By Josephine Sesay

The Head of the National Commission for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED), Joseph M. Bindi has underscored the importance of civic awareness and active citizen participation in sustaining governance reforms.

He stated that effective governance depends not only on policy commitments but also on citizens’ understanding of their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities to engage with public institutions.

He further disclosed that NaCCED will intensify civic education and outreach activities during OGP Week to ensure that communities across the country are adequately informed about ongoing governance reforms and are empowered to participate meaningfully in public decision-making.

The NaCCED Head also called on the media to continue playing a key role in promoting transparency by disseminating accurate and timely information on OGP activities and governance reforms.

Key Reform Areas Outlined

He outlined that Sierra Leone’s current OGP commitments focus on four key areas: Access to Justice, Open Parliament, Extractive Industry Transparency, and Records and Archives Management.

He described these areas as critical to strengthening institutional performance, improving accountability systems, and enhancing service delivery in sectors that directly impact citizens.

According to the head of NaCCED, activities planned for the week will include public dialogues, stakeholder engagements, and awareness campaigns aimed at deepening citizen participation in governance processes.

Call for Collective Responsibility

Officials further urged media practitioners to actively support the dissemination of information on OGP initiatives to ensure wider public awareness and engagement.

They reiterated that the Open Government Partnership process is a shared responsibility involving government, civil society, and citizens working together to promote transparency and accountability.

Sierra Leone’s participation in the Open Government Partnership forms part of broader efforts to deepen democratic governance, strengthen accountability systems, and build public trust in state institutions.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 25th May 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)