Residents of Kenema have hailed the recently concluded Presidential Townhall, held on June 16 and 17, 2025, in the Eastern Provincial headquarters, as an unprecedented demonstration of participatory democracy in Sierra Leone.
Never before, they noted, has nearly the entire cabinet engaged face-to-face with citizens, responding directly to unfiltered questions from the public. Despite the absence of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio due to unforeseen circumstances, Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh ably represented him. Alongside a host of cabinet ministers, the Chief Minister addressed a wide range of issues raised by citizens in an open and transparent forum.
The Chief Minister opened the event by responding to questions submitted through various online platforms established by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. These questions, posed by Minister Chernor A. Bah, covered topics including Feed Salone, inclusivity, Free Quality Education, child rights, the Safe Motherhood Bill, the Tripartite Recommendations, redistricting, and MPOX, among others.
The townhall then transitioned into a historic panel discussion featuring all cabinet ministers, who took to the stage to interact directly with the audience — a first in the country’s history.
President Julius Maada Bio continues to raise the bar for democratic engagement and has further cemented his reputation as the “Father of Democracy” in Sierra Leone. Staying true to his commitment made six years ago, inclusivity remains a central pillar of his administration, ensuring that all sectors of society are actively involved in national governance.
The people of Kenema expressed deep appreciation to the Ministry of Information and Civic Education for facilitating such visible democratic accountability. They also encouraged the government to maintain regular communication with citizens, helping them stay informed and better able to participate in decision-making processes.
The Presidential Townhall was preceded by quiz and debate competitions for secondary schools on June 16, in commemoration of the Day of the African Child.