By George M.O. Williams
The Government of Sierra Leone has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the country’s public service through the establishment of a statutory Public Service Academy, with officials emphasizing that capacity development and ethical leadership are central to achieving national development goals.
The commitment was made during a training and validation workshop on the design of a curriculum tailored to the country’s Public Service Reform Agenda.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Assistant to the Secretary to the Cabinet, Cabinet Secretariat, Patrick M. Sama, officials described the initiative as a significant milestone in building a professional, efficient, accountable and citizen-centred public service capable of delivering on the Government’s development priorities.
He noted that the curriculum development process is aligned with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030 and the Strategic Roadmap for Public Service Reforms 2024–2030, which prioritise strengthening human capital, improving institutional performance and modernising governance systems.
He disclosed that the establishment of the Public Service Academy followed a comprehensive Management and Functional Review of the former Civil Service Training College conducted by the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs with technical support from the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP).
“One of the key recommendations of that review was the creation of the academy, which the Government has now embraced as part of its broader public service reform agenda.The academy represents a new era in public sector capacity development and will serve as Sierra Leone’s premier centre of excellence for leadership development, policy innovation, executive education and continuous professional learning for public servants,” he said.
Registrar of Public Service Academy, Mohamed Taylor said that the workshop also reflected on the history of the former Civil Service Training College, describing it as one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the sub-region. Participants were told that although the institution ceased operations in the 1970s before being revived in 2000, it has trained more than 75,000 public servants over the years.
He further disclosed that while the institution had previously operated without a statutory legal framework despite parliamentary approval, the Government is now working to provide it with a statutory mandate through legislation.
“The move is expected to strengthen its authority and redefine its role in building the capacity of civil servants nationwide,” Taylor said.
He pointed out that the academy curriculum will be competency-based and tailored to the needs of the public service reform agenda.
He disclosed that some courses will become mandatory for civil servants seeking promotion from one cadre to another, ensuring continuous professional development across the public service.
Director of Recruitment Brima Queta reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the reform agenda, expressing confidence that Sierra Leone will soon enact a Public Service Act to provide the necessary legal backing for ongoing reforms.
He stressed that the reforms are aimed at strengthening the capacity, ethics and professionalism of public officers while equipping them with the skills required to meet evolving governance challenges.
He mentioned that the curriculum will focus on results-based management, digital transformation, innovation, service delivery and citizen engagement, preparing public servants to operate effectively in a modern governance environment.
Queta underscored the importance of human capital development in improving public service delivery, describing the Public Service Academy as a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s public sector transformation.
He noted that the academy will promote professional standards, ethical conduct and institutional excellence while supporting key public service reforms designed to improve governance and service delivery.