By George M.O Williams
Freetown, May 29, 2026: Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has officially reopened Sierra Leone’s newly refurbished Government Printing Department (GPD), describing the transformation as a milestone in strengthening national institutions and restoring confidence in state-owned enterprises.
Representing President Julius Maada Bio at the relaunch ceremony held at the GPD headquarters on Heneson Street, New England Ville, the Vice President said the reopening signified government’s commitment to rebuilding critical institutions and advancing economic transformation through innovation, productivity, and self-reliance.
The modernization project was made possible through a landmark US$5 million partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone and China’s Diming Yimo Printing Company, secured in 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education under Minister Chernor Bah.
Vice President Jalloh noted that the initiative has strengthened local technical capacity through technology transfer and skills development, enabling Sierra Leoneans to acquire modern printing knowledge that meets international standards. He emphasized that the upgraded facility supports the government’s “Made in Sierra Leone” agenda by reducing reliance on imported printing services and boosting local industrial growth.
“Today, we are not simply reopening a department; we are restoring national pride. We are modernising state capacity, and we are demonstrating once again that this Government is committed to transforming old institutions into engines of national development,” Dr. Jalloh stated.
The refurbished facility is now equipped with advanced digital and offset printing technology, post-processing systems, training facilities, modern offices, and a state-of-the-art showroom. It is expected to provide secure, efficient, and high-quality printing services for government ministries, businesses, schools, and institutions across Sierra Leone and the wider subregion.
Government Printer Salifu L. Suma hailed the relaunch as a breakthrough for Sierra Leone’s printing industry, noting that the investment will improve service delivery, enhance revenue generation, and position the country as a potential printing hub within the Mano River Union and West Africa.
Chairman of China Diming Group, Meng Qingshuang, commended the partnership and reaffirmed his company’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s industrial growth through technology, training, and employment creation.
The relaunch marks a major step in government’s wider agenda to modernise public institutions, diversify the economy, and strengthen industrial capacity. For many attendees, the reopening symbolized more than infrastructure renewal — it reflected Sierra Leone’s determination to restore institutions that once served as pillars of national development and reposition them to meet the demands of a modern economy.