By: Zacharia Jalloh
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) on October 28, 2025, held the seventh edition of its Civic Day Series in Tonkolili District.
The nationwide engagement initiative aims to foster direct interaction between government and citizens, ensuring public access to accurate and timely information while combating misinformation and disinformation.
This unprecedented outreach underscores the Ministry’s commitment to bringing government closer to the people, promoting inclusivity, accountability, and participation in national development.
Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Bocakarie Abdel-Aziz Bawoh, in his opening remarks, stated that the Civic Day Series is anchored on the Ministry’s mantra, “Salone Big Pass Wi All.” He noted that, under the astute leadership of Minister Chernor Bah, the event has previously been hosted in Kambia, Port Loko, Moyamba, Kenema, Makeni, and Bo Districts. He further emphasized that the initiative reflects President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s vision of expanding the civic space and deepening government–citizen engagement. The Deputy Minister also highlighted the Ministry’s deliberate use of Krio as the language of communication to ensure inclusivity and better understanding among citizens.
Welcoming the government delegation to the North-East Region, Resident Minister Ibrahim Jalloh commended MoICE for implementing such a people-centered initiative, describing it as an example of “democratic accountability.”
Minister Jalloh revealed that upon assuming office, he conducted a regional assessment which identified key challenges including boundary and land disputes, poor revenue mobilization, youth drug abuse, and disregard for traffic regulations. He added that through the District and Provincial Security Coordination Committees (DiSeC and ProSeC), his office has successfully resolved several community conflicts, including boundary disputes between Tonkolili and Koinadugu Districts.
Tonkolili District Council Chairperson, Madam Yabom Sesay, applauded the Civic Day Series and expressed appreciation to the government for the initiative. She also thanked the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) for its consistent support to the Council in constructing and rehabilitating roads, bridges, and culverts across all 19 chiefdoms. However, she appealed for increased funding and expressed disappointment over the absence of EU-supported projects in Tonkolili District.
Director of Communication and Community Affairs at the National Minerals Agency (NMA), Ibrahim Satti Kamara, provided updates on the mining sector’s progress, particularly in Tonkolili, one of Sierra Leone’s major mining districts. He revealed that 70–80% of the country’s export earnings come from mining totaling $1.12 billion in 2024 with non-tax revenue rising to $49.4 million and license fees doubling from $10.9 million in 2023 to $21.4 million in 2024. He emphasized that mining revenue is funding key government interventions in agriculture, health, infrastructure, education, and public sector salaries, while the sector employs approximately 17,000 workers nationwide. Kamara also explained that mining companies pay surface rent annually and contribute 1% of their export revenues to the Community Development Agreement (CDA) for local development.
Representing Leone Rock Metal Company, Mamoud Melvin Jah reaffirmed the company’s compliance with Sierra Leone’s mining laws. He disclosed that of the 4,864 employees at their Tonkolili operations, 3,011 are indigenes of the district. He added that the company has invested heavily in capacity-building, certifying 2,456 staff to operate processing plants and training 364 women in firefighting and emergency response. He further revealed that in April 2025, Leone Rock presented over NLe 62 million in CDA payments to primary mining communities.
Minister of Sports, Augusta James-Teima, outlined Sierra Leone’s major sporting achievements in 2024 and 2025.
2024: Gold medals in Karate (8), Scrabble (Accra), Gymnastics (20 in Azerbaijan), Volleyball, Cycling (Tour de Côte d’Ivoire), and AFCON qualification for the Under-20 Shooting Stars.
2025: Sierra Queens won the WAFU-A competition in Mauritania; the Female U-17 team triumphed in Liberia; and the national athletics team secured 4 Gold, 3 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals in Liberia.
She further noted that her Ministry is developing new National Sports, Gender, and Code of Conduct Policies, and is currently reviewing the National Sports Authority Act.
Legal Officer at the National Fire Force, Bintu Fatmata Kamara (Esq.), announced the establishment of a new fire station in Magburaka. Although currently without a fire engine, she stated that fire officers have been deployed to raise awareness on fire prevention. She also explained the contents of the proposed Fire Safety Bill, which consists of 58 sections developed through nationwide consultations. Madam Kamara cautioned citizens to remain vigilant, especially during the dry season, as over 500 fire incidents have been recorded since January 2025.
Chairman of the National Youth Service Board, Abdul Samad Kamara, disclosed that the NYS has trained seven batches since 2018 and that applications for Batch 8 are open until December 2025. He further explained that the 2024 NYS Act now includes HND and HTC graduates in addition to university degree holders. With support from Minister Ibrahim Sannoh, he said, “Youth Villages” training hubs will soon be established in Mile 91, Kabala, Hanga, and Moyamba Junction.
Chairman of the National Youth Commission, Saidu Alie Lakoh, announced new partnerships with the IOM, ILO, and Maritime Administration to provide training in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, branding, ICT, and maritime skills. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to create youth employment opportunities in the energy sector, particularly in solar installation, customer care, and technical maintenance.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which more than 20 participants engaged directly with government officials, seeking clarification on key issues.
The Civic Day Series continues to demonstrate the government’s strong commitment to citizen engagement and participatory governance across Sierra Leone.