By: Saidu Jalloh
Vice President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday officially relaunched the Government Printing Department at New England Ville, Freetown, describing the event as a significant milestone in the country’s institutional transformation agenda.
The ceremony brought together government officials, development partners, industry stakeholders, and members of the public to witness the unveiling of a modernized national printing institution designed to enhance productivity, foster innovation, and promote self-reliance.
Speaking at the event, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh emphasized that the relaunch represented far more than the reopening of a government department. He described it as the restoration of national pride and state capacity.
“Today, we are not simply reopening a department; we are restoring national pride. We are modernizing state capacity, and we are demonstrating once again that this government is committed to transforming old institutions into engines of national development,” he stated.
The Vice President noted that the modernization of the Government Printing Department aligns with the Government’s broader vision of reducing dependency on foreign services while encouraging local production and industrial growth.
According to him, the once-declining institution has been transformed into a modern industrial printing hub through a strategic partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone and the DeMing Group of Companies.
The upgraded facility now boasts advanced digital and offset printing technology, modern post-processing systems, exhibition facilities, training and conference spaces, upgraded office infrastructure, and a state-of-the-art showroom.
Vice President Juldeh Jalloh disclosed that the project has already attracted more than US$2 million in investment, with an additional US$5 million expected over the next two years.
He further explained that the transformation would significantly reduce Sierra Leone’s reliance on foreign printing services, strengthen the security of sensitive national documents, create employment opportunities, build technical expertise, and advance the Government’s “Made in Sierra Leone” agenda.
“This institution is now more than a printing press. It is a vivid demonstration that institutions can rise again,” he declared.
The Vice President also revealed the Government’s vision of making the institution financially self-sustaining by the end of 2026. Under this model, the department is expected to generate revenue and contribute taxes to the national economy rather than relying exclusively on government funding.
Delivering the welcome address, the Government Printer of Sierra Leone, Mr. Salifu Suma, described the relaunch as the beginning of a new chapter for one of the country’s oldest public institutions.
Mr. Suma highlighted the department’s historic role in producing official gazettes, parliamentary records, legal notices, government publications, and educational materials since its establishment in 1794.
He acknowledged that the institution had experienced years of decline due to outdated equipment, limited investment, and operational challenges. However, he noted that the new partnership with the DeMing Yimo Printing Group would modernize operations, improve efficiency, and significantly enhance service delivery.
Mr. Suma assured employees that the transformation process would not threaten existing jobs. Instead, he said staff members would benefit from additional training and capacity-building initiatives to equip them with the skills required to operate modern printing technologies.
He expressed confidence that the upgraded institution would reposition itself as a competitive and commercially viable printing enterprise capable of serving not only Sierra Leone but also the wider West African sub-region.
The relaunch forms part of the Government’s broader agenda to modernize public institutions, diversify the national economy, promote industrialization, and position Sierra Leone as a regional hub for innovation, manufacturing, and world-class printing services.
As the Government Printing Department embarks on this new era, stakeholders believe the transformation represents a practical example of how strategic investment, public-private partnerships, and institutional reform can revitalize state-owned enterprises and contribute to national development.