For the first time in Sierra Leone’s history, the annual Presidential Town hall will be held outside the capital city. The event is scheduled to take place on June 17, 2025, at the Kenema City Hall, which is expected to host up to 2,000 attendees.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, said the move is part of efforts to decentralize key national events and bring governance closer to the people.
“We want to ensure that everyone in this country has access to the Presidency,” Minister Bah stated. “President Bio is committed to listening and answering questions directly from the public.”
Last year’s townhall marked a historic milestone, with President Julius Maada Bio answering some of the 800 questions submitted by the public during a live, three-hour broadcast. Key topics addressed included youth employment, the Feed Salone initiative, and Sierra Leone’s foreign policy and global aspirations.
This year’s event will adopt the Civic Day Series format and will kick off with a youth engagement session on the first day. The youth event aims to educate participants on civic responsibility and their role in promoting civic education in schools and communities.
The Ministry has already released a compelling teaser to build anticipation for the upcoming townhall, which promises to be another landmark moment in participatory governance and national dialogue.
By taking the townhall to Kenema, the government hopes to broaden access, foster inclusion, and strengthen civic participation across the country.