Tuesday 15th April 2025
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
By: Zacharia Jalloh, Strategic Communications Unit, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education, held its weekly press briefing on Tuesday, 15th April 2025. The session, led by the Minister, Chernor Bah, focused on significant national events, recent fire disasters, government interventions, and updates on social welfare programs. The following are the key highlights:
National Symposium to Commemorate Independence Day
Minister Chernor Bah announced that the Government of Sierra Leone will host a National Symposium on April 28, 2025, to commemorate Independence Day at the Hockey Pitch, Wilberforce, under the theme: “Reclaiming the Importance of April 27.”
The event will bring together prominent Sierra Leoneans from various sectors to reflect on the country’s history, culture, and development trajectory. The symposium aims to reignite national pride and awareness around the significance of Sierra Leone’s independence.
Update on State House Fire
Speaking on the recent fire outbreak at State House, Minister Bah disclosed that Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh had constituted a multi-agency response team tasked with investigating the incident, assessing infrastructural damage, and making recommendations for future prevention.
The team comprises representatives from law enforcement agencies, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), professional and private engineering firms, and the Ministry of Works and Public Assets.
Fire Response and Findings
Chief Fire Officer Nazir Kamanda Bongay reported that the National Fire Force received a distress call at 3:05 p.m. on Saturday, 13th April, alerting them about the fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene within 15 minutes using two brand-new fire engines and were later supported by other fire commanders in the Western Area.
The blaze, which severely affected offices on the 3rd and 4th floors, took four hours to fully contain. No injuries or casualties were recorded. Mr. Bongay praised the effective collaboration among government institutions during the firefighting operation.
Preliminary investigations indicate that malfunctioning appliances caused an electrical fire. Findings included electrical switches and air conditioners left on, as well as the use of substandard electrical extensions and poor wiring systems.
National Fire Statistics
Providing fire incident statistics, Mr. Bongay revealed that between January and March 2025, the Fire Force recorded 201 fire outbreaks nationwide: Western Region (119), Southern Region (35), North-East Region (19), North-West Region (6), and Eastern Region (32).
In April alone, 15 fire incidents have already been recorded, including the State House fire and the incident at 34 Military Hospital.
NDMA on Disaster Trends
Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay, noted a significant increase in fire outbreaks in 2025 compared to last year, which was dominated by building collapses (13 incidents with 31 fatalities).
He attributed the rise in fire cases to human negligence and urged the public to turn off all electrical appliances before leaving their homes. The NDMA has recorded 78 fire incidents between January and April and has initiated nationwide awareness campaigns to mitigate the risk. Citizens can contact the agency via the toll-free line 1199 on all networks.
Ministry of Social Welfare Updates
Minister of Social Welfare Melrose Karminty shared several updates on her ministry’s initiatives.
The Ministry has developed a Five-Year Strategic Plan and conducted nationwide staff retreats to craft inclusive annual work plans. With support from UNDP, training centres in Makeni and Eastern Freetown have been rehabilitated to provide skills training for persons with disabilities (PWDs). An additional $1 million grant from the Government of India will be used to further rehabilitate vocational centres, increasing opportunities for PWDs to engage in sustainable economic activities.
Minister Karminty also revealed that a Social Work Regulatory Bill has been drafted, cleared by Cabinet, and is now in Parliament. The bill aims to professionalize social work practice by instituting a licensing system, ensuring quality service delivery, and holding social workers accountable.
In promoting national unity, she disclosed that the Ministry has submitted a Cabinet paper seeking approval to draft Sierra Leone’s first Religious Tolerance Policy. The policy will be developed in collaboration with religious stakeholders and policymakers and will underscore the country’s commitment to peaceful co-existence.
Combatting Irregular Migration
Two Sierra Leoneans, Osman Kamara and Salamatu Kamara, who were recently deported from Mauritania, shared harrowing personal experiences of irregular migration. They cautioned citizens, especially young people, against embarking on unsafe and illegal journeys abroad.
Minister Karminty echoed their concerns and encouraged citizens to pursue safe, legal opportunities within the country and abroad.
