The Minister of Information and Civil Education, Chernor Bah, has reflected on his ministry’s achievements in 2025 while outlining the direction for public communication and civic engagement in 2026.

Speaking on the ministry’s performance over the past year, Minister Bah described 2025 as a turning point in Sierra Leone’s democratic engagement, noting that the government made a deliberate effort to reconnect with citizens through sustained dialogue rather than one-off announcements.

“In every democracy, there are moments when citizens begin to feel distant from those who govern them, and moments when that distance is deliberately closed,” he said, adding that 2025 would be remembered as the year Sierra Leone “reclaimed the public square.”

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According to the minister, the year was marked by consistent public engagement through town hall meetings, press briefings, civic festivals, policy reforms, and community conversations both at home and abroad. He explained that the ministry adopted an approach focused on “governing in public, with the public.”

Minister Bah disclosed that he participated in more than 40 major media engagements during the year, supported by 36 weekly press conferences and three special briefings. These engagements brought together 92 government officials alongside representatives of civil society and the private sector, resulting in over 56 hours of live public interaction and more than 500 questions answered in real time.

He further noted that civic messaging efforts generated over three million social media interactions, which he described as evidence of growing citizen participation rather than mere digital reach.

Beyond traditional media, Minister Bah highlighted nationwide civic engagements that attracted over 3,000 citizens and produced more than 200 direct questions. He recalled a moment in Kambia where a local leader remarked that it was the first time government officials had visited the community to explain their work, a statement the minister said underscored the importance of the initiative.

The minister also revealed that, for the first time, the civic engagement model was extended beyond Sierra Leone’s borders through a U.S. Civic Day Series, which brought together over 300 members of the Sierra Leonean diaspora.

President Julius Maada Bio, he noted, described the initiative as an opportunity to deepen democratic peace by bringing government closer to the people and allowing citizens to have a say in how they are governed.

Looking ahead, Minister Bah said the gains made in 2025 would shape the ministry’s approach in 2026, stressing that Sierra Leone has begun to build a culture of informed, inclusive, and participatory governance.

“In 2025, Sierra Leone did more than communicate better we began to build a new democratic habit,” he said.