The Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs has launched a public awareness campaign to inform citizens about ongoing Public Service Reforms in Sierra Leone.
The launch ceremony took place on 19th October 2026, in the Ministry’s Conference Room on the 9th Floor of the Central Youyi Building in Freetown.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Hon. Philip Tetema Tondoneh, explained the progress made in the reform process since President Julius Maada Bio’s government transformed the Ministry in 2023.
He said that before 2023, the Ministry was known as the Ministry of Political and Public Affairs. However, it was later transformed into the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs as part of government efforts to strengthen public administration and improve service delivery.
Hon. Tondoneh described the period from 2023 to 2026 as an interesting journey, although it has also come with some challenges.
He explained that one of the Ministry’s first activities was to engage stakeholders, including international partners such as the African Peer Review Mechanism and other international institutions
The engagement took place at the Bintumani Hotel in November 2023, where representatives from different countries shared their experiences and approaches to public administration
The Deputy Minister said the Ministry recognised the need for a clear plan to achieve its goals. This led to the development of eight strategic roadmaps to guide the reform process.
He added that the Ministry has been working with the Government of Sierra Leone and international development partners to address eight key areas of reform.
According to him, the United Nations Development Programme was among the first development partners to support the Ministry, with other partners later joining to support various programmes and activities.
Hon. Tondoneh also highlighted some of the challenges that have affected the Public Service over the years
He said public service structures previously faced serious weaknesses, including concerns that promotions were sometimes influenced by political connections, tribal affiliations and regional considerations rather than merit.
He explained that President Bio recognised the importance of a strong and effective Public Service in achieving national development. This, he said, helped drive efforts to reform and strengthen public institutions.
The Deputy Minister further highlighted the challenges some civil servants face in using modern technology and digital equipment to perform their duties.
He stressed that a poorly functioning Public Service could affect other important institutions, including the military, the police and the wider administration of the country.
He also raised concerns about corruption and weaknesses in public institutions, noting that although successive governments have introduced measures to improve public administration, more work remains to be done.
To strengthen the reform process, Hon. Tondoneh said the Ministry, with support from development partners, has sent senior government officials to other countries, including Egypt, to learn about their public administration systems and approaches to effective service delivery.
He credited President Julius Maada Bio and the current Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs for their roles in advancing the reform process.
He added that the Ministry continues to participate in international conferences and engagements to learn from other countries and support efforts to build a more effective and accountable Public Service in Sierra Leone.
The Deputy Minister also emphasised the importance of electronic governance, commonly known as E-Governance, in transforming public administration.
He explained that E-Governance is part of an ongoing project funded by the European Union to support digital transformation and improve how government services are delivered to citizens.
The public awareness campaign forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to educate citizens about the ongoing reforms and help them understand the changes being introduced to improve public service delivery across Sierra Leone.
