By: Amara Alpha, MoICE
Bonthe Island , 3 February 2026* – In line with its mandate to bring government closer to the people, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) has held its Weekly Press Conference on Bonthe Island, marking a significant step in decentralising government communication.
Speaking at the engagement, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor A. Bah, highlighted key achievements of the New Direction Government under President Julius Maada Bio, particularly development interventions impacting Bonthe District and island communities.
One of the panelists, Madam Nenneh Angela Fullah, Secretary General for Women’s Empowerment in Bonthe District, commended the government for policies that have significantly improved the social and economic conditions of women in the district.
She noted that Bonthe Island had suffered years of neglect, but under President Bio’s leadership, women are now visible and active participants in governance and development. She highlighted the 30 percent quota for women’s representation in legislative, administrative, and local government structures as a transformative milestone.
Madam Fullah also praised the government’s efforts in reducing gender-based violence, early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and school dropouts, and applauded the policy allowing pregnant girls to remain in school and continue their education.
While acknowledging improvements in access to basic education, she raised concerns about the shortage of qualified science teachers in remote rural areas, calling for targeted interventions.
She expressed gratitude to the government and development partners for ongoing support and appealed to men in the district to actively support women’s empowerment, describing it as essential to building strong families, resilient communities, and sustainable national development. She also called for increased access to microcredit facilities for women.
She concluded by stressing that sustainable development and social harmony depend on collaboration between men and women, with empowerment serving as a shared pathway to national progress.
