President Julius Maada Bio has issued a stern warning to public officials, declaring that no office, status or political affiliation will protect anyone from lawful scrutiny as Sierra Leone enters what he has designated the “Year of Action and Accelerated Delivery.”

The President made the declaration while delivering his address at the State Opening of the Fourth Session of the Sixth Parliament, where he placed accountability, financial discipline and the fight against corruption at the centre of his administration’s agenda.

President Bio described systemic corruption and the waste of public resources as direct threats to national development, warning that funds lost through corruption deprive citizens of essential services, including schools, healthcare facilities, roads and other critical infrastructure.

“Corruption deprives schools, hospitals, roads and essential services of vital resources. It also erodes public trust and increases the cost of doing business,” President Bio said.

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He stressed that every Leone protected from waste, theft or mismanagement could instead be invested in improving the lives of citizens.

“Every Leone protected from waste or theft can serve a classroom, clinic, road or community. No office, status or political affiliation will shield anyone from lawful scrutiny,” he warned.

To reinforce the government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and financial mismanagement, President Bio outlined a series of legal, institutional and technological reforms aimed at strengthening public financial management.

The government is reviewing the Public Financial Management Act, Public Debt Management Act and Public Procurement Act to close loopholes, strengthen financial discipline and ensure taxpayers receive maximum value for public funds.

The administration is also preparing to roll out an Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System, which is expected to reduce human intervention and cash handling in public procurement processes.

According to the President, PFM Smart software has already been deployed across all 21 Local Councils, while digital audit-follow-up software is being used across central government ministries to strengthen oversight and ensure that audit recommendations are acted upon.

President Bio further announced that every Ministry, Department and Agency will be required to operate with clear and measurable performance targets.

Public service delivery reports will be published regularly, with officials expected to account for operational delays and take corrective action where targets are not met.

The President said the measures are intended to shift government operations from policy promises to measurable results that citizens can see and experience.

The President also extended his accountability message to the education sector, condemning examination malpractice involving public officials, school principals, teachers and parents.

He directed law enforcement authorities to prosecute individuals involved in practices that undermine national examination standards and the integrity of Sierra Leone’s education system.

The administration’s accountability drive will also extend to local councils and the extractive sector.

As decentralisation continues, local councils will be expected to manage devolved public funds transparently, with their performance assessed against tangible improvements in areas such as sanitation, roads and healthcare.

President Bio also highlighted the management of Community Development Funds (CDFs) generated from mining activities. He disclosed that mining companies contributed more than NLe 145.9 million to host community funds in 2025 alone.

He stressed that the funds must be transparently managed and translated into verifiable development projects in mining communities rather than being consumed by administrative costs.

Meanwhile, the government is deploying a digital Mines and Minerals Management System, alongside strengthened mineral price verification and improved coordination among revenue-generating institutions, in an effort to ensure that Sierra Leone receives a fairer return from its mineral resources.

President Bio’s Year of Action message places a strong emphasis on linking anti-corruption measures to tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.

The administration says stronger financial controls, digital oversight, published performance targets and tighter scrutiny of public institutions are intended to ensure that public resources deliver practical benefits, including functional healthcare facilities, improved roads, better schools and community development.

With the Executive, Parliament and the civil service now facing greater emphasis on measurable performance and accountability, President Bio has made it clear that the coming year will be judged not simply by policies announced, but by the results delivered to citizens.