By Lemuella Tarawallie
The African Review Mechanism National Secretariat in Sierra Leone (APRM ) on Wednesdays 9th April, 2025 launched the Strengthening Community – Led Governance through decentralization in Sierra Leone. The aim of the project is to fundamentally transform the governance landscape of Sierra Leone by establishing a system that is driven by the active participants and oversight of its community. The initiative seeks to empower local voices, ensuring that governance is not only accessible and accountable but also reflective of the diverse needs and aspirations of Sierra Leone.
The Service Academy Ambassador Soulay Daramy, the launching of the project is not a statement to inaugurate the project but to affirm a powerful truth that governance is the strongest when it begins with the people. The initiative also is a collective declaration that Sierra Leone’s governance architecture must be deeply rooted in right realities ,voices, and leadership of it communities.
He noted that the project which was projected was funded by GiZ, that seeks to catalyze a transformation that doesn’t merely bring services closer to the people and that empower citizens but to also be architect of their own local governance. He added that the project envision a Sierra Leone where decentration is not just administrative but is transformational where local council are empower, Traditional are engage, communities and passive participants of state services are active procreator of development. The initiative is aligned with the Academic core mandate to promote democratic governance, public accountability and citizens, particularly across the country.
It also resonates strongly with aspirations accurately in the Africa Charter of democracy, elections and governance and national vision for decentralization . He expressed gratitude to their partners, particularly GIZ, the Ministry of Local Government , the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs ( MOPAPA)
The respective of GIZ Dr Chikioke Iwuamadi, I said the initiative of the Strengthening Community – Led Governance initiative is an initiative that they’ve started since last year . Noting that Sierra Leone wasn’t the first country of ,it started with Nugel,Nainebia Noting that the initiative is timely as it would give Sierra Leone the opportunities to participate in governance. He maintained that the GIZ believes that the project would be a strong initial to democratic.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs Alfred Moi Jamiru stated that the initiative is a significant milestone in advancing inclusive governance, decentralization, and Community-Led project He noted that the project document that has been launched is the realizations that there’s now a finished product. T
This Initiative is quite timely as it gives Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to get involve in governance, particularly at Administrative at strong National level The Deputy Minister of Public Administration Political Affairs( MOPAPA) Hon Philip Tetema Tondodeh he stated that the it’s through commitment mechanism that we can achieve more Public Led Administrative. Noting that this project which focuses on communities led governance seeks to integrate the voices of the people directly into decision making process in governance by enhancing transparency and accountability and cooperation of early grass root level.
He called on all stakeholders of government and civil society to work together to ensure the implementation of the project. The project Consultant Hindowa Batilo Momoh, including his PowerPoint presentation.
