By: Zacharia Jalloh, Stratcom – MoICE
On the 28th of October 2025, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) held the seventh edition of its Civic Day Series in Tonkolili District.
The nationwide engagement which aims to foster an interface between government and citizens continues to create impact by ensuring public access to factual information in a timely manner thus reducing misinformation and disinformation.
This unprecedented outreach reflects the Ministry’s commitment to taking government to the doorsteps of the people, enhancing inclusivity, accountability, and participation in national development efforts.
Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Bocakarie Abdel-Aziz Bawoh, in his opening statement said the Civic Day Series is anchored on the Ministry’s mantra, “Salone Big Pass Wi All.” He informed that under the astute leadership of Minister Chernor Bah, the event has been held in Kambia, Port Loko, Moyamba, Kenema, Makeni, and Bo districts. He furthered that the initiative reflects President Dr Julius Maada Bio’s vision of expanding the civic space and bringing the government closer to the people. He emphasized the Ministry’s use of Krio as a language of communication to ensure inclusivity and better understanding among citizens.
Welcoming the government delegation in the North-East Region, the Resident Minister, Ibrahim Jalloh, thanked the Ministry of Information and Civic Education for such an initiative that connects with the ordinary man, describing it as “democratic accountability”.
Mr Jalloh said that upon taking office, he conducted a regional assessment, identifying challenges such as boundary and land disputes, poor revenue mobilization, youth drug abuse, and disregard for traffic rules. He explained that through District and Provincial Security Coordination Committees (DiSeC and ProSeC), his office has resolved multiple community disputes, including boundary conflicts between Tonkolili and Koinadugu districts.
The Chairperson of Tonkolili District Council, Madam Yabom Sesay, lauded the Civic Day Series and commended the government for the initiative. She thanked the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) for consistently supporting her Council to construct and rehabilitate roads, bridges, and culverts. She noted that this assistance has facilitated development across all 19 chiefdoms in the district. However, she appealed for increased funding and expressed disappointment over the absence of EU-supported projects in Tonkolili.
The Director of Communication and Community Affairs at the National Minerals Agency (NMA), Ibrahim Satti Kamara provided updates on their activities especially in Tonkolili as a major mining district. According to him, there has been significant improvement in Sierra Leone’s mining sector under President Bio’s leadership. He revealed that 70–80% of national export earnings come from mining, totaling $1.12 billion in 2024, with non-tax revenue increasing to $49.4 million; License fees doubled from $10.9 million in 2023 to $21.4 million in 2024. He emphasized that mining revenues (taxes) are funding government interventions in agriculture, health, infrastructure, education, salaries, among others, while the sector employs 17,000 workers nationwide. He explained that mining companies pay surface rent annually and contribute 1% of their export revenues to the Community Development Agreement (CDA) for local development.
A representative of
Leone Rock Metal Company, Mamoud Melvin Jah, reaffirmed the company’s compliance with Sierra Leone’s mining laws. He informed the audience that of the 4,864 employees at their Tonkolili mines, 3,011 are indigenes of Tonkolili District. The company, he pointed out, has invested heavily in training, certifying 2,456 staff to operate processing plants, and also trained 364 women in firefighting and emergency response. “In April 2025, Leone Rock presented over NLe62 million in CDA payouts to primary mining communities” he concluded.
Minister of Sports, Augusta James-Teima, catalogued major sporting achievements in 2024 and 2025 as follows: In 2024 the country won Karate (8 Gold Medals), Scrabble (Gold in Accra), Gymnastics (20 Gold in Azerbaijan), Volleyball (Gold), Under-20 Shooting Stars (AFCON Qualification), and Cycling (Gold in Tour de Côte d’Ivoire): in 2025,
Sierra Queens won the WAFU-A competition in Mauritania; Sierra Leone Female U-17 won in Liberia; and the national athletics team won 4 Gold, 3 Silver, and 3 Bronze in Liberia.
Speaking on policies and legislative reforms, Minister James-Teima noted that the Ministry is developing new National Sport, Gender, and Code of Conduct Policies, and also reviewing the National Sports Authority Act.
The Legal Officer at the National Fire Force, Bintu Fatmata Kamara Esq, announced the establishment of a new fire station in Magburaka. Though currently without a fire engine, she explained that fire officers are stationed in the township to raise awareness on fire prevention. She went further to explain the contents of the proposed Fire Safety Bill, which contains 58 sections developed through national consultations. Madam Kamara concluded by cautioning citizens to remain vigilant, especially during the dry season, as over 500 fire incidents have been recorded since January 2025.
Contributing to the conversation was the Chairman of the National Youth Service Board, Abdul Samad Kamara, who announced that they have trained seven batches since 2018 and that applications for Batch 8 are open until December. He added that the 2024 NYS Act now includes HND and HTC graduates, not just university degree holders. Furthermore, Mr Samad Kamara noted that with Minister Ibrahim Sannoh’s support, youth training hubs dubbed “Youth Villages” will be established in Mile 91, Kabala, Hanga, and Moyamba Junction.
The Board Chairman of the National Youth Commission, Saidu Alie Lakoh, shared updates on the new partnerships with IOM, ILO, and the Maritime Administration to provide training in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, branding, ICT, and maritime skills. He also mentioned ongoing exploration of opportunities for youth employment in the energy sector, particularly in solar installation, customer care, and technical maintenance.
The event climaxed with a question and answer session with over 20 people directly seeking answers and clarifications from government officials in attendance.
The event showcases the government’s continued commitment to engaging citizens on governance issues.
