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The Director of the Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU), Mr. Sulaiman Phoray Musa, on Tuesday 31 March 2026 presented a comprehensive strategic plan for the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) to Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh during the official commissioning of the SLCS’s new administrative building at New England Ville, Freetown.
The event marked both the formal opening of the new facility and the launch of a coordinated modernization drive for the correctional service. In his keynote address, Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the SLCS through reforms that strengthen operational capacity, improve staff welfare, and institutionalize merit based career advancement.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh highlighted that the modernization effort, which began in 2018, has already delivered tangible improvements across the service. Infrastructure upgrades, enhanced communication systems, and substantial salary increases for security personnel were cited as early successes. He stressed that the commissioning of the new administrative building is a visible sign of continued investment in the sector.
The Vice President also announced a shift in promotion criteria within the SLCS, stating that advancement will be based on performance, training, and professionalism rather than favoritism. He described the strategic plan as a roadmap to elevate the SLCS into a centre of excellence for career development and institutional performance comparable to leading correctional services across the continent.
The Director emphasized that the plan provides clear direction for tackling persistent challenges such as overcrowding, inadequate staff welfare, and limited rehabilitation opportunities, while strengthening accountability and operational effectiveness.
Speakers at the commissioning underlined that the new administrative building and the strategic plan together represent significant steps toward institutional strengthening. The reforms are intended not only to improve day to day operations but also to align the SLCS with national development priorities, ensuring correctional services contribute to broader social and economic goals.
By prioritizing humane treatment, professional development, and transparent promotion practices, the government aims to transform correctional facilities into safer, more efficient environments that support rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.
Officials said the strategic plan will guide phased implementation across facilities nationwide, with monitoring mechanisms to measure progress against the MTNDP objectives. Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the combined investments in infrastructure, personnel, and programmatic reform will yield long term benefits for public safety and social stability.
The commissioning ceremony closed with a renewed pledge from both the PSRU and the Vice President’s office to sustain the modernization agenda and to ensure the SLCS becomes a model institution for correctional practice in Sierra Leone and beyond.
