By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a bold stride toward a more inclusive future, Sierra Leone has unveiled a transformative project titled Strengthening Community-Led Governance Through Decentralization. Launched by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and its partners on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Foreign Service Academy on Tower Hill, this initiative marks a historic pivot in democratic governance, placing power squarely in the hands of the people.
The launch reflects President Julius Maada Bio’s pledge to weave inclusivity into every layer of governance. More than a policy tweak, the project is a visionary leap empowering citizens not just as stewards of democracy but as architects of their own communities’ destinies.
Mohammed Sheriff, Executive Secretary of the APRM National Secretariat, set the tone in his welcome address, today isn’t just about launching a project it’s about affirming that power belongs to the people, not just serves them,” he said, thanking partners like GIZ for their support. He hailed Sierra Leone’s strides in fortifying democracy, framing the initiative as a natural next step.
Dr. Chijioke Iwuamadi, Advisor for GIZ’s Support to the African Union on Peace, Security, and Governance, echoed this optimism. There’s no better moment for this,” he declared. “It’s a cultural shift a governance ethos where communities shape policies, oversee projects, and drive sustainable progress.” He praised the APRM’s leadership, both locally and continentally, for championing such bold moves.
Acting Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alfred Moi Jamiru, delivered the keynote on behalf of the Chief Minister, tracing the project’s roots to Sierra Leone’s 2004 decentralization journey. “This isn’t just the government’s project it’s yours, the people’s, he said, nodding to civil society, youth, and women’s groups that have long pushed for grassroots power. We’re igniting resilience and transformation. It demands collective action.
Jamiru outlined a strategy to mend fractured governance, urging citizens to hold leaders accountable and back this development path. No voice is too small, he insisted, reaffirming the government’s resolve to build a Sierra Leone where every citizen counts.
Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Hon. Philip Tondoneh, drilled into the project’s core: empowering communities to tackle their unique challenges. “This is about governance that’s accessible, accountable, and mirrors our people’s diverse needs,” he said. The initiative aims to boost local capacity, letting communities influence decisions and monitor progress.
Tondoneh proposed a seismic shift devolving power and resources to local authorities, paired with community-led oversight to ensure transparency. We’re crafting structures that respond to each community’s pulse, he added, envisioning a governance model as dynamic as Sierra Leone itself.
The Strengthening Community-Led Governance Through Decentralization project isn’t just a blueprint it’s a rallying cry. It dares Sierra Leoneans to seize ownership of their future, from rural villages to urban hubs. With APRM, GIZ, and government muscle behind it, the initiative promises a democracy that doesn’t just trickle down but bubbles up vibrant, inclusive, and unstoppable, as the Foreign Service Academy buzzed with hope on April 9, one message rang clear: Sierra Leone’s governance revolution starts now, and it starts with its people.