By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Sierra Leone is stepping up efforts to promote civic responsibility, citizen participation and national accountability as the Government seeks to empower citizens to play a more active role in shaping the country’s development.
The country’s evolving approach to civic education was highlighted during a recent engagement in Canada involving Timothy Sam, Director of Civic Education and Citizens’ Engagement at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE).
The engagement, hosted by the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) in collaboration with the University of the Fraser Valley’s Centre for Justice, Equity and Sustainable Action (JESA), brought civic education and citizen participation into focus, examining how stronger civic awareness can help bridge the gap between citizens, government and civil society.
Sam shared lessons from Sierra Leone’s civic journey while outlining ongoing efforts to strengthen civic awareness and encourage greater participation in national affairs.
At the heart of the country’s current civic education drive is the National Civic Education Strategy 2024–2030, which seeks to transform civic education from a largely classroom-based concept into a practical and continuous part of community life.
The strategy recognises that informed and responsible citizens are essential to strengthening democracy, accountability and national development. It therefore promotes approaches that enable citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities while encouraging them to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their communities and country.
Among the initiatives supporting the strategy are Civic Days, town hall meetings, school engagements, quizzes, debates and community outreach programmes.
These activities are particularly aimed at young people, who make up a significant part of Sierra Leone’s population and are considered important stakeholders in the country’s future.
Through such engagements, citizens are encouraged not only to understand government policies and institutions, but also to recognise their own responsibilities in promoting peace, accountability, community development and national cohesion.
The Canadian engagement also highlighted the importance of partnerships between government institutions, civil society organisations, academic institutions and international development partners in advancing inclusive civic participation.
Dr Catherine Liao of JESA presented the Global Affairs Canada-funded Championing Gender Equality and Inclusive Education in Sierra Leone project, while Dr Adetoun Ilumoka of BCCIC highlighted the relationship between civic education, civil society and meaningful citizen participation.
The discussions provided an opportunity to reflect on Sierra Leone’s civic journey, including the challenges that have shaped the country’s efforts to build a more informed and participatory society.
Participants stressed the importance of sustained civic education in promoting accountability, strengthening national identity and encouraging responsible citizenship.
For Sierra Leone, the push for stronger civic engagement comes at a time when citizens are increasingly being encouraged to take greater ownership of national development.
Rather than viewing civic education solely as a government responsibility, the emerging approach places emphasis on shared responsibility, with citizens, communities, civil society, educational institutions and public authorities all having roles to play.
The success of civic education, therefore, will depend not only on the availability of programmes and information but also on citizens’ willingness to engage, ask questions, demand accountability and contribute constructively to their communities.
As Sierra Leone continues implementing its National Civic Education Strategy 2024–2030, civic education is increasingly being positioned as an important tool for strengthening the relationship between the state and its citizens.
The broader objective is to build a society where citizens are not passive recipients of government programmes but informed participants in the development process.
The message emerging from the engagement in Canada is clear: a stronger and more accountable Sierra Leone requires citizens who understand their rights, recognise their responsibilities and are prepared to actively contribute to the country’s future.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 9th September 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
