By Alusine Sesay
Sierra Leone, August 7, 2026: President Julius Maada Bio has outlined sweeping accomplishments across key sectors, describing 2026 as a “Year of Action and Accelerated Delivery.” Speaking at the State Opening of Parliament, he detailed progress under his Big Five Game Changers agenda.
In agriculture, the Feed Salone Programme boosted rice production to 1.44 million metric tonnes in 2025, raising self-sufficiency to 73 percent. Cocoa, cashew, and coffee exports generated USD 107.8 million, while onion cultivation in Lungi expanded to 170 hectares, employing over 500 women and reducing prices.
Education reforms have reached over 1 million pupils through school feeding, trained 26,000 teachers, and supported exam fees for 179,000 candidates. Bio warned against examination malpractice, stressing that “any public official, principal, teacher, parent, or pupil who enables malpractice must face the law.”
Healthcare achievements include a 70 percent reduction in maternal mortality since 2013, the commissioning of Sierra Leone’s first Burns Unit, and installation of CT scanners at Connaught and Kenema hospitals. Childhood immunisation surpassed 90 percent, while HPV vaccination among girls reached 99 percent.
The President also highlighted social protection measures, including cash transfers to nearly 400,000 vulnerable citizens, and gender equality initiatives under the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act.
“Our success will be measured by visible progress, closed gaps and completed projects,” Bio declared, urging Parliament to scrutinise upcoming legislation with urgency.