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The Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, has launched an MDA Football Gala an initiative designed to break down institutional silos and foster teamwork among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through sport.
What began as a simple idea to encourage physical activity among civil servants has evolved into a strategic effort to promote inter-agency collaboration and cohesion.
The Gala invites teams from various government institutions to participate in a friendly football tournament that takes colleagues out of their office roles and places them in a shared, cooperative environment on the pitch.
In Sierra Leone’s public sector, effective service delivery often depends on cross-sector collaboration. Yet, day-to-day routines and hierarchical structures can limit informal interaction and teamwork. Recognizing sport’s potential to bridge these gaps, Dr. Abdulai and the NSA are using football as a practical tool to build relationships, boost morale, and improve workplace communication.
MDAs are invited to register teams comprising their staff members. The tournament will feature scheduled matches, short training sessions, and social activities designed to maximize participation, inclusivity, and enjoyment.
Organizers have emphasized fair play and a rotating fixture format that ensures smaller agencies and less-experienced players are equally engaged.
Beyond competition, the NSA expects significant benefits including stronger inter-agency networks, improved staff morale, and healthier employees. The Gala also aims to demonstrate how sport and recreation can serve as low-cost, high-impact instruments for public sector reform and employee engagement.
According to participants, the matches quickly dissolve formal boundaries, encouraging laughter, respect, and cooperation that carry over into the workplace. Dr. Abdulai described the initiative as “an investment in social capital that strengthens teamwork and enhances governance outcomes.”
MDAs are encouraged to form their teams and register through the National Sports Authority’s official communication channels. Fixtures, match rules, and logistical details will be circulated in the coming days.
Through the MDA Football Gala, the NSA is reframing sport as a catalyst for unity, wellness, and more effective public service delivery across Sierra Leone’s government institutions.
