By: Zacharia Jalloh, Strategic Communications Unit, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
At the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press conference held on Tuesday, 13th May 2025, key government ministers provided critical updates on national matters ranging from staff welfare at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), the ongoing Yenga border dispute with Guinea, to the national response to the MPOX outbreak. The session also addressed issues of lawlessness in the capital city and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peace, public health, and institutional reform. Below are the key highlights
♦ Government Engages SLBC Staff On Welfare And Governance Issues
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, disclosed that he has held discussions with staff of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), listening to their concerns around welfare and governance. Key among the issues raised were staff welfare, particularly employees earning below the minimum wage, and calls for the dissolution of the SLBC Board.
Minister Bah explained that the SLBC Act of 2010 governs the structure and authority of the Corporation. The Act outlines the powers and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees, the Director General, and the supervising Ministry. He clarified that the dissolution of the Board cannot be unilaterally done, as it is constituted by reputable institutions including the Bar Association, Inter-Religious Council, and Civil Society Organizations.
On staff welfare, Minister Bah confirmed that those earning below the minimum wage have been identified. Further engagements with the Ministry of Finance and the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) are underway to correct salary anomalies and ensure proper staff reclassification.
Regarding the staff’s request for the release of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) report on SLBC, Minister Bah clarified that the report is confidential. He advised that staff formally write to the ACC to request access. He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting SLBC staff and urged them to remain dedicated to their work.
Minister Bah also addressed claims that the Ministry had hijacked SLBC cameras. He clarified that the Ministry, through support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has independently procured five cameras and other multimedia equipment to support its weekly press briefings and civic engagements. Prior to this, the Ministry rented audiovisual equipment.
♦ Diplomatic Efforts To Resolve The Yenga Border Dispute
Minister Bah provided updates on the ongoing border dispute with Guinea over Yenga. He stated that the Government of Sierra Leone has submitted detailed reports to both ECOWAS and the African Union, calling for their intervention to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states.
Additionally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, has directed Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, to formally brief the UN Secretary-General and the UN Security Council on the matter.
♦ MPOX Outbreak: National Response And Prevention Measures
The Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, reported a rise in cases of MPOX, a virus transmitted primarily through direct body contact. Over 2,100 cases have been recorded since January 2025, with 12 deaths, mainly due to underlying medical conditions. The Western Area remains the epicenter of the outbreak.
Dr. Demby emphasized the ABC formula (Avoid Body Contact), regular handwashing, and sanitization as key preventive measures. He urged the public to call 117 for medical assistance and to avoid mingling if infected. Recovery is typically within 2 to 3 weeks with hospital care.
He announced that the Ministry has scaled up treatment capacity with:
1. A 400-bed facility in Hastings
2. A 100-bed center in Calaba Town
3. An Infectious Disease Hospital in Port Loko
4. Isolation units at 34 Military Hospital and other major government hospitals
Dr. Demby informed the public that vaccines are in short supply globally and currently prioritized for high-risk groups, including healthcare workers, infected households, and people with pre-existing conditions. He stressed that the vaccine does not prevent infection, but prepares the immune system to fight the virus. He urged the public to report anyone selling vaccines, as treatment at government hospitals remains free. The Ministry is engaging India, the UAE, WHO, and GAVI for more vaccine support.
♦ Security And Peace: Yenga Calm, National Discipline A Priority
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Retired AIG Morie Lengor, confirmed that the situation in Yenga is calm, though the Guinean side has closed its border, affecting local trade. To support residents, the government has provided food assistance and is working with private businesses to market their agricultural products domestically.
Minister Lengor emphasized that Sierra Leone is committed to resolving the Yenga dispute through peaceful diplomacy. He called on all Sierra Leoneans to promote peace and resist any calls for conflict, asserting that “war is not an option.”
Addressing issues of lawlessness and indiscipline, Minister Lengor cited traffic congestion and noise pollution in Freetown as major concerns. He revealed plans for a national conversation involving stakeholders to address urban disorder. Immediate efforts include sanitizing the Central Business District and decongesting Lumley. The Ministry’s goal, he said, is to make Sierra Leone the most peaceful and safest country in the world.
♦ Civil Society’s Perspective: Valnora Edwin Speaks Out
Chairperson of the African Women Leaders Network, Valnora Edwin, noted that successive governments have failed to establish visible state infrastructure in Yenga, undermining claims of ownership. She called for the erection of a permanent marker or structure to signal sovereignty once a resolution is reached.
On the issue of indiscipline in the capital, Edwin attributed the problem to weak law enforcement and poor urban planning. She urged the authorities to enforce laws decisively as a strategy to curb lawlessness in Freetown.
