By Thaimu T. Kamara
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, hosted Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister at its weekly press conference, where major Cabinet decisions, national development achievements, and government priorities for 2026 were outlined signalling what officials described as a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive development.
Addressing journalists, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, announced that Julius Maada Bio and Cabinet have agreed that all Cabinet conclusions will henceforth be publicly read at the weekly Government Press Conference. He described the move as unprecedented and a significant step toward deepening open governance and keeping citizens informed of key policy decisions.
Minister Bah also informed the public that President Bio is currently in Davos, Switzerland, attending the World Economic Forum. He noted that this is the first time a Sierra Leonean president has been invited to the prestigious global gathering, attributing the invitation to President Bio’s leadership and growing international profile.
Providing an update on the National Development Plan, the Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, disclosed that nearly all targets set for 2025 across the health, education, and agriculture sectors were achieved, with only minor shortfalls. He highlighted notable economic improvements, including a reduction in inflation, a 30 percent drop in rice prices, the development of pricing formulas for other essential commodities, and the stabilization of the exchange rate over the past three years.
Dr. Sengeh further explained the role of the Performance Tracking Table (PTT), which integrates audit recommendations, Cabinet conclusions, and elements of the National Development Plan to monitor ministerial performance. He revealed that in 2025 alone, the government produced 113 Cabinet papers, of which 85 were approved. He assured the public that the PTT report will be published later this year as part of the administration’s broader transparency drive.
On challenges facing government institutions, the Chief Minister identified digitization as a major constraint in the audit process, noting that continued reliance on paper-based systems increases the risk of lost records. He urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to accelerate digital transformation, while acknowledging that human behavior remains a challenge despite measurable progress.
Clarifying public misconceptions surrounding the Tripartite Steering Committee, Dr. Sengeh stated that the committee has been meeting quarterly and is actively advancing its mandate. He announced that electoral reforms emerging from the Tripartite process will soon be presented to Parliament of Sierra Leone for consideration and approval.
On infrastructure development, the Chief Minister presented comparative statistics showing that the previous All People’s Congress (APC) administration constructed 432 kilometres of roads over 11 years, while the current Bio administration has constructed 442 kilometres within seven years. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding road and bridge construction nationwide in 2026.
Looking ahead, Dr. Sengeh outlined key government priorities for 2026, including the establishment of an agriculture bank, increased egg production, expansion of the school feeding programme, continued reductions in maternal mortality, improvements in the minimum wage, the rollout of a national health insurance scheme, a 45 percent increase in electricity access, expanded social protection for the informal sector, and enhanced financial inclusion.
He also announced that Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be hosted by Sierra Leone in 2026, a development expected to spur additional infrastructure upgrades across the country.
Responding to concerns from residents of Kono District, the Chief Minister assured the public that academic activities at Kono University are ongoing and that construction of the university’s permanent infrastructure will continue throughout 2026.
On the Tormabum agricultural project, Dr. Sengeh confirmed that work is ongoing, disclosing that the government has cultivated 3,500 hectares of land, while the private sector has cultivated an additional 2,000 hectares underscoring continued collaboration to boost national food security.