By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Ministry of Sports last week successfully hosted a two-day National Consultative Conference at the Occasion View Resort in Lakka, bringing together key stakeholders to review major governance and policy documents guiding Sierra Leone’s sports sector.
The engagement, held on the 27th and 28th of November, focused on six critical documents, including the National Sports Policy, two National Codes of Conduct, the Sports Policy on Ranking and Funding of Associations, the Gender Policy on Sports, and the National Sports Authority Act of 2017.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Sports, Madam Augusta James-Teima, welcomed representatives from government institutions, universities, the legal community, sports associations, and the media. She emphasized the importance of the conference in strengthening policy direction, governance, and operational systems across the sector.
Madam James-Teima highlighted that the review aligns with the government’s broader development agenda and President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to youth empowerment. She noted that sports play a vital role in national development by providing meaningful opportunities for young people and steering them away from negative influences, including drug misuse and social disorder.
She explained that the review process guided by legal experts and the Public Sector Reform Unit is not intended to assign blame, but to enhance transparency, accountability, and integrity in sports administration.
The two-day conference brought together carefully selected participants with the expertise needed to identify policy gaps and recommend practical solutions. The Minister also underscored the importance of inclusive participation, stressing that persons with disabilities must be fully integrated into the nation’s sports development agenda.
“Sports today are more than recreation. They build character, transform lives, and contribute significantly to national growth,” she said.
Madam James-Teima concluded by encouraging participants to remain engaged, united, and committed to national progress. She formally declared the conference open, expressing confidence that the outcomes will drive meaningful reforms for sports in Sierra Leone.