By: Saidu Jalloh
In a significant move toward enhancing civic engagement, Ambassador Isatu Moses, Chairperson of the Kambia District Youth Council, commended the Ministry of Information and Civic Education for launching the Civic Day series in Kambia District. Speaking at the government’s weekly press conference on April 1, 2025, at the Miatta Conference Centre, Ambassador Moses expressed her gratitude that Kambia had been chosen as the first district to host this important initiative.
During the press briefing, Ambassador Moses highlighted several pressing issues affecting Kambia, stressing the need for decentralization to ensure that national development is not concentrated solely in Freetown. She emphasized that platforms like Civic Day provide an opportunity for young people to voice their concerns and engage in meaningful dialogue about the district’s progress.
The Civic Day event in Kambia featured various activities, including quizzes, debates, and competitions, with multiple schools sending representatives. Moses noted that the winners of these competitions were awarded laptop computers by the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, a gesture she praised as a step toward youth empowerment.
However, Moses also raised concerns about several challenges faced by young people in Kambia. She pointed out the lack of effective communication between the government and Kambia’s youth, and the insufficient decentralization of youth-related initiatives. She further mentioned that, while the President has made efforts to empower young people, the impact of these initiatives has yet to be fully felt in Kambia.
Another critical issue she addressed was the exclusion of women from key decision-making processes. She lamented that the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act had not significantly benefited women in Kambia, and called for stronger efforts to ensure gender inclusivity in development policies.
Ambassador Moses also expressed concerns about the state of healthcare services in Kambia, describing unprofessionalism among some government hospital staff as a major issue. She reported that many hospital workers frequently arrive late or fail to show up due to a lack of proper monitoring and oversight. Additionally, she highlighted the persistent low energy supply affecting the hospital, which makes it increasingly difficult for doctors and nurses to perform their duties.
In her final appeal, Moses urged the government to include Free Quality Education (FQE) in the constitutional review process to guarantee its sustainability under future administrations. She emphasized the need for development quotas to reach the right beneficiaries and called for the equitable distribution of opportunities to ensure increased youth participation in national development.
Concluding her remarks, Ambassador Moses reiterated her call for decentralization, stressing that development must be spread across all regions, not just the capital. She urged the government to take tangible steps to address the concerns of Kambia’s youth and ensure that no district is left behind in the country’s progress.