Government To Showcase National Progress At 2025 Salone Civic Festival
By Claudia Redwood-Sawyerr, MOICE
The Minister of Information and Civic Education officially launched the 2025 Salone Civic Festival at the Miatta Civic Centre, Youyi Building, Freetown, on Tuesday, 11th November 2025.
Hon. Chernor Bah, expressed excitement while performing the task in the presence of young people, who he said constitute majority of the country’s population.
“I am delighted to launch the Salone Civic Festival today with mostly young people in attendance, because they make up 65 percent of our population. This festival is an opportunity for government to meet with its citizens,” he stated.
The Salone Civic Festival 2025, slated to run from the 11th-13th December 2025, is designed to be the largest national civic event of its kind, bringing together Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, civil society, and citizens under one platform to celebrate civic participation, accountability and national progress. This year’s Civic Festival will be hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED).
Minister Bah emphasized that the purpose of the Festival aligns with His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s directive for MDAs to showcase their functional roles, achievements in the last year, and opportunities for citizens engagement. “This Festival is a contest of development; an opportunity for every institution to showcase what has been achieved and how citizens can engage,” he said.
Providing an overview of the three-day event, the Minister highlighted major festival features including Film and Documentary Showcase, Grand Civic Quiz Competition; and the Peace and Unity “Salone Big Pass We All” Concert.
The Festival will also host daily sessions with different panelists, providing citizens the opportunity to directly engage government leaders on progress made in key priority areas under the Government’s Big Five Agenda. “This is an opportunity for you to ask questions, hold your leaders accountable, and be part of the national conversation on development,” Minister Cee Bah encouraged.
The opening ceremony will be graced by His Excellency the President, who will deliver the keynote address, alongside local and international guest speakers including the UNESCO Regional Director for Africa and the President of Columbia University Population and Family Health Program.
As he concluded, Minister Bah encouraged young Sierra Leoneans to believe in their potential and take bold steps toward nation-building. “Those of us who are foolish enough to dream big and believe in the impossible, this is our moment. Take advantage of opportunities and let Sierra Leone fly higher.”
