By Fatima Kpaka
Kenema, Sierra Leone: Residents of Kenema have hailed the just-concluded Presidential Townhall, held on June 16 and 17, as a groundbreaking moment for participatory democracy in Sierra Leone. The two-day event, hosted in the eastern provincial capital, offered citizens an unprecedented opportunity to directly engage with senior government officials.
Though President Julius Maada Bio was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh represented him, joined by a full delegation of cabinet ministers. The forum opened with the Chief Minister answering questions submitted by the public through digital platforms managed by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
Information Minister Chernor A. Bah moderated the session, posing wide-ranging questions on flagship government initiatives such as Feed Salone, free quality education, child rights, the Safe Motherhood Bill, inclusivity, redistricting, Tripartite Recommendations, and the national response to MPOX.
The townhall later evolved into an interactive panel discussion, with all ministers taking the stage to face spontaneous questions from the audience—an occurrence many attendees described as a first in Sierra Leone’s political history.
“This level of direct accountability is new and refreshing,” one Kenema resident said. “It shows that our leaders are willing to listen, not just talk.”
The event was seen as a strong reflection of President Bio’s ongoing commitment to transparency and inclusion. Since his first term, the President has emphasized citizen engagement as a core pillar of governance, earning praise from some quarters as a “Father of Democracy” in Sierra Leone.
In a display of civic pride, the townhall was preceded by secondary school quiz and debate competitions held on June 16 in observance of the Day of the African Child.
Local citizens expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Information and Civic Education for bridging the gap between government and the people. Many called for continued townhalls and public updates to help them make better-informed decisions and participate more actively in national development.