By Marian Magdalene Bangura, Strategic Communication Unit, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
The National Commission for Children (NCC) has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the rights and welfare of Sierra Leone’s children, emphasizing cross-sectoral coordination and child-centered policy implementation.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing, Commissioner Joyce Wuya Tejan-Kella thanked President Julius Maada Bio for prioritizing children’s issues in national development. She also praised the Ministry of Transport and Aviation for child-friendly transport policies, including free ferry rides for schoolchildren in uniform and a dedicated school bus, measures she said directly reduce daily burdens on children and families.
The Commissioner noted that the NCC, though not widely known, is a statutory body established under the 2007 Child Rights Act and became operational in 2014 following extensive civil society advocacy. With a vision for “a Sierra Leone where children are safe, heard, and valued,” the Commission works in line with international frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. “Gone are the days when decisions were made for children without their input,” she emphasized.
She outlined the Commission’s core responsibilities: coordinating child-related policy implementation across government; overseeing legal protections related to child marriage, parental responsibilities, and age of recruitment; advising ministries on child-sensitive policy, particularly during crises like Ebola and COVID-19; and, through a recent legal reform, now investigating complaints and monitoring how child rights violations are addressed.
Commissioner Tejan-Kella concluded by urging all ministries and sectors to mainstream child welfare into their work. “Children are not just future leaders, they are citizens of today. Their voices and needs must shape our national agenda,” she said.
The NCC remains a key national institution ensuring that every child in Sierra Leone grows up safe, supported, and heard.
