Civic Day USA Edition – New York Thursday, 24th September 2026
Key Highlights
By: Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Introduction:
The Civic Day USA Edition, held in New York as part of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s Civic Day Series, brought together senior government officials and Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to discuss national development programmes, reforms and public policy. Ministers provided updates on disability inclusion, fisheries, energy, youth employment, artificial intelligence, constitutional reforms, education, health, gender and public sector transformation.
Social Welfare: Strengthening Disability Inclusion and Empowerment
Minister of Social Welfare Melrose Karminty highlighted the Government’s efforts to strengthen support for vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities, women, children and youth. She stressed that legislation alone is not enough, noting that laws and policies must be translated into practical services, particularly in inclusive education and healthcare.
She disclosed that the Government is working with partners including UNICEF and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to improve the identification, assessment and certification of persons with disabilities. The initiative will also strengthen disability data management and early identification through communities, health centres and schools.
Minister Kerminty added that, improved data will help connect persons with disabilities to appropriate services, including basic interventions such as glasses and hearing aids, as well as specialised support. She also highlighted rehabilitation, vocational training and skills development, with centres in the districts receiving support, including computers and other equipment to expand opportunities in areas such as computer science.
Fisheries: $55 Million Industrial Fishing Harbour Under Construction
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Princess Dugba announced the commencement of construction of the $55 million Julius Maada Bio Industrial Fishing Harbour at Black Johnson, funded through a grant from the People’s Republic of China.
She clarified that the grant will not be transferred to the Government as cash. Instead, the Chinese side will finance implementation through a contractor engaged for the project. The harbour will include a jetty, waste management system, marine house and fish market, providing infrastructure for industrial fishing and improved fisheries management.
A temporary jetty is expected to be completed within two months to accommodate large fishing vessels while construction of the main harbour continues. The project will also provide space for artisanal fishermen, while the Government is considering the replacement of wooden canoes with fibreglass boats to improve safety.
The harbour is expected to create additional opportunities in boat construction and repair, employment and technical services, while strengthening Sierra Leone’s blue economy and fisheries revenue.
Energy: $100 Million World Bank Support for Electricity Expansion
Minister of Energy Cyril Grant disclosed that the World Bank is expected to provide $100 million to support the expansion of electricity access in Sierra Leone. He said the financing is linked to proposed reforms involving the concessioning of EDSA’s distribution operations to a private company, while EDSA and Government would retain oversight responsibilities.
Minister Grant said Government is targeting an increase in national electricity access from approximately 35% to 78%, requiring investment in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.
He also highlighted a $20 million European Union-supported renewable energy project, which is expected to cover 78 sites across towns and villages, as well as a further $60 million World Bank-supported DARES project, expected to benefit approximately one million people through renewable energy and rural electrification.
Minister Grant further disclosed that the 108-megawatt Nant power plant is expected to begin operations by the middle of next year, adding generation capacity to the national grid.
Youth Affairs: 500,000 Jobs and Greater Youth Participation
Minister of Youth Affairs Ibrahim Sannoh said young people under the age of 35 constitute approximately 75% of Sierra Leone’s population, making youth participation in decision-making a key priority.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment under the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024–2030 to create 500,000 sustainable jobs for young people. He also disclosed that the Government is working with the World Bank on programmes targeting more than 70,000 young people through cash transfers, skills training and employment opportunities.
Minister Sannoh further informed the audience that, youth programmes are focusing on agriculture, climate change, technical skills, technology and entrepreneurship. He also highlighted plans to provide practical training in local languages, including Mende and Temne, to make skills development more accessible in areas such as agriculture, carpentry and construction.
National AI Strategy and Digital Transformation
Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Monorma Bah disclosed that Sierra Leone is developing a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy based on the country’s specific needs and development priorities. She said the Government first conducted an AI Diagnostics and Readiness Assessment to determine the country’s preparedness before developing the strategy. The proposed framework will guide responsible AI deployment in priority sectors including education, health, security and public administration.
Minister Bah also highlighted weekly digital skills training for civil servants and ongoing engagement with Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to tap into their technical knowledge, professional networks and expertise in support of the country’s digital transformation.
Constitutional Review: Proposed Electoral and Political Reforms
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay Esq., outlined major provisions contained in the Constitutional Amendments Bill currently waiting Presidential Assent.
He explained that the proposals are drawn from previous national review processes, particularly the Justice Edmund Cowan Constitutional Review Committee and the Tripartite Committee process, alongside earlier constitutional reform initiatives.
Among the proposed changes are a transition from the First-Past-The-Post system to Proportional Representation, a reduction of the presidential election threshold from 55% to 50% plus one vote, and measures requiring political parties to ensure that at least 30% of candidates on their lists are women.
The Bill also proposes consideration of regional and district balance, gender equity and minority representation in presidential appointments. It further seeks to allow Sierra Leoneans to hold dual citizenship to contest parliamentary elections and serve as Cabinet Ministers, subject to proposed requirements including local tax compliance and evidence of a five-year connection to Sierra Leone.
Addressing concerns about drug trafficking, he assured citizens in the diaspora that Sierra Leone is not a narco state, and that drug traffickers are only using Sierra Leone as a transit point taking advantage of the geographical location of the country. He maintained that, the government as part of it zero-tolerance of drug trafficking has prosecuted lots of drug dealers who are currently running jail terms, which shows the government’s commitment to crack down on drug dealers.
Education: AI, Teacher Licensing and Examination Reforms
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Conrad Sackey disclosed that the Ministry is increasingly using digital tools and artificial intelligence to support teaching, administration and education planning.
He said AI was recently used to analyse more than 200,000 records in under five minutes, while the Government has also worked with UNICEF on guidelines for the responsible use of AI by children and young people.
Minister Conrad announced plans for a Teacher Licensing Examination, which will assess teachers in English, mathematics, ICT, professional standards and teaching methods. He also said a proposed WAEC Bill has been drafted for submission to Cabinet and Parliament, with stronger penalties for examination malpractice.
He highlighted progress in girls’ education, including equal enrolment at basic education level, improved pass and transition rates, and the local production of reusable sanitary pads. Measures are also being expanded for learners with disabilities, including the use of Braille examination papers.
Higher Education: AI Integration and Support for Academic Staff
The Minister of Technical and Higher Education Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie highlighted the Government’s plans to integrate technology and responsible AI use across the higher education system.
She disclosed that a Higher Education Management Information System, developed with World Bank support, includes a Learning Management System with AI capabilities. The platform is intended to provide students with learning materials, self-directed learning opportunities and AI-supported academic assistance, while lecturers can upload notes and other educational resources.
Minister Wurie stressed the need for lecturers and academic institutions to continuously develop their digital skills as technology evolves. She also reaffirmed an open-door approach to engagement with academic staff and emphasised dialogue in addressing concerns within the sector.
On lecturers’ remuneration, she explained that the Government currently provides approximately 83% of lecturers’ salaries, while universities contribute about 17%. She referenced previous salary adjustments, including the 75% increase introduced in 2021 that was rolled out in three years and a further 15% increase in 2025 for tertiary education employees.
Addressing concerns around lecturers strike action, Minister Wurie said calls by academic staff for a further 100% salary increase should continue to be addressed through established negotiation mechanisms involving universities, Government and the Wages and Compensation Commission.
Health: Strengthening Emergency and Diagnostic Services
The Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby highlighted improvements in diagnostic and emergency healthcare services, including the availability of a 128-slice CT scanner at Connaught Public Hospital, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for advanced scans.
He also stressed that the Government’s ambulance programme is being developed as an integrated national ambulance system, rather than focusing only on individual ambulance vehicles.
Minister Demby further highlighted the use of mobile ultrasound devices to improve access to maternal healthcare, particularly for pregnant women in hard-to-reach communities. He emphasized that the Government is focused on reducing preventable maternal and child deaths and ensuring that children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Gender: Strengthening Laws and Opportunities for Women and Girls
Dr. Isata Mahoi, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs highlighted Government’s interventions aimed at protecting and empowering women and girls.
She referenced legislative measures covering issues including land rights and the elimination of child marriage, stressing the importance of creating an enabling environment in which women and girls can participate fully in national development.
Public Sector Transformation and Development Monitoring
The Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay emphasised the importance of transforming the country’s public sector architecture to improve development outcomes.
She highlighted the use of real-time data tracking across 600 key development indicators as part of efforts to monitor implementation, measure progress and strengthen accountability across national development programmes.
Foreign Affairs Minister Calls for Diaspora Ideas and Results-Driven Diplomacy
Mohamed Rahman Swaray, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has encouraged Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to provide practical ideas, expertise and connections that can strengthen the country’s international partnerships and contribute to national development.
Minister Swaray further informed the audience that, the Ministry’s work is built on initiatives established by previous administrations and supported by Sierra Leone’s diplomatic missions, including the Embassy in Washington, D.C. He welcomed comparisons with how countries such as Ghana and Liberia engage their citizens abroad and urged Sierra Leoneans to propose practical approaches for improving diplomatic and economic cooperation. Minister Swaray stressed that the Government efforts should ultimately be measured by tangible results for Sierra Leone, rather than effort alone, assuring the Ministry’s commitment to working with the diaspora to harness their ideas, skills and networks for national development.
©Ministry of Information and Civic Education
