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CHIEF MINISTER DECLARES AMENDED CONSTITUTION “GLOBAL AND PROGRESSIVE”

By Morlai Sesay
The Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh has defended the amended 1991 Constitution, describing it as an “inclusive, progressive, state-of-the-art, global and democratic product” that reflects 30 years of national consultation. In a personal reflection titled “The Chief’s Diary: On the Amended Constitution” released on Wednesday 19th August 2026, the Chief Minister, who identified himself as an engineer and data scientist serving in the executive, said the constitutional changes were necessary for national progress. “I am a Sierra Leonean who truly believes in progress. Progress must come with change and after 30 years of process, we have made a progressive change to our 1991 Constitution,” he wrote.
To justify his claims, the Chief Minister outlined five features, which he said Sierra Leoneans “must be all proud of”: An Inclusive Product: He reaffirmed that the constitutional change followed three decades of consultations with all arms of government and civil society, adding that recent electoral reforms were also shaped through the Tripartite Committee process, which he led as Chief Negotiator, with engagement from the main opposition party. “Many wanted these laws to pass. Everyone shared their views extensively. And deep down, beyond closed doors, majority are happy,” he stated.
A Progressive Product: According to him, the new provisions guarantee more women, more persons living with disabilities, and more diversity in Parliament. He said Proportional Representation will create “safe seats” for women and minority groups and reduce chaos during by-elections. The amendments, he noted, also require the President to consider region and gender when appointing members of government.
A State-Of-The-Art Product: The Chief Minister criticized the former 55% presidential election threshold, saying Sierra Leone was the only country in Africa with that requirement. “It was simply a bad law… It cost us money, chaos and much worse. We were not trendsetters, we were just the last to update our election laws,” he said noting that the Tripartite Committee recommended its removal.
A Global Product: Dr. Sengeh highlighted that the new laws now allow Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora with dual citizenship, and those born abroad to Sierra Leonean parents, to be eligible to serve as ministers and in Parliament. “We all live in a global village, and this Constitution has opened the doors to more Sierra Leoneans to serve. One country, one people,” he said.
A Democratic Product: The minister argued that ongoing debates show the independence of the legislature, judiciary and executive. “Nothing states that we must all always agree but our views must be heard. So yes, democracy is well alive in Sierra Leone,” he wrote.
The Chief Minister concluded that once signed by President Julius Maada Bio, whom he described as the “Father of Democracy,” the Constitution will stand as a modern legal framework for the country. “The process that brought us here over the past 30 years may not have been smooth, but it has been absolutely democratic,” he added.

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UN TOURISM LAUNCHES SIX-MONTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

Women across Africa are being offered a new pathway into tourism leadership through a six-month mentorship programme launched by UN Tourism with the support of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee (WITLAC). The initiative is designed to foster leadership, promote entrepreneurship, and support the personal and professional development of women working in, or aspiring to join, Africa's tourism industry. The programme is open to women of all ages and professional backgrounds, with applications particularly encouraged from young professionals, emerging leaders, mid-career practitioners, entrepreneurs, and women living in rural communities.

The mentorship programme focuses on five key areas including leadership development - equipping women to take on senior leadership roles within the tourism sector. Entrepreneurship support - helping women establish or expand tourism-related businesses while strengthening their management skills.
Technology and innovation - encouraging the adoption and effective use of digital tools and emerging technologies. Personal and professional growth; promoting education, skills development - career progression, and lifelong learning.
Advocacy and representation - strengthening women's participation in tourism policy, governance, and industry decision-making.

Eligible applicants must be currently working in, studying, or aspiring to build a career in Africa's tourism sector, including travel, hospitality, heritage, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, academia, and event management. Applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to advancing tourism as a driver of sustainable development across Africa and be willing to engage in a professional mentor-mentee relationship built on openness, learning, and constructive feedback.

In addition, applicants must be citizens of one of the 51 UN Tourism African Member States. The programme promotes diversity and inclusivity by encouraging participation from all regions of the continent. The mentorship programme was developed in response to recommendations made by African women ministers and other tourism stakeholders during the Women in Tourism Regional Congress, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in October 2024.

Led and implemented by UN Tourism with the support of WITLAC, the initiative seeks to build a collaborative network that empowers women through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development. It also contributes to the implementation of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls. The programme reflects the belief that tourism creates its greatest impact when it moves beyond dialogue and delivers structured action that connects people, policy, and opportunity.

Speaking at the 69th UN Tourism Commission for Africa in Seychelles, the Chairperson of WITLAC welcomed the official launch of the mentorship programme by UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais, describing it as the culmination of a process that began in Freetown in 2024. She noted that more than 500 participants at the regional congress had called for a shift from advocacy to measurable action in advancing women's participation and leadership in tourism across Africa.

According to her, the programme provides a structured pathway that integrates leadership development, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and policy engagement, ensuring that women play a central role in shaping the future of Africa's tourism industry. She emphasized that the competitiveness and sustainability of Africa's tourism sector will increasingly depend on strategic investments in human capital, gender inclusion, and leadership development.

The WITLAC Chairperson expressed appreciation to Minister Barbara Rwodzi, Heather Sibungo, Prof. Nellie Swart, Anne Kaoma-Sibanda, Mulemwa Moongwa, Mai Bright Urey, Kadiatu D. Konteh-Brohiri, Fatima Binta, Cecile Sombo Dibele, Elcia Grandcourt, Lydia Bebe K*m, and Rachel Monnier for their dedication and invaluable contributions to the initiative. She concluded by stressing that the priority now is effective implementation, calling for discipline, coordination, and shared accountability among all UN Tourism African Member States to ensure the programme delivers meaningful and lasting impact for women across the continent.

WHO ELSE DOES IT BETTER THAN THE CHIEF MINISTER, Dr. DAVID MOININA SENGEH?

In a country where talk is cheap and action is rare, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh keeps rewriting the playbook. The question isn’t whether Sierra Leone has leaders. The real question echoing from Freetown to Kailahun is this: who else does it better than the Chief Minister? Dr. Sengeh is not your typical political figure reading from a tired script. He’s the technocrat who traded boardrooms in the U.S. for the frontlines of governance back home. And Sierra Leone is feeling the difference.

SENGEH, from Data to Delivery:

While others announce projects with fanfare and disappear, Sengeh built his reputation on evidence. As the architect behind the country’s radical innovation in education and technology, he brought “Teach to Reach” and data-driven policy into rooms that once ran on guesswork. He did not just talk about fixing classrooms. He measured them, funded them, and tracked the results. That same formula has followed him to State House as Chief Minister. Under his coordination, government is being forced to move at the speed of outcomes, not excuses. Ministries are now expected to show metrics, not just minutes. In a system used to delay, that alone is revolutionary.

SENGEH, the Energy of a Builder, Not a Talker:

Watch him for five minutes and you see it. The man works like someone with a deadline. Whether it’
is pushing the rollout of digital public services, championing Sierra Leone’s presence on the global innovation stage, or directly engaging young coders, scientists, and entrepreneurs, he shows up where the future is being made. He is not waiting for permission to be bold. When the world debated AI, Sierra Leone under his influence was already positioning itself to use it for health, education, and agriculture. When youth demanded a seat at the table, he did not offer a photo-op. He gave them platforms, funding, and real policy access.

SENGEH, a different Kind of Politician:
Let us be honest. Sierra Leoneans are tired of recycled promises. What makes Sengeh different is that he sounds like us, thinks like a builder, and acts like time is running out. He speaks Krio with the ease of home, codes with the confidence of an MIT PhD, and governs with the urgency of someone who knows what’s at stake. Critics will always find noise to make. But you can’t argue with momentum. Roads, schools, digital systems, and youth programs are moving from concept to concrete faster than this country has seen in a generation. That’s not luck. That’s leadership with a blueprint.

So, who else does it better? Name one.

Right now, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh looks less like a politician climbing a ladder and more like a chief engineer fixing the foundation while the house is still standing. And for a nation ready to rise, that might be exactly the kind of leader we need.

THE LEGACY OF LISTENING: HOW PRESIDENT BIO INSPIRED A NEW DEMOCRATIC CULTURE IN SIERRA LEONE

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay, Strategic Communications Adviser - Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Political legacies are rarely forged in moments of triumph. More often, they are defined by the choices leaders make when convention offers the safer path. The Presidential Town Hall in Makeni may prove to be one of those moments. For generations, Sierra Leone's politics has been shaped by geography as much as ideology. Electoral maps have too often doubled as maps of political identity, with regions viewed less as communities of citizens than as partisan strongholds. Governments have governed within that reality, sometimes reinforcing it, sometimes attempting to soften it, but seldom challenging it head-on. Makeni represented such a challenge.
So its time; time to tear the script apart, throw away the norm, rubbish the convention. Because a new democratic culture is born. A new standard is set. This will be the bar, the bar by which every other leader’s commitment to public engagement will be measured.
In choosing to hold a nationally televised town hall in a city widely regarded as the opposition's political heartland, President Bio did more than fulfil a public engagement exercise. He made a strong statement about the meaning of political leadership in a democratic republic. This is a full circle moment, because this is a democracy he nurtured.
A President, after all, is not elected to govern only those who voted for him. The office demands stewardship over the entire nation, including its fiercest critics. That principle sounds self-evident. In practice, it is remarkably rare, especially in Sierra Leone.
Nearly twenty-five centuries ago, citizens gathered on the Pnyx Hill in Athens to question their leaders in full public view. Democracy, at its purest, was built upon proximity between the governed and those who governed. Modern representative democracies have inevitably placed greater distance between citizens and political authority, but the town hall remains one of the few institutions that preserves that ancient democratic instinct—the willingness of leaders to submit themselves to public scrutiny. The Makeni engagement drew from that tradition.
Its significance lay not in carefully prepared speeches or political messaging, but in its setting. The venue mattered because symbolism matters in politics. Democracies are sustained not only by constitutions and elections but by public rituals that reinforce shared national identity.
By travelling into an opposition stronghold—not for a campaign rally but for an open civic dialogue—the Presidency projected a simple but powerful message: no community exists outside the reach of government, and no citizen falls outside the circle of democratic conversation. That may ultimately become the event's most enduring contribution.
Politics often rewards leaders who speak to their supporters. Statesmanship demands the confidence to speak to sceptics. Throughout the engagement, President Bio appeared comfortable doing precisely that.
There was no visible attempt to diminish uncomfortable questions or dismiss the frustrations expressed by some citizens. Instead, he acknowledged concerns, defended his government's record and explained the reasoning behind policy decisions. There were moments of humour, moments of reflection and moments of disagreement, but remarkably little of the political theatre that frequently dominates public discourse. The atmosphere itself revealed something important.
Confidence in leadership is often measured less by applause than by a willingness to face criticism without defensiveness. Leaders secure in their record generally invite questions; leaders uncertain of their record tend to avoid them. The Presidential Town Hall suggested a Presidency prepared to put itself up for public scrutiny.
That confidence is rooted in a broader narrative President Bio has consistently advanced throughout his administration—that Sierra Leone is becoming more respected internationally and more ambitious domestically. Whether discussing democratic governance, education, gender equality or the country's diplomatic standing, he returned repeatedly to a single idea: that Sierra Leone should aspire to compete not with its past, but with its potential. This explains why the conversation frequently shifted from politics to legacy.
As every presidency enters its final chapter, attention naturally turns from governing to history. Leaders begin asking not merely what they have achieved, but what institutions and values will endure after they leave office. President Bio appears increasingly conscious of that transition.
Only days before the Makeni Town Hall, he celebrated the graduation of one of his daughters. It was perhaps fitting, therefore, that one of the day's most thoughtful questions came from a young female student asking what leadership had taught him. His response was less about personal success than public responsibility. That perspective has increasingly shaped his political language. "We want to create a society that is inclusive. Wherever you are, whoever you are, we want to make sure you are part of society."
The statement encapsulates an idea that runs through many of the administration's major reforms: expanding access to education, strengthening opportunities for women, investing in young people and broadening participation in national development. Whether one agrees with every policy is ultimately beside the point. The more consequential question is whether Sierra Leone's political culture itself is changing. One of the most revealing moments came when President Bio urged citizens to move beyond identity politics.
"Scrutinize your future leaders. Don't vote for colour. Let every political party present a message—a message that resonates with your future." For a country where electoral competition has frequently been interpreted through ethnic and regional lenses, this was an appeal to judge politics by ideas rather than inherited loyalties.
It is an ambitious proposition and symbolic. The symbolism becomes even more compelling when viewed against President Bio's own political journey. Before assuming office in 2018, he endured years of intense political confrontations and sustained personal attacks; from politicians to activists and journalists. Having gone through that, few leaders would have been faulted for retreating into partisan comfort. But he has not.
Instead, he chose to stand before one of the country's most politically diverse audiences and engage them directly. That decision reflects a broader philosophy: reconciliation is not achieved by asking citizens to forget political differences; it is achieved by demonstrating that those differences need not prevent conversation. Ultimately, political legacies are not determined solely by roads built, schools opened or laws enacted. Those achievements matter profoundly, but they are only part of the historical record.
Equally important are the democratic norms leaders leave behind. If future Presidents come to regard regular public engagement—even in politically difficult environments—not as an act of courage but as an ordinary obligation of office, then the Presidential Town Hall will have achieved something that extends well beyond one administration. Its lasting contribution will not be measured by headlines or applause.
It will be measured by whether Sierra Leone's democracy becomes more confident, more inclusive and more comfortable with the simple but demanding idea that leadership begins by listening. That, perhaps, is the quiet legacy President Bio is seeking to leave behind. Mohamed Jaward Nyallay is the Strategic Communications Adviser at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. He is an award-winning journalists and associate lecturer at Fourah Bay College.

SIERRA LEONE RANKS 3RD AMONG FASTEST-GROWING TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN AFRICA

Sierra Leone’s tourism sector has emerged as one of the top three fastest-growing tourism markets in Africa, reflecting the country’s steady progress in positioning itself as a competitive destination on the continent and the globe. According to the United Nations Tourism organization, Sierra Leone has been recognized as one of Africa’s fastest-growing tourism destinations, underscoring the positive impact of sustained investments and strategic policy interventions aimed at revitalizing the sector. This remarkable achievement is largely attributed to the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening the tourism industry through improved infrastructure, enhanced destination marketing, and the implementation of policies that promote sustainable tourism development.
The leadership of the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, has also been instrumental in driving the sector’s transformation. Working closely with public and private sector stakeholders, development partners, and local communities, the Ministry continues to implement initiatives that enhance Sierra Leone’s tourism appeal and attract quality investment. With its rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches, diverse biodiversity, and growing hospitality industry, Sierra Leone is increasingly establishing itself as an attractive destination for international visitors and investors, further contributing to economic growth, job creation, and national development.

JOB VISITS CHAIRMAN SONGA, PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR UNITY AND 2028 VICTORY

By Hassan Juana Koroma
Former National Chairman and Leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), John Oponjo Benjamin, has paid a courtesy visit to the newly elected National Chairman of the party, Sir Jimmy Batilo Songa, at the SLPP National Headquarters, Unity House, in Freetown. The visit, widely viewed by party supporters as a positive step towards strengthening unity within the ruling party, saw the former chairman congratulate Sir Jimmy Batilo Songa on his election and assumption of office. Benjamin described Songa's emergence as National Chairman as a significant milestone for the SLPP and expressed confidence in his leadership. Mr. Benjamin, who is regarded as one of the leading aspirants for the party's 2028 presidential flagbearer position, pledged his full support to the new chairman's administration, emphasizing that the success of the SLPP depends on unity, inclusiveness, mutual respect and collective responsibility among party members.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the future direction of the party, with particular emphasis on strengthening internal cohesion, promoting discipline, fostering reconciliation and ensuring that the SLPP remains united ahead of the 2028 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections. As a demonstration of his commitment to supporting the effective administration of the National Secretariat, Mr. Benjamin donated five desktop computers, calculators and other essential office equipment. The donation is expected to enhance the operational efficiency of the Secretariat and improve its day-to-day administrative functions.
Receiving the items, National Chairman Sir Jimmy Batilo Songa expressed gratitude for the thoughtful gesture and acknowledged Mr. Benjamin's longstanding contributions to the growth and development of the party. He welcomed the pledge of support and reaffirmed his commitment to working with all stakeholders to strengthen the SLPP.
Political observers have described the visit by one of the party's leading flagbearer aspirants as a welcome development that reflects a spirit of unity and cooperation within the ruling party. Many believe such engagements among senior party figures will help consolidate internal harmony as preparations gradually begin for the 2028 elections.
The meeting concluded on a note of optimism, with both leaders reiterating their determination to work closely with the party's leadership, membership and supporters across the country to reposition the SLPP for electoral success in 2028. The courtesy visit is expected to further reinforce confidence among party supporters that the SLPP leadership remains committed to building a stronger, united and forward-looking party.

SENGEH REAFFIRMS RADICAL INCLUSION IN THE ERA OF AI IN DAKAR

Dakar, Senegal, Tuesday, 30 June 2026 —Chief Minister and Chief Innovation Officer of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has delivered a compelling keynote address at the 2026 Yidan Prize Conference, urging African nations to take the lead in shaping artificial intelligence (AI) to advance human dignity, equity, and shared prosperity. Speaking under the conference theme “Unleashing Africa’s Potential: The Role of Education in a New Era of Development,” Dr. Sengeh said the world stands at a critical turning point where education and technology must work together to transform societies and unlock human potential.
Addressing policymakers, education leaders, and global development partners, he described the present moment as one of urgency and reflection, calling on governments to ensure that technological advancement benefits all children, particularly the most excluded.

“I am here to speak to you about artificial intelligence, human dignity, and the future of our humanity,” he said, noting that global conversations from Rome to Cairo and now Dakar have consistently centred on how to fulfil promises to future generations. Dr. Sengeh framed his address around a central question: whether artificial intelligence will enable every child to learn and reach their full potential, or deepen exclusion among the most vulnerable. He called for a new development paradigm anchored in what he termed “Radical Inclusion in an Era of Artificial Intelligence.”

Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s education reforms, he noted that while early criticism questioned the government’s focus on technology amid basic educational needs, sustained investments have since expanded access to learning materials, strengthened teacher training, and introduced digital tools that improve educational outcomes. These interventions, he said, have enhanced teacher effectiveness and enabled policymakers to better understand learning needs in real time. He highlighted landmark reforms, including the Radical Inclusion Policy, which ensures that all learners—including pregnant girls and children with disabilities—can access and complete education without discrimination. According to him, inclusion becomes truly radical when it challenges long-standing systems of exclusion.

Dr. Sengeh further emphasized that AI must strengthen, not undermine, equity in education by supporting multilingual learning, improving teacher capacity, and personalizing learning experiences. He described this approach as “techquity,” where technology is intentionally deployed to advance fairness and inclusion.
He also called for African ownership in the development and governance of AI, stressing that technology must not be imposed on the continent but shaped by it to serve its people. “Technology must be at the service of our people, not the other way round,” he stated.

Linking his message to Sierra Leone’s national development agenda, Dr. Sengeh underscored the role of technology and infrastructure as a key pillar of the country’s Big Five Game Changers, noting that digital transformation in education is already improving access, accountability, and service delivery.
He concluded by reaffirming that, if responsibly governed and inclusively deployed, artificial intelligence can become a powerful driver of national transformation—strengthening public systems, improving governance, and ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital era. CHIEF MINISTER'S
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

CHIEF MINISTER CHAMPIONS PEOPLE-POWERED AI AT UN FORUM IN CAIRO

CAIRO, Egypt, Sunday, 28 June 2026 – Chief Minister and Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has called on African governments to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for inclusive development, urging the continent to invest in home-grown innovation, digital infrastructure, and responsible governance to unlock AI’s full potential for its people.

Speaking at the United Nations AI and Human Development Forum in Cairo, Dr. Sengeh joined global policymakers, technology leaders, researchers, and development partners to examine how artificial intelligence can accelerate sustainable development while ensuring that technological progress remains people-centred, ethical, and inclusive. Addressing the high-level gathering, Dr. Sengeh underscored that AI should not be viewed merely as an emerging technology but as a practical tool for transforming education, healthcare, public service delivery, agriculture, scientific research, and economic opportunity. He stressed that governments must adopt AI solutions that improve citizens’ lives while strengthening transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public institutions.

Reflecting on the evolving global AI ecosystem, Dr. Sengeh observed that today’s leading AI platforms each offer distinct strengths across research, policymaking, enterprise solutions, scientific innovation, and digital governance. Rather than relying on a single model, he encouraged governments to adopt a complementary approach that leverages the most appropriate technologies to meet national development priorities.

Chief Minister further emphasized that Africa’s digital future must be built on local capacity rather than dependence on imported technologies. He called for greater investment in African talent, digital infrastructure, local language datasets, and responsible AI governance that protects data sovereignty while fostering innovation. According to him, strengthening these foundations will enable African countries to develop AI solutions tailored to their unique social and economic realities.

Dr. Sengeh noted that Sierra Leone’s digital transformation agenda demonstrates how innovation can improve governance and service delivery. He explained that responsible adoption of AI has the potential to enhance evidence-based policymaking, modernize public administration, strengthen education and health systems, improve agricultural productivity, and create new opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment. He further highlighted that Sierra Leone’s participation in the United Nations forum reflects the Government’s commitment to positioning the country as a regional leader in digital governance and innovation. The knowledge, partnerships, and policy exchanges from the convening are expected to strengthen the implementation of President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers, particularly by accelerating human capital development, expanding digital public services, supporting agricultural transformation through smart technologies, promoting youth innovation and entrepreneurship, and improving institutional efficiency across government.

United Nations-convened forum provided an important platform for countries to exchange experiences on harnessing artificial intelligence to advance human development while ensuring that innovation remains ethical, inclusive, and responsive to national priorities. Sierra Leone’s contribution reinforced its growing voice in shaping Africa’s digital future and demonstrated its commitment to leveraging technology as a driver of sustainable development and improved quality of life for all citizens. CHIEF MINISTER'S
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT