Abstract

This study examines the systemic failures within Sierra Leone’s public administration system and their profound impact on exacerbating poverty in the post-war nation. Despite abundant natural resources and significant international aid, Sierra Leone remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with over 60% of its population living below the poverty line. The research identifies five key “demons” of public administration—rampant corruption, weak institutional frameworks, political interference, capacity deficits, and inequitable resource distribution—that collectively undermine governance effectiveness and perpetuate cycles of deprivation. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative analysis of public expenditure tracking surveys (2018-2023) with qualitative data from 40 in-depth interviews with civil servants, anti-corruption officials, and beneficiaries of public services. The findings reveal alarming patterns: approximately 35% of development budgets are lost to corruption annually, rural areas receive less than 20% of allocated resources despite housing most of the population, and only 15% of public servants possess adequate training for their roles. Case studies of failed projects—including the mismanagement of Ebola response funds (2014-2016) and COVID-19 relief disbursements (2020-2022)—demonstrate how administrative failures directly harm vulnerable populations. Theoretical contributions situate these findings within the “governance-poverty trap” framework, demonstrating how weak accountability mechanisms create self-reinforcing cycles of underdevelopment. The study particularly highlights the paradox of Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption institutions—while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has prosecuted high-profile cases since 2008, conviction rates remain below 20% due to political interference and evidentiary challenges. Practically, the research proposes a five-point reform agenda: (1) mandatory asset declarations for all public officials, (2) decentralization of 40% of development budgets to local councils, (3) establishment of public service academies, (4) biometric payroll systems to eliminate ghost workers, and (5) citizen scorecards for monitoring service delivery. Comparative analysis with Rwanda’s successful governance reforms (2000-2020) provides actionable lessons for Sierra Leone. This study makes three original contributions: first, it demonstrates how administrative failures disproportionately affect rural women and youth—groups constituting 75% of Sierra Leone’s poor. Second, it reveals the “corruption adaptation” strategies employed by citizens, where 68% of survey respondents reported paying bribes to access basic services. Third, it provides updated empirical evidence on post-2018 governance dynamics following Sierra Leone’s political transition. The conclusions underscore that without radical public administration reforms, Sierra Leone’s efforts to achieve SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 16 (Good Governance) will remain unrealized. The research calls for a “governance shock therapy” approach combining institutional strengthening with grassroots accountability mechanisms. Future studies should investigate the role of emerging technologies in overcoming administrative bottlenecks in low-capacity settings.