By: Claudia Redwood-Sawyerr
The Minister of Information and Civic Education officially launched the 2025 Salone Civic Festival at the Miatta Civic Centre, Youyi Building, Freetown, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Hon. Chernor Bah expressed his excitement while performing the task in the presence of young people, who, as he noted, make up the majority of the country’s population.
“I am delighted to launch the Salone Civic Festival today with mostly young people in attendance, because they constitute 65 percent of our population. This festival is an opportunity for the government to engage directly with its citizens,” he stated.
The Salone Civic Festival 2025, scheduled to take place from December 11th to 13th, is set to be the largest national civic event of its kind. It will bring together Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), civil society, and citizens on one platform to celebrate civic participation, accountability, and national progress. This year’s festival will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED).
Minister Bah emphasized that the Festival’s purpose aligns with President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s directive for MDAs to showcase their functional roles, achievements over the past year, and opportunities for citizen engagement. “This Festival is a contest of development; an opportunity for every institution to showcase what has been achieved and how citizens can engage,” he said.
Providing an overview of the three-day event, the Minister highlighted several major festival features, including a Film and Documentary Showcase, a Grand Civic Quiz Competition, and the Peace and Unity “Salone Big Pass We All” Concert.
The Festival will also feature daily sessions with various panelists, offering citizens the opportunity to engage directly with government leaders on progress made in key priority areas under the Government’s Big Five Agenda. “This is an opportunity for you to ask questions, hold your leaders accountable, and be part of the national conversation on development,” Minister Bah encouraged.
The opening ceremony will be graced by His Excellency the President, who will deliver the keynote address, alongside local and international guest speakers, including the UNESCO Regional Director for Africa and the President of Columbia University’s Population and Family Health Program.
In conclusion, Minister Bah encouraged young Sierra Leoneans to believe in their potential and take bold steps toward nation-building. “Those of us who are foolish enough to dream big and believe in the impossible, this is our moment. Take advantage of opportunities and let Sierra Leone soar higher,” he urged.