On Friday, October 25, 2024, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), through the Bonthe District Development Coordination Committee (DDCC), held its second district-level engagement to popularize and decentralize ownership of Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024-2030.

The event took place in Mattru Jong, Bonthe District.

Paramount Chief Hon. AB Sheriff III expressed his gratitude for the selection of Bonthe for this key engagement, thanking President Julius Maada Bio for enabling the planning process. He praised MoPED for its transparency and accountability, encouraging attendees to take the plan seriously.

Representatives from various sectors spoke on the plan’s potential benefits. Civil society representative Joseph D. Sivalie called for the completion of road projects and the Bonthe District Electricity Project, linking them to President Bio’s legacy. Women’s representative Mrs. Augusta Ashurs lauded the government’s commitment to transparency, while District Agriculture Officer Foday Sheriff stressed the importance of community involvement in achieving the plan’s goals.

Deputy Mayor Daniel Saidu Bangalie echoed calls for infrastructure improvements, including roads and electricity, while Alusine Bash Kamara, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Development and Planning Committee, pledged parliamentary support for the plan.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the government’s focus on the “Big Five Game Changers”: Feed Salone, human capital development, youth employment, investment in infrastructure and technology, and public sector reform. She urged local stakeholders to take ownership of the plan, noting that addressing infrastructure issues in Bonthe, including road improvements, remains a priority.

The MTNDP aims to propel Sierra Leone towards food security, job creation, and enhanced public services over the next six years.