2025: Institutionalizing the Public Square in Sierra Leone

The year 2025 marked a conscious, systemic effort to close the distance between government and citizens in Sierra Leone, moving beyond mere broadcasting to establishing a culture of sustained public dialogue. This initiative, driven by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, was defined by a consistent rhythm of accountability and engagement.

Key to this transformation was the inversion of traditional communication, exemplified by over 76 major media engagements, including 36 weekly press conferences, which facilitated over 500 unscripted, real-time answers from 92 government and private-sector officials. Beyond traditional media, over three million social media interactions provided clear evidence of active public questioning and participation.

The Civic Day Series directly brought governance to communities, traveling across seven districts for 25 hours of structured dialogue with over 3,000 citizens, a model which was also extended to the Sierra Leonean diaspora. This community focus culminated in the Salone Civic Festival, a democratic public square where 80 institutions openly showcased their work to an estimated 5,000-8,000 citizens, deepening democratic peace and access to information.

These initiatives were backed by substantive policy, including the approval of the Records and Archives Policy, the Media and Information Policy, and the National Film Policy, alongside groundwork for the 2026 Data Protection Law. By investing in digital storytellers and hosting historic events like the first Presidential Town Hall in Kenema, 2025 established a new, systematic, and permanent democratic habit for Sierra Leone.