By Hassan Osman Kargbo
In a landmark engagement with citizens outside the capital, the Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has reaffirmed President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to continue serving the people of Sierra Leone with renewed energy and dedication. Speaking on behalf of the president at the Presidential Town Hall held in Kenema on June 17, 2025, the Chief Minister declared, “We are ready to do more.”
The event marked the second day of the Presidential Town Hall series, this time hosted at the Kenema District Council and Kenema City Hall. It was the first time such a town hall had been organized outside Freetown, signalling a shift towards greater decentralization and civic inclusion.
Organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), the town hall aimed to bridge the gap between the Presidency and the people. Citizens, local leaders, and government officials from various parts of the region gathered in large numbers, occupying seats and eagerly awaiting dialogue with their leaders.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, emphasized the importance of decentralizing national events, stating, “We want to make sure everyone in this country has access to the Presidency. President Bio is also committed to listening and answering questions directly from people.”
Although President Bio was unable to attend the event due to unforeseen circumstances, he sent the Chief Minister to represent him and respond to citizens’ concerns.
Minister Bah noted that hundreds of questions had already been submitted from across the country, with a large number coming from young people. The questions centred on major national priorities, including the Feed Salone initiative, energy access, and the future of the Free Quality Education program—one of the president’s flagship policies.
“These questions have been grouped into themes so they can be addressed more effectively,” Minister Bah added. “We are simply a channel to make sure your voices are heard.”
In his remarks, Chief Minister Sengeh conveyed the president’s message of hope, resilience, and commitment to national development. He stated that the government remains focused on its core agenda, particularly in agriculture and human capital development.
“Under Feed Salone, we’ve seen significant investment in agriculture aimed at boosting food production and reducing dependency on food imports,” Sengeh said. “President Bio has laid the foundation, and we are ready to do even more to make Sierra Leone self-sufficient.”
On employment and youth empowerment, the Chief Minister highlighted that the government has created numerous job opportunities for young people across the country and is committed to expanding these efforts. “Human capital development is not just a policy for us—it is the future. We’ve already employed thousands of young people and will continue to create more jobs and training opportunities,” he said.
Citizens in attendance were also given the chance to submit questions and concerns directly to the government representatives. The Chief Minister reiterated that President Bio is fully aware of the challenges facing the country and remains committed to finding lasting solutions through dialogue and collaboration.
The event in Kenema is seen as a vital step toward making governance more participatory and transparent. Citizens expressed appreciation for the effort to engage them directly and provide a platform for their voices to be heard outside of the capital city.
“We’ve never seen something like this here before,” said one attendee. “It makes us feel like we’re finally part of the conversation.”
As the Presidential Town Hall series continues, MoICE officials say similar events will be held in other districts to ensure that every Sierra Leonean has a chance to engage with the government on issues that matter most to them.
With the message “We are ready to do more,” the Chief Minister closed the event on a note of optimism, pledging continued government efforts to address key concerns and improve the lives of citizens across Sierra Leone.
