The incumbent president formally launched his party’s manifesto at the start of the campaigns on Tuesday, outlining his first term achievements as well as the priorities for the next five years if elected.

The “People’s Manifesto,” as they call it, identifies five key strategic areas that the Bio-led SLPP will concentrate on in the next five years. These include agriculture and food security, human capital development, youth employment, service delivery, technology and infrastructure.

Speaking during the launching ceremony at the Eastern Technical University in Kenema, President Julius Maada Bio said: “The manifesto gives a full account of our stewardship in the last five years, outlines our plans for the next five years, and represents a new social contract between the great SLPP under my leadership and the people of Sierra Leone.”

He also stated that the aim is to consolidate the gains made in the last five years and to further accelerate continued growth and transformation with a view of positioning Sierra Leone on the trajectory to attain the commitments made under the global Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on ensuring Sierra Leone attains food-self-sufficiency and a middle-income status by the year 2030.