Why Resource-Rich Countries Stay Poor | Governance, Power & Public Contracts in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources — yet poverty remains part of the narrative. Why? In this episode of Honestly Speaking, Antonia Howard is joined by Andrew Lavali, a governance and public policy expert, for a deep conversation about how poverty is produced and maintained — not just through corruption, but through power, control, and public contracts. This episode examines the hidden layer of governance: who controls revenue, how large public contracts are structured, and why governments often derive little benefit from major infrastructure and resource projects. The conversation explores: Why governance reforms often look good on paper but fail in practice How bad public contracts drain state revenue across Africa Who benefits when oversight is weak Why changing governments doesn’t always change outcomes What real accountability would look like in resource-rich but cash-poor states Drawing lessons from Sierra Leone and the wider African continent, this episode challenges familiar narratives about poverty and asks harder questions about economic power, elite influence, and institutional culture. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in: governance in Africa, public finance, political economy, development, accountability, and citizen power. #HonestlySpeaking #GovernanceInAfrica #SierraLeone #AfricanEconomy #PoliticalEconomy #PublicContracts #Accountability #DevelopmentDebate