The Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Chief Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, on Thursday, 17th September 2026, paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), where he commended the ongoing transformation and modernization of the Port of Freetown.
Chief Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina met with the Director General of SLPHA, Yankuba Askia Bio, and Deputy Director General, Madam Judith Boi Kosseh, during the visit, which provided an opportunity for discussions on the progress being made at the Port and the importance of continued institutional engagement.
Commissioner Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina praised the SLPHA Management team for what he described as the “remarkable transformation” taking place at the Port of Freetown. He highlighted ongoing reforms, infrastructure development and modernization initiatives, noting that those efforts have contributed to improvements in the Port’s outlook and operational capacity.
According to the NaCSA Commissioner, the developments have positioned the Port of Freetown among the fastest-growing ports in the sub-region, reflecting sustained efforts to improve infrastructure, operational efficiency and service delivery.
Receiving the NaCSA delegation, SLPHA Director General Yankuba Askia Bio expressed appreciation for the courtesy visit and the recognition of the work being undertaken by the Authority and its stakeholders.
Yankuba Askia Bio stressed that the progress recorded at the Port is the result of collective efforts involving SLPHA, Government institutions, private operators and other port stakeholders. He underscored the importance of maintaining the momentum and building on the gains achieved so far.
The engagement ended with a reaffirmation of the importance of continued collaboration among public institutions in advancing Sierra Leone’s development aspirations.
Meanwhile, the SLPHA Director General also welcomed the Executive Director of the Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), Ahmid C. Jalloh, and his team to the Authority on Thursday, 17th September 2026.
The visit provided an opportunity for the CTF delegation to introduce the Fund to SLPHA and explore potential areas of collaboration, particularly in revenue mobilization to support the Fund’s initiatives.
Welcoming the delegation at the Authority’s conference room, Yankuba Askia Bio congratulated Ahmid C. Jalloh on his appointment as Executive Director and assured him of SLPHA’s willingness to support initiatives aimed at protecting Sierra Leone’s wetlands and marine ecosystems.
Yankuba Askia Bio invited the Conservation Trust Fund to formally submit details of potential areas of collaboration to the Authority, expressing his readiness to work with the Fund to promote the protection and sustainable management of Sierra Leone’s biodiversity.
The meeting was attended by SLPHA’s Director of Finance, Andrew Tamba Kpulun and Director of Technical Services, Eustace D. O. Rogers.
The Directorate of Hospital and Ambulance Services (DHAS), acting on the directives of the Chief Medical Officer, has intensified preparations to bring an additional 40 beds into full utilization at the Julius Maada Bio Pediatric Centre of Excellence (JMBPCE) as part of efforts to strengthen pediatric surgical services in Sierra Leone.
The initiative is also aimed at ensuring continuity of specialized pediatric surgical care while preparations continue for the planned renovation of the surgical theatre at Connaught Hospital.
Discussions held on Thursday, 16 September 2026, brought together representatives from DHAS, hospital management and clinical teams to assess the readiness of the facility and identify key requirements for the expansion of services. Areas reviewed included surgical equipment and instruments, medicines, consumables, human resources, anaesthesia and diagnostic services.
Particular attention was placed on ensuring that pediatric surgical services continue with minimal disruption during the renovation of the Connaught Hospital theatre. The teams are therefore assessing the capacity of the JMBPCE to support the additional workload and provide safe and accessible specialized care for children.
One of the key issues identified during the assessment was the need for pediatric-specific surgical instruments and equipment. Some of the equipment currently available is primarily designed for adult patients, highlighting the need for supplies that are appropriately suited to pediatric procedures.
The team agreed to review equipment and supplies already received, verify items expected through ongoing procurement processes and identify outstanding gaps. Clinical teams will also participate in reviewing incoming supplies to ensure that the equipment meets required specifications and is suitable for pediatric surgical procedures.
Human-resource capacity was another major area of focus. The discussions highlighted the need for adequate numbers of specialists, medical officers, theatre nurses, anaesthesia personnel and other support staff to sustain the expanded services.
Plans are also being considered to identify health workers with an interest in pediatric surgery and provide opportunities for mentorship, training and appropriate deployment. The approach is expected to contribute to strengthening local expertise and building a more sustainable pediatric surgical workforce.
Patient safety was emphasized throughout the discussions, particularly in relation to anaesthesia, equipment functionality and calibration, laboratory services and ultrasound capacity. DHAS and its partners are expected to continue working closely with hospital teams to address the gaps identified during the assessment.
Further reviews will be conducted to assess progress and determine readiness ahead of the planned renovation of the Connaught Hospital surgical theatre.
The initiative forms part of the Ministry of Health’s broader efforts to strengthen specialized healthcare services, develop the health workforce and ensure that investments in health infrastructure translate into safe, accessible and quality care for children requiring specialized surgical treatment.
The Pan African Adolescent Girls’ Movement, with support from the Graça Machel Trust and 50/50 Group Sierra Leone, has held a programme aimed at equipping adolescent girls with leadership skills, knowledge and confidence to identify challenges and lead initiatives within their schools and communities.
The programme was held on Saturday, 19 September 2026, at the 50/50 Group Sierra Leone Headquarters on Tower Hill in Freetown as part of the movement’s launch and step-down activities in Sierra Leone.
The event brought together adolescent girls for capacity-building sessions focused on leadership, decision-making, self-expression, community engagement and the development of practical solutions to challenges affecting girls and their communities.
Welcoming the participants, Professor Aisha Fofanah Ibrahim, Programme Director of 50/50 Group Sierra Leone, encouraged the girls to take full advantage of the opportunities and learning activities provided through the programme.
Professor Aisha Fofanah Ibrahim said the initiative was designed to help participants develop their individual capacities and become better equipped to make positive contributions within their schools and communities.
She encouraged the girls to remain committed to the programme, noting that sustained participation would help strengthen their communication skills, improve their confidence and prepare them to take on leadership responsibilities.
Describing the programme as an important achievement, the Programme Director urged participants to make effective use of the opportunities available to them further revealing how the capacity-building activities would continue through regular sessions, including engagements held on Saturdays.
Speaking about the Pan African Adolescent Girls’ Movement, Delree De’ Lange, Senior Programme Officer at the Graça Machel Trust, said the initiative was established to provide adolescent girls with the tools, knowledge and skills needed to become agents of positive change.
“The movement established its first hub in Sierra Leone about a year ago, creating a platform where adolescent girls meet regularly on Saturdays to participate in a structured capacity-building curriculum,” Delree De’ Lange informed.
According to Delree De’ Lange, the curriculum was designed by adolescent girls themselves and focuses on helping participants make informed decisions, identify solutions to challenges and take practical action within their families, schools and communities.
The Senior Programme Officer said the initiative recognizes that adolescent girls can make meaningful contributions to society when provided with the necessary support, skills and opportunities. “The programme seeks to help girls take greater control of issues affecting their lives and confidently speak out about changes they want to see in their communities,” Delree De’ Lange added.
She also stressed the importance of creating safe spaces where adolescent girls can freely express themselves, discuss challenges, exchange ideas and develop solutions while building the confidence needed to overcome difficulties.
Delree De’ Lange explained that the movement was not only designed by adolescent girls but is also led and implemented by them through steering committees and groups, with trained facilitators providing support in delivering the curriculum.
She said facilitators underwent three days of training on the curriculum before beginning their work with the girls in their respective groups.
Beyond the capacity-building sessions, the programme provides participants with opportunities to design and implement outreach activities based on solutions they identify to challenges within their schools and communities.
The Senior Programme Officer cited environmental sanitation as one area in which participants had already identified opportunities for community action. She said some of the girls had proposed establishing clean-up groups to clear gutters and improve drainage, while others are exploring ways of recycling plastics and other waste materials into useful products.
She also explained that products developed through recycling initiatives could be sold to generate funds to support continued community clean-up activities, demonstrating how adolescent girls could develop practical and sustainable responses to challenges affecting their communities.
Delree De’ Lange said the Graça Machel Trust would continue supporting opportunities for adolescent girls to take practical action and contribute to positive change within their communities.
She further encouraged adolescent girls in Sierra Leone and across Africa to recognize their potential and use their abilities to contribute to building a better future adding that young people should not wait for others to create the future they desire but should take responsibility for contributing to the changes they want to see.
One of the participants, Mary Julius, an aspiring presidential candidate for the Children’s Forum Network, said in an interview that participating in the programme will provide her with valuable knowledge and opportunities to strengthen her leadership capacity.
Mary Julius said the sessions will deepen her understanding of leadership and the empowerment of girls, while enabling her to engage more meaningfully with issues affecting children and young people.
She said her experiences as a girl in society had exposed her to situations she considered unfair, but noted that the programme will create an opportunity for her to express herself and engage with others on issues affecting young people.
According to her the initiative will encourage participants to share their experiences, perspectives and ideas while providing an environment in which they could learn from one another and develop greater confidence.
Activities during the programme included an opening pledge, a pre-assessment exercise and a series of lessons facilitated by the Sister Eagles. Participants were also organized into Nest groups, where they took part in discussions and other interactive activities throughout the day.
The programme concluded with a closing pledge and feedback from participants on their experiences and lessons learned during the sessions.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Pan African Adolescent Girls’ Movement, the Graça Machel Trust and 50/50 Group Sierra Leone to strengthen the participation and leadership of adolescent girls and empower them to identify and implement practical solutions to challenges affecting their schools, families and communities.
The peace walk, held under the theme: “Our Walk, One Voice for Sierra Leone,” brought together Government officials, security personnel, diplomats, peace advocates and members of the public in Freetown, while similar activities took place across all 16 districts.
In Freetown, participants from the eastern part of the city assembled at Up-Gun Roundabout, while those from the western part gathered at the Cotton Tree in central Freetown. The two groups walked through various streets before converging at Kallon Park, Lumley Beach, where the procession ended.
Speaking during at the Kallon Park, Executive Secretary of the ICPNC-SL, Hawa Samai, thanked participants for turning out despite the unfavourable weather, saying their participation demonstrated a collective willingness to preserve and protect the country’s peace.
Hawa Samai said the peace walk was not only a Freetown event but a nationwide activity, with all 16 districts participating in the commemoration. She encouraged participants to promote a culture of reconciliation in their communities as a means of preventing conflict.
Police Superintendent Samuel Saio Kamara described peace as one of the most important things society has, reaffirming the Sierra Leone Police’s commitment to maintaining peace.
“The Sierra Leone Police is committed to peace and people should be peaceful wherever they are,” he said.
Representing the Office of National Security, Assistant Research Officer Columba Bono-Dick said Sierra Leone’s history had shown that peace is not merely the absence of war, but also the presence of justice, inclusion and opportunity.
He said the security sector remains committed to protecting the country’s hard-won peace through efforts aimed at ensuring human security, preventing threats to national stability and supporting national cohesion.
Columba Bono-Dick added that the security sector would continue strengthening early warning and early response systems at regional, district and chieftaincy levels.
Irish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Patrick McManus, described Sierra Leone as a beacon of peace, given its history and progress since the civil war.
He said Sierra Leone’s current circumstances provide an opportunity for the country to demonstrate to the world that peace and dialogue are possible.
“Talking is better than not talking and dialogue is better than no dialogue,” Patrick McManus said.
Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Ayo Luther-Ogbomode expressed Nigeria’s solidarity with Sierra Leone, describing Nigeria as a brother to the country.
She said Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians remain committed to the peace and stability of Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Ayo Luther-Ogbomode congratulated the ICPNC and participants on what he described as five years of peace and stability, while encouraging young people to embrace peace as a means of supporting continued development and progress.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey said peace is fundamental to national development.
“This peace march is important because without peace development will be absent. Peace is the first step towards development,” he said.
He also stressed that disagreements do not have to result in conflict, saying, “We can have disagreement but we can still be peaceful.”
Peace Ambassador, Abubakarr S. Turay, popularly known as Shaddy Baby, also called for continued efforts to build and nurture peace in the country. “If we want our country to prosper and thrive we must build and nurture peace. Peace is not an option,” he said.
Abubakarr S. Turay also announced plans to host a political tolerance peace show at Bintumani Conference Centre on October 23, bringing together representatives of political parties to demonstrate their commitment to peace.
The peace walk formed part of activities marking the International Day of Peace, with participants using the occasion to promote unity, reconciliation and national cohesion across Sierra Leone.
The Girls Advocacy Development Network (GADNet) has officially launched the 7th National Girls Summit, scheduled for October 13–17, 2026, at the Pastoral Centre in Kenema City, under the theme: “Our Power in Action, Protecting Our Future.”
The launch was held at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in Freetown on Friday, September 18, 2026, bringing together Government representatives, development partners, Civil Society Organisations and young people.
Speaking at the launch, GADNet Executive Director ,Hannah Kargbo, said this year’s summit would go beyond being a five-day gathering, describing it as the next stage of a process shaped by the voices, ideas and leadership of girls and young people across Sierra Leone. She said the summit had been informed by the Girls Call to Action developed during previous editions, including last year’s summit in Makeni.
According to Hannah Kargbo, the National Girls Summit has, since its first edition in 2020, provided a national platform for girls and young people to learn, speak about issues affecting them, lead discussions and develop solutions. She cited the passage of the Child Marriage Act and the development of the Sierra Leone Accelerated Action for the Health and Well-being of Adolescents and Young People as some of the outcomes linked to the advocacy generated through the platform.
She explained that activities leading up to the main summit would include an advocacy football match, youth-led media advocacy engagements in five districts, Port Loko, Kambia, Moyamba, Bonthe and Western Area Rural and a “Girls Take Over” activity.
The “Girls Take Over” initiative, she said, would allow selected girls to temporarily take on leadership roles, including the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations and positions within a Government Ministry. She added that a walk for the National Girls Summit would also be held as part of the pre-summit activities.
Hannah Kargbo said the main summit is expected to bring together 500 participants between the ages of 15 and 26 from all 16 districts. She said 350 of the participants would be girls and young women, while 150 would be boys and young men, with spaces also provided for young people living with disabilities.
She explained that the participation of boys and young men was deliberate because efforts to end Gender-Based Violence and create safer communities require their involvement.
The summit programme will cover leadership, advocacy and protection; economic empowerment and financial literacy; and innovation and digital empowerment, including discussions around technology and artificial intelligence.
Assistant Director at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Laura Koroma, said the theme is a call to action for Government, development partners, communities, traditional and religious leaders to recognize and invest in the potential of girls.
“A girl is not a promise for tomorrow. A girl is a power today,” Laura Koroma said.
She said the Ministry’s mandate is to create an enabling environment where women and girls could live with dignity, exercise their rights, access opportunities, participate in decision-making and contribute to national development.
Laura Koroma noted that Sierra Leone has made progress through laws and policies aimed at protecting and empowering women and girls, including the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022, the Child Rights Act, the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act.
She also highlighted the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, a partnership involving the Government of Sierra Leone, the European Union and the United Nations, aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls.
Ambassador of Iceland to Sierra Leone, Ásdís Bjarnadóttir, said gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to Iceland’s foreign policy and development cooperation.
She said Iceland is proud to partner with GADNet, the Ministry of Gender and other organisations working to empower girls and young people.
Ásdís Bjarnadóttir commended Sierra Leone for its policy and legal framework on gender equality and said collective action is necessary because no single organisation could achieve the desired change alone.
She also called for the issues raised by girls at previous summits to move beyond discussions and result in concrete action.
Speaking on behalf of girls and young people, Princess Panda called on stakeholders to increase investment in girls’ leadership, protection, education and economic opportunities.
She said girls want meaningful roles in designing, implementing and evaluating programmes and decisions affecting their lives.
Princess Panda also called for stronger protection against harmful practices, including legislation to criminalize and end female genital mutilation, as well as properly functioning safe homes, safe spaces and one-stop centres accessible to girls in rural communities and those living with disabilities.
She further called for increased access to scholarships, learning opportunities and menstrual health support, including affordable and sustainable menstrual products and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
Princess Panda also urged stakeholders to ensure that existing laws protecting girls are implemented and explained to girls and communities in simple language.
David Sandy, who spoke on the role of boys and men, said their inclusion in the National Girls Summit is significant, particularly in addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and harmful practices such as FGM.
He said boys and men have a responsibility to protect women and girls, noting that their role had evolved from being delegates at previous summits to participating in the planning committee and serving as HeForShe ambassadors.
David Sandy thanked GADNet for creating a platform for boys and young men to contribute to efforts aimed at protecting girls and promoting gender equality.
The 7th National Girls Summit will take place from October 13 to 17 in Kenema City, bringing together young people and stakeholders to discuss leadership, economic empowerment, innovation and digital participation.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally has fired back at Sierra Leone People’s Party National Chairman, Jimmy Batilo Songa, rejecting a directive questioning his membership and insisting that no individual has the constitutional authority to unilaterally remove him from the ruling party.
Speaking in an audio recording currently trending on social media, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally thanked SLPP grassroots supporters, delegates and other stakeholders for what he described as their love and genuine concern, saying he had received numerous telephone calls following Jimmy Batilo Songa’s directive.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally said he does not recognize the directive, describing it as lacking legitimacy and exceeding the constitutional functions of the National Chairman. He maintained that Jimmy Batilo Songa does not have the constitutional mandate to issue such an instruction against him and said he would not comply with it, adding that such directives may be intended for social media bloggers but not for him.
He stressed that neither Jimmy Batilo Songa nor President Dr. Julius Maada Bio could individually expel him or any other member from the SLPP. According to Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally, such action can only be taken through procedures established under the SLPP Constitution, involving the Disciplinary Committee and the National Executive Council, which he described as one of the party’s highest decision-making organs after the National Delegates Conference.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally maintained that whenever a party member is accused of wrongdoing, that person should appear before the Disciplinary Committee, which should conduct hearings before forwarding recommendations to the National Executive Council for a decision. He insisted that the rights of every member, including ordinary grassroots supporters, must be protected.
He cautioned Jimmy Batilo Songa that the SLPP is an institution that cannot be dictated to by one individual, particularly as the party moves towards transitional elections when, according to him, unity should be paramount. He argued that unlawfully removing even an ordinary grassroots member could damage the party, much more a major stakeholder.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally warned that Jimmy Batilo Songa risked becoming deeply unpopular within the party if his actions were considered harmful to its unity. Drawing lessons from previous SLPP leadership disputes, he referenced former party chairmen Reverend Paul Dunbar, Alhaji U.N.S. Jah and Chief Somanoh Kapen, arguing that political disagreements had affected their respective leadership tenures. He maintained that Jimmy Batilo Songa could equally be set aside if party members concluded that his leadership threatened the SLPP’s interests, stressing that the party is bigger than any individual.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally also recalled his personal relationship with Jimmy Batilo Songa, claiming that President Dr. Julius Maada Bio entrusted Jimmy Batilo Songa to his support during the 2018 presidential run-off election. He said he assisted Jimmy Batilo Songa with his activities and household responsibilities during that period. While maintaining that he respects Jimmy Batilo Songa as National Chairman, he said that respect should be reciprocal and warned that he would firmly defend his rights whenever he believed boundaries had been crossed.
Turning directly to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally warned against attempts to intimidate him through political associates, insisting that he is not a low-profile political figure. He claimed that he played a significant role in bringing President Dr. Julius Maada Bio into active SLPP politics and facilitated opportunities for him to engage the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and senior Government officials when such access was difficult.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally expressed disappointment that, despite those contributions, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio had not taken what he considered immediate and decisive action against Jimmy Batilo Songa. He argued that failure by the President, as SLPP Leader, to intervene would cause him to question whether there was a political grievance against him.
He further shifted attention to the socio-economic situation in Sierra Leone, claiming that citizens and SLPP supporters are struggling with food and accommodation and that families are facing serious hardship. He maintained that national attention should be concentrated on improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans rather than allowing political loyalists to humiliate individuals who contributed to the party’s rise.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally warned that such actions could have political consequences. He also claimed that his previous experience within the security sector and his extensive networks give him access to information about developments across the country.
He declared that he would not hesitate to pursue what he described as democratic political action aimed at protecting Sierra Leoneans and safeguarding the country’s political space. Referencing the defeat of Revolutionary United Front leader Foday Sankoh and former Armed Forces Revolutionary Council leader Johnny Paul Koroma, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally argued that anyone considered an obstacle to the national interest could be collectively confronted through democratic political means.
The confrontation follows Jimmy Batilo Songa’s directive that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally should stop presenting himself as an SLPP member, using the party’s logo and participating in party programmes amid questions surrounding his alleged affiliation with the Citizens Democratic Party.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally has strongly rejected that position, maintaining that he formally resigned from the Citizens Democratic Party in 2018 to return to the SLPP. He has produced a resignation letter dated 15 June 2018, addressed to the CDP Secretary General, which he says provides documentary evidence of his departure. He further maintains that since resigning, he has neither paid membership dues to the CDP nor attended its meetings or participated in its activities, insisting that his political activities have instead centred on the SLPP.
As further evidence of his claimed SLPP membership, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally points to his participation as an accredited National Delegate at the party’s 2025 National Delegates Conference, where he says he voted. He questioned how he could have been accredited to participate and vote at the party’s highest gathering if he was not recognized as an SLPP member.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally also maintains that his SLPP membership dues are fully paid through 2028 and that he currently holds the position of Grand Chief Patron. He cited his longstanding financial and organizational contributions to the party, including support for campaign activities and the construction of SLPP offices across the country, as further evidence of his commitment to the party.
Beyond challenging the directive through internal party structures, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally has indicated that he is prepared to pursue legal remedies over what he describes as damage to his reputation and political standing, saying his legal team has been instructed to examine the options available under Sierra Leonean law.
Concluding his message, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally appealed to SLPP delegates, grassroots supporters and stakeholders to disregard Jimmy Batilo Songa’s directive, insisting that he would continue participating in party activities. He challenged Jimmy Batilo Songa to take the matter to court if dissatisfied with his continued participation.
Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally remains emphatic that he is a fully paid-up SLPP member, Grand Chief Patron, National Delegate and aspirant for the party’s flagbearer position, declaring that he would not be intimidated as the dispute over his political status continues.
The Government of Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Government of India and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has officially opened the rehabilitated Skills Training Centre in Kambia as part of efforts to expand vocational training and economic opportunities, particularly for persons with disabilities.
The facility was officially opened on Thursday, 17 September 2026, with representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, the High Commission of India, UNDP and the United Nations Country Team participating in the ceremony.
The rehabilitation forms part of a US$990,000 project funded by the Government of India through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and implemented by UNDP in collaboration with national partners.
The initiative is supporting the rehabilitation of six skills training centres across six districts in Sierra Leone, with the facilities in Kambia and Kenema already completed.
The Kambia Skills Training Centre has been equipped with 80 sewing machines, eight computers and other essential vocational training materials to improve access to practical skills development.
Training at the centre will focus on sewing, welding, weaving and soap-making, providing beneficiaries with practical skills that could help them secure livelihoods, establish businesses and become more economically independent.
The project places particular emphasis on persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, with the broader objective of ensuring that more Sierra Leoneans have access to opportunities for skills development and economic participation.
Speaking at the ceremony, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the High Commission of India in Sierra Leone, Neeraj Kumar Saini, reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting South-South cooperation, capacity building and inclusive development.
Neeraj Kumar Saini said the project reflects the shared principle of ensuring that no one is left behind in the development process, particularly people who have traditionally faced barriers to education, employment and economic opportunities.
The rehabilitation and equipping of the centre are expected to strengthen vocational education in Kambia District by creating an environment where beneficiaries can acquire practical and marketable skills.
The initiative also seeks to promote entrepreneurship by enabling trainees to use their acquired skills to generate income, establish small businesses and contribute to economic activities within their communities.
The Government of India and Sierra Leone have maintained longstanding bilateral relations based on cooperation in several areas, including capacity building and human development.
The India-UN Development Partnership Fund supports development projects across the Global South, with initiatives designed to respond to priorities identified by partner countries.
The opening of the Kambia Skills Training Centre represents another step in efforts to improve access to inclusive vocational education while creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate more fully in Sierra Leone’s social and economic development.
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has appointed prominent hospitality industry figure John Shallop as a Board Member of the National Tourist Board (NTB), adding a private-sector representative with years of involvement in Sierra Leone’s tourism and hotel industry to the institution.
John Shallop currently serves as President of the Sierra Leone Association of Hotels and is a founding member of the Federation of Allied Tourism Associations (FATA), where he has been involved in efforts to improve coordination among businesses operating within the tourism sector.
His appointment comes amid ongoing discussions among tourism stakeholders on how to strengthen the hospitality industry, improve service standards and create a more coordinated private-sector platform capable of engaging Government and other partners on challenges confronting operators.
John Shallop has recently been leading a series of capacity-building initiatives targeting hotel employees in different parts of Sierra Leone. The programmes have focused on strengthening the skills of hospitality workers and improving the quality of services provided to local and international visitors.
Beyond staff development, John Shallop has been engaging tourism operators on plans to establish a stronger private sector-led federation bringing together different associations and businesses within the industry.
The initiative is intended to provide tourism operators with a common platform through which they can coordinate their activities, articulate industry concerns and pursue measures aimed at improving the business environment.
John Shallop has particularly raised concerns over multiple taxes and other costs affecting tourism businesses. He has also advocated collective engagement among operators and stronger collaboration between the private sector and relevant public institutions to encourage investment and expand Sierra Leone’s hospitality industry.
News of his appointment has attracted congratulatory messages from members of the Sierra Leone Association of Hotels and the Federation of Allied Tourism Associations, with stakeholders welcoming the opportunity for the hospitality industry to have additional representation at the National Tourist Board.
Accepting the appointment, John Shallop thanked President Julius Maada Bio for selecting him and promised to use the opportunity to contribute to the development of the tourism sector.
“I thank His Excellency the President for this consideration. I pledge to serve in the best interest of the nation and in the interest of the sector, and will work with other Board members to take the National Tourist Board to greater heights,” John Shallop stated.
The appointment gives John Shallop an opportunity to bring his experience working with hotel operators and other tourism stakeholders into the National Tourist Board as Sierra Leone continues efforts to strengthen its tourism industry, attract investment and improve the country’s appeal as a destination.
Sierra Leone is known for its Netflix tendencies, and for over a month now, one episode that has dominated the airwaves is the passage of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by a simple majority rather than the two-thirds threshold that the supreme law of the land prescribes for altering itself. What began as a procedural ruling by the Speaker of Parliament has transformed into a full-blown national conversation about who, in the end, gets to decide what the Constitution means and whether that decision will be made honestly.
It could be recalled that on 10 August 2026, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, ruled that the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, could be passed under Section 91(1), which provides for members present to vote by a simple majority, rather than under Section 108(2)(b), which governs amendments to the Constitution itself.
Section 108(2)(b) is unambiguous and instructs that an individual or group of individuals cannot alter the Constitution, nor shall an amendment be passed by Parliament unless, at its second and third readings, it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the Members of Parliament. With 149 seats in the House, that threshold is 100 affirmative votes.
The government reportedly had 96 votes. Instead of lobbying Members of Parliament to secure the additional four votes through persuasion or compromise, the Speaker reinterpreted the rules of the game by relying on Section 91 and, as an afterthought, or as some might say, after the mission had been accomplished, suggested that his decision would be sent to the Supreme Court for interpretation. The authority for such a referral is itself questionable, but that is a matter for another day.
The Speaker’s move prompted the opposition All People’s Congress to walk out of the chamber in protest. Many saw his action as a blatant bastardisation of, and disregard for, the Constitution, while others hailed him as a hero.
After the bill was passed amid controversy over the applicable constitutional procedure, the main opposition party, some of its members, and even individuals filed petitions with the Supreme Court seeking constitutional interpretation. Others have called on the President not to give his presidential assent and to invoke Section 122(1) of the Constitution.
As we waited in anticipation to see what was going to happen, sitting on a thin thread with our teeth glued in our mouths and forecasting the fate of our beloved country, the President, on 13 September 2026, through a notice from State House, exhibited what many would regard as one of the characteristics of a true leader by sending the matter to the Supreme Court for interpretation.
A friend jokingly said perhaps the President is afraid of treason because violating the Constitution under Section 108(8) could be tantamount to a treasonous act, or perhaps it is simply part of a grand plan to execute the process.
Whatever the President’s private calculation—whether it is genuine institutional caution, an awareness that assenting to a bill passed in apparent violation of Section 108(2)(b) could expose him to a serious constitutional breach, or simply a tactical pause—the effect is the same. The burden has shifted, fully and finally, to the Judiciary.
And it is a fine place to say: Thank you so much, President Bio!
Under Section 124 of the 1991 Constitution, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction, to the exclusion of every other court, over matters relating to the enforcement or interpretation of any provision of the Constitution. That is not a ceremonial power. It is the mechanism by which a nation governed by a written constitution keeps faith with itself—the assurance that no institution, however popular or impatient, gets to rewrite the rules of the game simply by declaring that the old rules no longer apply.
Sierra Leoneans have been here before, and the memory is not a comfortable one.
In 2015, former President Ernest Bai Koroma used the Judiciary to remove his then Vice President, Samuel Sam-Sumana, from office without following the procedure set out in Sections 50 and 51 of the Constitution, the same procedure that Section 54(8) expressly extends to the removal of a Vice President.
The matter went to the Supreme Court, which was asked to determine whether the President’s “supreme executive authority” under Section 40(1) could override that procedure. The Court’s ruling, which upheld the removal, was widely criticised by some observers as placing political considerations above constitutional safeguards.
Ten years later, that precedent still hangs over the country like unexploded ordnance: a standing concern about whether a future president could seek to remove a sitting Vice President when their political visions no longer align, when they disagree over an issue of national concern, or whenever constitutional language is interpreted to provide a convenient route.
Even the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report into the causes of Sierra Leone’s civil war was blunt about the Judiciary’s share of responsibility for the conditions that contributed to that decade of suffering.
A former colleague of blessed memory would always say:
“A judiciary that bends to power will also leave the masses in disarray; one that finds reasons rather than principles does not merely lose a case; however, it corrodes the one thing that keeps citizens believing that grievances can be resolved by law rather than by force.”
This is why the stakes here go far beyond a single clause about electoral thresholds or parliamentary procedure. The Supreme Court now has the opportunity and obligation to give Sierra Leoneans a ruling that reads like law rather than politics; one that engages honestly with the plain words of Section 108(2)(b), does not strain the text to reach a predetermined outcome, and is written with reasoning that ordinary citizens can follow and trust.
A ruling that is technically correct but transparently result-driven will satisfy no one and could deepen the very cynicism it should be dispelling. Conversely, a genuinely reasoned ruling that places the integrity of the constitutional order above the convenience of any political faction could help reinforce public confidence in the rule of law.
If and only if this is achieved, it will begin to repair the long-standing distrust between citizens and the legal system—a trust that Sierra Leone’s history teaches us is not a luxury but a precondition for national unity itself.
Now, the Judiciary has a rare opportunity to demonstrate that the Constitution is supreme and that party loyalty and political patronage are not the only lenses through which Sierra Leone’s highest court sees the law.
With the burden shifted, Sierra Leone’s democracy now rests on the Judiciary’s shoulders, and it must be upheld in the best interest of peace, stability and tranquility.
A major scholarly review published in the African Studies Review has highlighted Sierra Leone’s experience with community-based urban research as part of a growing movement challenging conventional approaches to development and planning across African cities.
The review, titled: From Models to Methodologies: New Approaches to Development in African Cities, was written by Jennifer Hart of Virginia Tech and published by Cambridge University Press in the June 2026 edition of the African Studies Review.
Jennifer Hart examines four recent books dealing with urban development in Africa, including Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone: Knowledge Co-Production and Partnerships for a Just City, edited by Andrea Rigon, Joseph M. Macarthy, Braima Koroma, Alexandre Apsan Frediani and Andrea Klingel. The Sierra Leone-focused publication was released by UCL Press in 2024.
The review argues that African cities are characterized by complex contrasts, including opportunity and desperation, poverty and wealth, mobility and immobility, as well as organisation and disorder. According to Jennifer Hart, those realities frequently challenge development models and planning theories shaped by Western institutions, international organisations and donors.
The article questions approaches that attempt to impose uniform concepts of urban development on African cities, particularly policies designed to “formalize the informal.” It notes that development interventions ranging from slum renewal to major transport projects have often been based on international planning models that fail to adequately account for local realities.
Jennifer Hart further points to continuing challenges surrounding sustainable urban development, citing increasing inequality, displacement and the destruction of established communities associated with some large-scale development initiatives. The review consequently raises a central question about why conventional approaches to sustainable urban development have frequently failed to produce their intended results.
Against that background, the review identifies a growing body of scholarship seeking to understand African cities on their own terms rather than forcing them into predetermined planning models. That emerging approach places greater emphasis on history, culture, lived experiences and the participation of urban residents in determining how their communities should develop.
Sierra Leone features prominently in that discussion through Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone, which draws on approximately a decade of work by the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre and its research partners.
According to the review, the book examines how the co-production of knowledge, research, planning and practice can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable urban transformation. It identifies the rapid pace of change in cities such as Freetown as presenting particular challenges and explores how those changes can be managed in ways that are fair and equitable.
Rather than prescribing a fixed blueprint for Freetown, the publication presents what Jennifer Hart describes as a method for understanding the city and using that knowledge to better plan its future. The approach places significant emphasis on the wellbeing of people living in informal settlements and examines the consequences of urban change on communities rather than concentrating solely on the forces driving development.
The review also examines Shakirah E. Hudani’s Master Plans and Minor Acts: Repairing the City in Post-Genocide Rwanda, which explores urban transformation in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. The work contrasts large-scale, state-led master planning with the smaller actions undertaken by residents as they navigate questions of repair, reconciliation and belonging.
Another publication, Johannesburg from the Riverbanks: Navigating the Jukskei, examines Johannesburg through the Jukskei River, highlighting the relationship between urban communities and the natural environment. The collection demonstrates how interdisciplinary approaches involving ecology, hydrology, history and sociology can provide a more realistic understanding of urban development.
The fourth book, Singumbe Muyeba’s The Homeowner Ideology: Economic (F)Utility of Real Property Rights in Four African Cities, questions assumptions surrounding private homeownership and examines how state policies, family structures and economic thinking have reinforced homeownership as a preferred form of tenure despite difficult economic realities in many African cities.
Taken together, Jennifer Hart argues that the four publications do not seek to replace existing urban theories with another universal model. Instead, they encourage scholars, policymakers and development practitioners to reconsider their methods, question established assumptions and recognize contradiction and complexity as essential elements in understanding African cities.
For Sierra Leone, the review gives particular international academic visibility to research emerging from Freetown and demonstrates how collaboration between researchers, communities and institutions could contribute to more inclusive approaches to urban planning.
The broader message is that the future of African cities may depend less on importing predetermined development models and more on developing methodologies that listen to communities, understand local realities and build urban transformation around the experiences of the people who live in those cities.
