By Esther Wright
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MOICE) on August 29, 2024 submitted a budget request of over Le 65 million to support its ambitious transformation plans for 2025.
In a presentation held on Wednesday in the Ministry of Finance’s Conference Room, Minister of Information Chernor A. Bah and Acting Director of Information, Emmanuel A.B. Turay, detailed their extensive plans for the Ministry. The proposed changes include establishing new directorates, expanding the staff and implementing a comprehensive civic education strategy.
The Minister highlighted the significant progress made by the Ministry despite its limited resources and personnel. He emphasized that achieving President Bio’s vision will require substantial investment.
“The vision President Bio as set for us is expansive and realizing it demands a significant financial commitment,” he stated. “We started with nearly nonexistent infrastructure and as a new Ministry, we’ve been building from the ground up with minimal resources.”
The presentation drew positive remarks from Samuel Momoh, the Principal Deputy Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance.He commended the Ministry’s accomplishments under its current budget constraints.
“You have achieved a considerable amount and your accomplishments were evident throughout the presentation,” Samuel Momoh said. “This demonstrates your potential to accomplish even more with increased resources.”
Last year, the Finance Ministry approved approximately Le 11 million in budgetary support for the Ministry of Information, but only a little over Le 4 million was disbursed.
Looking ahead, Chernor Bah expressed optimism about the Ministry’s future. The upcoming year will see the hiring of 101 new staff members, the creation of additional directorates, and a nationwide rollout of the civic education program
“President Bio’s vision for civic education is significant. It’s about instilling a sense of national pride and love for Sierra Leone,” the Minister intimated.
The presentation received high praise from attendees, who acknowledged the ministry’s proactive efforts in combating fake news and managing information effectively.
