By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education officially launched its first-ever Regional Civic Day Series on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in Bo City. The event marks a significant step in fostering transparency, accountability, and active citizen participation in governance across Sierra Leone.
The two-day event, held at the Wizard Conference Centre on Dambala Road, brought together ministers, deputy ministers, and representatives from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to present performance scorecards and provide policy updates to the public.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Cherinoh Bah, described the Civic Day Series as a groundbreaking platform designed to directly connect citizens with government officials. This initiative allows for open dialogue and feedback on government programs and service delivery.
“This initiative is about bringing accountability to the doorsteps of our people,” Minister Bah stated. “When citizens engage with leaders, it strengthens trust and enhances transparency in governance.”
The first day of the engagement focused on youth empowerment, featuring quiz and debate competitions among school pupils. These activities were designed to foster civic awareness and nurture a culture of responsible citizenship from an early age.
Day two featured presentations from key government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NaSSIT), and Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL).
Representing Stats SL, Director Abdulai Brima provided updates on the country’s preparations for the upcoming National Population and Housing Census. He highlighted the deployment of over 1,000 field staff for cartographic mapping and the upcoming Pilot Census scheduled for December 2026. He underscored the importance of credible and timely data in guiding national planning and development.
“The census is not just about counting people,” Director Abdulai Brima explained. “It’s about understanding the needs of every community so that no one is left behind.”
Other notable presenters included Hon. Ibrahim Sannoh, Minister of Youth Affairs, who discussed the Youth Demographic Report; Hon. Bockarie Bindi Hindowa, Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, who spoke on the Alternative Care Policy and the 2024 Child Rights Act; and Mohamed Bangalie, Director of Communications at NaSSIT, who highlighted the institution’s role in strengthening social security administration nationwide.
Minister Bah reaffirmed that the Civic Day Series would be replicated across the country to ensure continued public engagement and inclusivity in governance.
“This is not a one-off event,” he stressed. “It marks the beginning of a national civic campaign that brings government closer to the people and empowers citizens to actively participate in the development process.”
The Bo engagement represents the start of a nationwide outreach initiative, reinforcing the government’s commitment to open governance, accountability, and citizen-driven development across Sierra Leone.