A renowned academic says Sierra Leone ought to have achieved more than its current status.

Professor Eldred Jones, former principal of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone was speaking to CTN on the country’s expectations at the time of independence fifty years ago.

Professor Jones blamed the slow development pace of the country on many factors, including massive corruption by some of the country’s leaders and the pre- independence divide and rule policy of the British colonial masters.

He said the country leaders could have however seized the opportunity of independence to develop the country.

Professor Jones said the leaders after independence could not adjust themselves to the power they had suddenly acquired and that there was no proper control mechanism to check the powers of the political leaders.

He said the current infrastructural development and the strengthening of certain institutions of democratic good governance could be a right step in the country’s development strides.