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Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has commenced his nationwide regional consultations on local governance and decentralisation in Kenema.
The exercise aims to strengthen local institutions and improve service delivery. It is also expected to help Government shape policies that respond to the needs and realities of communities.
Speaking at the consultation in Kenema, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh said the process is centred on listening to stakeholders. He said Government wants to hear directly from communities and local institutions about the challenges they face. “We are here to listen to your concerns and questions,” he said.
The Vice President stressed that the consultations are not political gatherings, but platforms for open and constructive dialogue. “We want to identify the major challenges and find practical solutions,” he added.
Vice President Juldeh Jalloh said the views gathered will guide Government’s next steps. He said recommendations from the consultations could inform policy decisions, Cabinet consideration and, where necessary, legislative action. A major part of the engagement was the inauguration of the Regional Coordination Committee, which will strengthen coordination among local governance institutions and provide a structured platform for addressing challenges within the decentralisation system.
Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alfred Moi Jamiru, called for stronger local councils and improved institutional capacity. “We must strengthen the capacity of our councils,” he said, stressing that effective local governance is critical to delivering services to citizens.
The Kenema consultation marks the beginning of the regional phase of the nationwide process, with engagements expected to continue in the Northern and Northeastern regions, building on similar consultations held in Freetown. The process is expected to strengthen reforms that make local governance more effective, accountable and responsive to the needs of Sierra Leoneans.
