget for transportation. A patient in need of urgent surgery might be left untreated unless “something is done.” A small business owner trying to register legally may be asked to pay more informally than what is officially required. This culture of bribery doesn’t just slow progress — it destroys fairness, kills motivation, and breeds cynicism.

The Get-Rich-Quick Mentality Among Young Workers

More troubling now is the new wave of young professionals who, upon securing their first job, believe they must become rich overnight — richer even than their managers. Some begin by misusing office resources; others engage in inflated procurement deals, unauthorized collections, or misuse of donor funds. The pressure to “make it” fast has led many to value wealth over reputation. It’s no longer about building a career but about flaunting lifestyle — cars, gadgets, and parties — regardless of how these are financed. In the process, dignity is lost, and workplaces become hubs for silent scandals and misappropriation. This mentality undermines institutions and erodes public trust.

Favouritism in Employment Based on Tribe and Political Loyalty

In a system where who you know matters more than what you know, competence has taken a back seat. Many jobs in both the public and private sectors are filled through tribal connection, political alliance, or friendship networks. This reality is especially disheartening to talented graduates who apply through merit-based channels, only to see opportunities handed to the connected and unqualified. A university valedictorian may be passed over in favour of someone whose only credential is party loyalty or shared tribal surname. This practice not only discourages excellence; it encourages division and deepens the country’s existing inequalities. When jobs are given as political rewards rather than professional recognition, institutions decay from within.

Defending Wrongdoing Through Political Bias

Politics in Sierra Leone is increasingly becoming a team sport where truth is irrelevant. Once someone belongs to “our side,” we defend them even when they are wrong. When a government official is accused of corruption, the conversation quickly shifts to whether he is APC or SLPP. Facts are ignored, and justice becomes selective. In communities, people justify wrongdoing not by denying it happened, but by saying, “na e tem don cam,” or “the other side did worse.” This constant politicization of justice reduces national dialogue to emotional bickering and stifles accountability. It creates a culture where public officials feel immune to consequences, knowing their support base will shield them no matter what.

Marginalizing Those Who Refuse to Belong

Sierra Leone is fast becoming a country where neutrality is punished. Citizens who remain independent or criticize both political sides are often viewed as untrustworthy or “not patriotic.” A civil servant who refuses to wear party colors risks transfers or being sidelined. A journalist who speaks truth to both parties is labelled as confused or bitter. This culture of silencing independent voices weakens democracy and creates an atmosphere of fear and conformity. It discourages critical thinking, innovation, and progress. A country cannot grow when only loyalists are allowed to speak, and when dissent is confused with disloyalty.

Prioritizing Corruption Over Service Delivery

Across many sectors, citizens who try to follow the correct process are punished with long delays, while those who offer bribes are treated with urgency and respect. For example, a parent trying to secure school admission for a child might wait weeks following protocol, while another parent who “tips” the principal gets a slot immediately. Over time, this reinforces the idea that it is better to cheat than to wait. That connection is more important than qualification. That rules are for the poor. This mentality tears at the very fabric of fairness, trust, and patriotism.

The Way Forward

The only way Sierra Leone can escape this cycle of mediocrity and mistrust is through a massive mindset reset. Our schools must teach values as much as they teach content. Our homes must preach honesty as much as they preach ambition. Institutions must prioritize transparency over tribal loyalty. And as individuals, we must stop blaming systems and start transforming ourselves. Being patriotic means more than voting or waving flags; it means telling the truth, refusing a bribe, honouring your job, and helping others rise without demanding kickbacks.

We must recognize that a society where wrong is rewarded and right is punished is on a slow path to collapse. If we continue to normalize corruption, politicize truth, and prioritize tribe over talent, then no amount of donor funds or government reforms will save us. We will continue to run in circles, mistaking motion for progress.

Conclusion

Sierra Leone’s problems are many — but they all share one root: our national mentality. We must reject the mindset that excuses laziness, celebrates fraud, and silences truth. We must embrace a culture of honesty, merit, service, and national unity. Our future depends not on who leads next, but on how we think from today. The real transformation begins not in State House, but in our homes, schools, offices, and hearts. Until that change happens, we will continue to build roads that lead to nowhere.

What Sierra Leone needs now — urgently and unapologetically — is a total mentality change.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 20th June, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)