By: Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
♦ In fulfillment of a commitment made at the last Government Press Conference, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, announced several Cabinet conclusions from the previous Cabinet meeting held last week. His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Cabinet approved the decision to communicate Cabinet conclusions to the public. According to the Minister, this move is intended to advance the Government’s efforts in promoting transparency and accountability. Please listen to the Cabinet Conclusions here: https://bit.ly/4qZDdEU
♦ The Mayor of Bonthe City, Mohamed Robinson, spoke about the transformation of Bonthe Island since President Dr. Julius Maada Bio assumed office in 2018. He highlighted the construction of a sea-face wall at the seafront to prevent flooding, as well as massive road construction on the island. He noted that Bonthe City is the only town with roads designed using interlocking bricks. He further discussed improvements in water and electricity supply and the modernization of the city clock tower. On job creation, he cited the Green Public Works project implemented by NaCSA, which created jobs for youths and persons with disabilities in Bonthe City to keep the city green and clean.
♦ Neneh Angela Fullah, Secretary General of the Bonthe District Women’s Empowerment group, commended the strides made by the Government of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio in improving the lives of women in Bonthe District. She applauded the 30% quota, which has increased female participation in governance. She also noted a decline in child marriage and violence against women in the district. Furthermore, Madam Fullah praised the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace (JP) and female teachers in the district. She advocated for increased access to microfinance for women and highlighted a few challenges in the health and education sectors, urging the Government to address them.
♦ Joe Sparrow, Head of Barefoot Fishing West Africa, announced the hosting of an international fishing competition in Bohoi Village, Bonthe District, on 12th February 2026. The competition will attract participants from seven countries, including Ivory Coast, South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, and Guinea, all competing for the biggest catch. He clarified that the competition will not harm marine life, as any large catch will be released back into the sea.
♦ The Chairman of the National Council of Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED), Joseph Munda Bindi, informed the public that NaCCED will establish civic clubs in schools to educate children about their civic responsibilities. He also stated that the council aims to sensitize citizens on the constitutional reform process and the national census. This sensitization will focus on what citizens need to know and how these processes will benefit them.
♦ Saliful Lahai Sumah, the Government Printer, updated the public on the ongoing transformation at the Government Printing Department. He disclosed that a US$5 million investment from Diming Yimo, a Chinese company, along with a Canadian printing production company, is set to transform the institution and enhance service delivery. He further revealed Cabinet approval of the joint agreement with the Chinese company, as well as Cabinet approval directing MDAs to utilize the Government Printing Department for all categories of printing.
♦ The Chairman of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, announced that Sierra Leone will host the 2026 International Conference of Information Commissioners from 28th–30th September 2026 in Freetown. Dr. Shaw called on institutions to be proactive in disclosing public information and urged them to use their platforms to keep the public informed. He also announced that institutions are required to submit their data on information sharing to RAIC by 16th February 2026, the new deadline set by the Commission.
♦ The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, further informed the public that an evaluation on Right to Access Information compliance was conducted, and Sierra Leone was rated number one, outperforming countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ghana, the Maldives, and Kenya.
