The Government of Sierra Leone has taken a major step towards strengthening decentralization and local governance by inaugurating Resident Ministers as Chairmen of Regional Coordination Committees across the country.
The move follows a series of regional consultations led by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Local Governance and Decentralization.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee comprises almost all government ministers and serves as the second-highest decision-making body after Cabinet on matters relating to governance and decentralization.
The consultations brought together local councils, Paramount Chiefs, traditional leaders, government representatives and citizens to identify practical challenges and opportunities for improving governance and service delivery at the community level.
Resident Minister for the Northern Region, Ibrahim Jalloh, described the consultation in Makeni as “a big success.” He commended the Vice President for taking the local governance conversation directly to communities and creating an opportunity for stakeholders to openly discuss their concerns and priorities.
Resident Ministers for the Southern, Eastern and North-Western Regions Chief John Abu, Gbessay Jusu Ngobeh and Umaru Bon Wurie, respectively also welcomed the consultations and pledged to strengthen collaboration among central government, local councils, traditional authorities and communities.
Following their inauguration as Chairmen of the respective Regional Coordination Committees, the Resident Ministers will coordinate regional-level efforts and work with relevant institutions to ensure that recommendations from the consultations are implemented.
The committees are expected to provide a structured platform for sustained coordination, monitoring and implementation of agreed priorities, while complementing the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
The initiative underscores the Government’s continued efforts to bring decision-making and development coordination closer to citizens while promoting a more responsive, participatory and effective system of local governance across Sierra Leone.