By: Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Sierra Leone — December 13, 2025: The 2025 Salone Civic Festival has been hailed as a major success, bringing together citizens and government in a landmark initiative that reinforced transparency, accountability, and national unity.
Organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, the three-day festival ran from December 11 to 13 at the Youyi Building precinct. More than 50 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) participated, each showcasing their achievements under the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) and President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers.
Government Performance on Display
The MDAs’ Performance Showcase served as a public report card, offering citizens a rare opportunity to directly engage officials and see how public resources are being used to drive national development. Booths spanned key sectors including agriculture, health, security, finance, and technology, with senior officials on hand to answer questions and foster dialogue.
At the Arms and Ammunition Commission booth, officials explained firearm acquisition procedures and demonstrated a weapon-destruction machine alongside decommissioned rifles—an evocative symbol of the government’s commitment to national security.
Sports and Civic Engagement
The Ministry of Sports energized the festival with live demonstrations from athletes in football, boxing, tennis, karate, and gymnastics. Visitors also viewed international medals won by Sierra Leonean athletes, underscoring the nation’s growing sporting achievements.
Policy and Innovation
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education highlighted its public engagement initiatives, including weekly press conferences, the Civic Day Series, and Presidential Town Halls. Citizens were also invited to review the draft of the landmark Data Protection and Right to Access Information Bill.
Innovation took center stage at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation booth, where young innovators presented home-grown digital solutions. The Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) unveiled the Wan-Gov platform, a proposed one-stop portal for accessing government services. Major telecom providers Orange, Africell, and QCell engaged directly with citizens to address service concerns.
Feed Salone in Action
In alignment with the national Feed Salone initiative, the Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, and Fisheries showcased local produce and marine products. A highlight was the preview of the proposed fish harbour at John Obey, expected to significantly boost the fisheries sector.
Service Delivery in Practice
The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) deployed its mobile licensing vehicle at the festival grounds, offering streamlined services. Notably, President Bio and the Chief Minister were among the first to experience the new system.
A New Chapter in Civic Engagement
The Salone Civic Festival has firmly positioned itself as a cornerstone of participatory governance. By bringing citizens face-to-face with the machinery of government, the event vividly reflected President Bio’s vision of a connected, accountable, and people-centered administration.
The message was clear: Sierra Leone is entering a new chapter of civic engagement, where transparency and collaboration between government and citizens drive national progress.