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Meet our Man Crush for today; Chernoh Cee Bah, the new Minister of Information and Civic Education
Chernor Bah has dedicated his life to empowering and amplifying the voices of girls and young people, both in Sierra Leone and globally. At the young age of 15, Bah founded and led the Children’s Forum Network, a powerful movement of children who united to demand their inclusion in peace and reconciliation efforts after Sierra Leone’s devastating civil war. Even after decades, the Children’s Forum Network continues to gather across the country on a weekly basis, serving as a testament to the impact of youth voices and a reminder of the potential of civic mobilization.
Later, as a Special Youth Fellow at the UN, he pushed to include youth voices in the landmark Graca Machel Review Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children and headed UNFPA’s first post-war youth program in Liberia as the co-founder and co-CEO of Purposeful, the first Africa-rooted global hub to support feminist activism worldwide.
Recognized for his expertise and dedication, Bah has been appointed twice by the United Nations Secretary-General to high-level steering committees. He also serves as an Expert Advisor to the Security Council on Youth Peace and Security and was appointed by the UNICEF Executive Director to the International Task Force on Workplace Gender Discrimination and Harassment in 2018.
Chernor Bah has had the privilege of speaking at prestigious platforms around the world. He has addressed audiences at the White House during President Obama’s administration, introduced the First Lady at the UN General Assembly, delivered speeches at the European Union, African Union, and the World Bank, and lectured at universities globally.
During the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Chernor Bah returned to his home country and actively organized and mobilized resources. From this crisis emerged an opportunity, and he founded Purposeful, an organization firmly rooted in the belief that adolescent girls possess tremendous power and that by supporting them, they can lead society towards liberation.
Throughout his career, Chernor Bah has held leadership positions in various organizations. He has worked with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in New York and Liberia, the Nike Foundation in Ethiopia and Portland, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in the Philippines, and most recently, the Population Council in New York. In 2012, Bah co-founded A World at School, a global mobilization and campaign organization focused on promoting global education, alongside Gordon Brown, the former British Prime Minister.
With Chernor Bah’s appointment as Minister of Information and Civic Education, Sierra Leone can expect a dynamic and passionate advocate for youth empowerment, gender equality, and social progress. Bah’s track record of leadership and his commitment to amplifying marginalized voices will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective to the government’s communication and civic education efforts, fostering an inclusive and engaged society.
