By Hassan Osman Kargbo
In a bid to deepen civic awareness and promote active citizenship, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) has successfully concluded a two-day civic education outreach in Moyamba Town, located in Sierra Leone’s Southern region.
The initiative, which forms part of the ministry’s ongoing Provincial Civic Day Series, brought together hundreds of residents for interactive discussions on civic responsibilities, with a special focus on tax education.
Led by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, the event aimed to engage communities in a meaningful dialogue about their role in national development and governance. The event attracted traditional leaders, market women, traders, students, civil servants, and local government officials, making it one of the most inclusive civic engagements held in the district in recent years.
Speaking at the event, Minister Chernor Bah emphasized the importance of empowering citizens with knowledge about their civic duties, including paying taxes, voting, and community participation.
He noted that civic education is critical to building a more informed and participatory democracy, especially at the grassroots level.
“This civic day series is designed to bring government closer to the people,” Minister Bah explained. “It is about giving citizens the information they need to understand their rights and responsibilities and how their actions contribute to the development of our nation.”
As part of the event, the National Revenue Authority (NRA) joined forces with the Ministry to conduct focused tax education under the theme “Relevance of Paying Taxes on National Development.”
The NRA delegation, led by Commissioner-General Jeneba J. Bangura, used the platform to directly engage community stakeholders on the importance of tax compliance and its direct link to public service delivery and infrastructure development.
In her address, Commissioner-General Bangura delivered a powerful message: “It is a civic responsibility to pay taxes, and when we pay taxes, the government uses the money to bring development to our communities — from building schools and hospitals to maintaining roads and paying civil servants. An informed taxpayer is an empowered citizen.”
She encouraged attendees to see taxation not as a burden, but as a contribution to national progress, and urged them to hold the government accountable for how taxes are used.
Her remarks were met with applause and approval, particularly from market women and traders who voiced concerns about transparency but welcomed the opportunity to better understand the taxation system.
Throughout the two-day event, participants were also engaged in breakout sessions and open discussions facilitated by MoICE staff, where they explored issues such as voter education, government accountability, youth engagement, and access to public services. Local authorities, including chiefs and district council representatives, praised the initiative, stating that civic education is key to fostering peace and unity in the community.
Traditional leader Chief Mamie Saffa noted, “This is the first time in a long while that a government ministry has come directly to us to explain our rights and duties in such a clear and respectful way. We are grateful and we want this to continue.”
In his closing remarks, Minister Bah thanked all participants, especially the people of Moyamba, for their enthusiastic participation and the warm welcome extended to the government delegation.
He pledged that the ministry would continue to roll out the Civic Day Series in other regions, ensuring that every Sierra Leonean has the opportunity to learn about their civic duties and the workings of the government.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We are committed to building a well-informed citizenry that actively contributes to the governance and development of Sierra Leone.”
The two-day civic event in Moyamba stands as a model for inclusive civic education and government-community collaboration, setting the stage for future engagements across the country.
