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The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), with support from Talking Drum Studio (TDS), has completed a mobile roadshow campaign aimed at bringing the Tripartite Committee Recommendations directly to citizens in Port Loko, Makeni, and Ward C in the Western Area.
Using trucks equipped with mounted public address systems, trained communicators engaged residents at high-traffic community hubs including lorry parks, okada stations, market centres, and ataya bases. Messages were delivered in local languages, alongside the distribution of simplified flyers to ensure accessibility and understanding.
The roadshow specifically targeted individuals who had not participated in earlier trainings, deliberately reaching communities where people live and work in order to broaden participation in national conversations on governance and accountability. By simplifying technical content and translating it into local languages, the initiative enabled citizens to better understand and discuss the recommendations at the grassroots level.
Mounted public address systems allowed teams to effectively communicate in noisy and busy environments, while trained facilitators translated key messages into locally relevant terms. Flyers reinforced these messages by providing take-home summaries of the recommendations. Activities were scheduled at peak hours and locations with high foot traffic to maximize outreach and inclusivity.
“Democracy becomes meaningful only when citizens understand it and actively participate in it. This outreach is about taking governance closer to the people speaking their language, meeting them where they are, and empowering them to be part of the national conversation,” said Alhaji Manika Kamara, President of SLAJ.
The roadshow marks the final phase of an EU-funded project implemented through International IDEA, titled Strengthening Citizens’ Stakeholder Engagements on the Tripartite Committee Recommendations and Two-Way Accountability Mechanisms. The initiative aims to translate policy recommendations into practical, community-level knowledge, enabling citizens to hold institutions and stakeholders accountable while actively participating in governance processes.
By prioritizing inclusion and local language communication, SLAJ’s campaign addresses a key barrier to civic participation the gap between policy language and everyday understanding. Engaging citizens in informal public spaces ensures that accountability mechanisms extend beyond policy circles and become part of everyday civic life, fostering informed public discourse and collective action.
SLAJ reaffirmed its commitment to promoting informed public discourse, responsible journalism, and inclusive governance across Sierra Leone. The association described the roadshow as a model for community-centered civic education that can be replicated in other districts to further strengthen democratic accountability.
