The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) has launched a new national media program titled “The Reform Hour” a televised and radio-broadcast initiative designed to showcase ongoing government efforts to modernize Sierra Leone’s public service.

The platform brings together stakeholders from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to discuss reforms, challenges, and progress toward a more effective governance architecture.

The maiden edition, broadcast on November 21, 2025, was moderated by PSRU’s Head of Communications and IT, Siaka Wusha-Conteh. It featured the Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Amara Kallon, who provided the public with a detailed overview of the state of the civil service and the strategic reforms underway.

Minister Kallon opened with a historical reflection on the country’s decades-long struggle to establish a stable and professionally structured public service. From military coups to a 27-year one-party regime, he noted that every shift in governance disrupted institutional development, resulting in persistent structural weaknesses.

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He emphasized that this problem is not unique to Sierra Leone. As Chair of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), President Julius Maada Bio initiated a continental study which identified weak public administration as a root cause of political instability across Africa. This revelation reinforced the urgency of foundational reforms at home.

Minister Kallon noted that public service transformation is now one of the Government’s Five Key Game Changers, as outlined in the 2023 manifesto. He attributed the administration’s resolve to President Bio’s deep understanding of the system shaped by his military service since 1992 and insights from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which cited governance failures as contributors to the civil war.

To drive this agenda, the Government established the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs to synchronize reforms across the Public Service Commission, Human Resource Management Office, and other oversight bodies. “The Ministry provides the strategic leadership needed to align all state institutions with the President’s vision,” the Minister said.

PSRU Director Sulaiman Phoray-Musa applauded the clarity of the Minister’s policy direction and highlighted PSRU’s longstanding role as the technical anchor for government modernization. He explained that PSRU’s Management and Functional Reviews (MFRs) already conducted for more than 35 major institutions act as “comprehensive diagnostic check-ups” that streamline workflows, strengthen staff capacity, and resolve overlapping mandates.

These reforms have already produced tangible results, including the consolidation of corporate registration services into a one-stop shop for investors and updates to national election management systems.

The Government’s commitment was further solidified with Cabinet’s recent approval of a strategic roadmap for public service reform, establishing a clear multi-pillar approach for future transformation.

The launch of Reform Hour marks a renewed national effort to build a transparent, effective, and citizen-centered public service an ambition anchored at the highest levels of leadership.