Tuesday, 31st March 2026
Key Highlights
By: Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Introduction:
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) convened its weekly press conference to address issues relating to religious tolerance, local governance, and civil society perspectives on national development. Below are the key highlights from the briefing:
Government, Religious Leaders Sign Communiqué to Promote Tolerance
The Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, explained the rationale behind the communiqué signed between the Government and religious leaders. She noted that the agreement is aimed at strengthening religious tolerance and promoting national cohesion in Sierra Leone. Minister Karminty expressed concern over recent rhetoric by some religious clerics, describing it as a worrying signal of extremism. She stated that the dialogue was convened to address issues of hate speech and intolerance. She emphasized that the engagement concluded with a firm commitment from religious leaders to preserve Sierra Leone’s long-standing tradition of religious harmony. The communiqué also establishes mechanisms to address hate speech, ensuring that offenders face the full force of the law without interference from any religious body.
The communiqué was signed on 26th March 2026 at the Miatta Civic Centre.
Key Thematic Areas of the Communiqué
Minister Karminty outlined the core thematic areas of the communiqué, which include: Peaceful co-existence,
Mutual respect,
Responsible and accountable leadership,
Rejection of hate speech and extremism. She further encouraged religious leaders to monitor social media activities within their communities and to guide their followers on the responsible use of digital platforms in the interest of national cohesion.
Local Councils Cannot Be Boycotted, Decentralization Secretariat
The Director of the Decentralization Secretariat, Alex Bonapha, stressed that local councils are legal entities that cannot be boycotted. He cited Section 3 of the Local Government Act, which establishes councils as corporate bodies with perpetual succession.
Mr. Bonapha also referenced Section 32(2b) of the Act, noting that the Chief Administrator serves as the Vote Controller of the Council. He explained that in the absence of political heads, councils are mandated to continue functioning in accordance with the law to ensure effective service delivery.
Attorney General Confirms Role of Chief Administrators
Mr. Bonapha disclosed that the Ministry of Local Government sought expert interpretation from the Attorney General’s Office regarding the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act and the Local Government Act 2022.
He stated that the response from the Solicitor General confirmed that the Chief Administrator is indeed the Vote Controller, responsible for managing council resources in a transparent and accountable manner. He concluded that government operations cannot be held hostage under any circumstances.
Legal Provisions for Government Intervention
Mr. Bonapha further explained that in situations where councils face operational challenges, the Local Government Act 2022 provides for presidential intervention through Parliament. He added that the Minister of Local Government also has the authority to make regulations to address such crises. These provisions are contained in Section 108 and Section 138 of the Act.
Civil Society Calls for Dialogue
The Executive Director of Accountability Now Sierra Leone, William Sao Lamin, condemned the boycott by APC chairpersons, mayors, and councillors.He noted that the boycott is adversely affecting ordinary citizens, as service delivery in affected localities has stalled. Mr. Lamin called for constructive dialogue among stakeholders to resolve the impasse in the interest of national development and public welfare.
©Ministry of Information and Civic Education
