By Josephine Sesay

President Bio Launching the Magazine at the Town Hall in Makeni as Minister C Bah looks on

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has commended the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor A.M. Bah, for his leadership in transforming Sierra Leone’s information landscape and expanding civic education, describing his contribution as instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability and citizens engagement.

The President made the remarks during the Presidential Town Hall Meeting in Makeni, where he officially launched the Ministry’s flagship publication, Transforming Sierra Leone – a magazine documenting the Government’s development journey and the Ministry’s efforts to foster an informed and engaged citizenry under the Government’s “Year of Action” agenda.

Addressing an audience comprising Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Paramount Chiefs, local authorities, development partners, representatives of civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, media practitioners and thousands of residents, President Bio took time to publicly acknowledge Minister Bah’s work.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour. First, I have a great young man on my side here who has done so much for the information landscape and civic education, and he’s doing extremely well – transforming potential into reality. I’m proud of you, and I want you to know that you have done a great job. Thank you very much,” the President said.

The President’s remarks drew sustained applause from the audience, reflecting appreciation for the Ministry’s efforts to improve public access to government information and promote civic participation through strategic communication.

The launch of Transforming Sierra Leone marked a significant milestone in the Ministry’s drive to strengthen communication between the Government and its citizens. Richly illustrated and comprehensive in scope, the publication highlights major infrastructure projects, policy reforms, governance initiatives, public service improvements and civic education programmes implemented across the country.

According to the Ministry, the magazine serves not only as a record of government achievements but also as a civic education resource, providing citizens with clear, accessible and reliable information on national priorities, development programmes and public sector reforms. It is intended to promote greater public understanding of government policies and encourage broader participation in national development.

The President’s recognition of Minister Bah also reflects the growing impact of the Ministry’s communication initiatives, including the Weekly Government Press Briefings, Presidential Town Hall Meetings, nationwide public information campaigns, community engagement programmes and civic education outreach activities – all aimed at strengthening dialogue between the Government and the people.

Held under the theme, “Year of Action,” the Makeni Presidential Town Hall meeting formed part of President Bio’s nationwide accountability programme, which provides citizens with an opportunity to engage directly with the President and senior government officials on issues affecting their communities and the nation.

For more than three hours, President Bio responded to questions from members of the public, addressed concerns relating to governance and development and outlined his administration’s progress across key sectors. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and inclusive governance.

The official launch of Transforming Sierra Leone further underscored the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s role in documenting the Government’s development agenda while promoting informed citizenship. President Bio’s public commendation of Minister Chernor A.M. Bah served as a strong endorsement of the Ministry’s efforts to deliver timely, accurate and accessible information as the Government accelerates the implementation of its “Year of Action” agenda.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 6th July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)