By Thaimu T Kamara
The Government of Sierra Leone on Tuesday, 3rd January 2026, held its weekly press conference on Bonthe Island, Southern Province, as part of efforts to decentralize governance and bring national dialogue closer to the people. The press briefing was organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) and featured key government officials, local authorities, civil society actors, and development partners.
Addressing the press, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, announced several Cabinet conclusions from the previous Cabinet meeting, fulfilling a commitment made during the last Government Press Conference. He disclosed that His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Cabinet have approved a decision to regularly communicate Cabinet conclusions to the public.
According to the Minister, the move is aimed at deepening transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance.
The Mayor of Bonthe City, Mohamed Robinson, highlighted major infrastructural and social developments on Bonthe Island since President Bio assumed office in 2018. He noted the construction of a sea-face wall along the seafront to prevent flooding, extensive road construction using interlocking bricks, and improvements in water and electricity supply.
The Mayor also spoke about the modernization of the historic city clock tower and cited job creation initiatives such as the Green Public Works project implemented by the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), which has provided employment opportunities for youths and persons with disabilities.
Speaking on women’s empowerment, the Secretary General of the Bonthe District Women’s Empowerment Group, Neneh Angela Fullah, commended the government for policies that have improved the lives of women in the district. She praised the implementation of the 30 percent quota for women, which she said has increased female participation in governance. She further noted a decline in child marriage and violence against women, applauded the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace and teachers, and called for increased access to microfinance for women while urging government to address challenges in the health and education sectors.
In the area of sports and tourism, Joe Sparrow, Head of Barefoot Fishing West Africa, announced that Bonthe District will host an international fishing competition in Bohoi Village on 12th February 2026. He said the event will attract participants from seven countries, including Ivory Coast, South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, and Guinea.
He assured the public that the competition would not harm marine life, noting that large catches would 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 the council plans to establish civic clubs in schools across the country. He said the initiative aims to educate pupils on their civic responsibilities and to sensitize citizens on the constitutional reform process and the upcoming national census.
Providing updates on institutional reforms, the Government Printer, Saliful Lahai Sumah, revealed that a US$5 million investment from Diming Yimo, a Chinese company, in partnership with a Canadian printing production firm, will transform the Government Printing Department.
He disclosed that Cabinet has approved the joint agreement and directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to utilize the Government Printing Department for their printing needs.
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 to 30th September 2026 in Freetown. He called on public institutions to proactively disclose information and reminded them to submit their information-sharing data to RAIC by the new deadline of 16th February 2026.
Concluding the briefing, Minister Chernor Bah disclosed that Sierra Leone has been ranked number one in a recent evaluation on Right to Access Information compliance, outperforming countries including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ghana, the Maldives, and Kenya. He described the achievement as a testament to the government’s commitment to transparency and open governance.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 9th February 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
