By Mercellina Fatu Koroma
The Principal Executive Adviser to the President on Public Sector Reforms, Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, has called for stronger policy coherence across government institutions to improve governance and accelerate Sierra Leone’s development.
Dr. Gaima made the call on August 21, 2026, at the close of a two-day National Symposium on the Harmonization and Standardization of Public Sector Policy Practices, held at the Foreign Service Academy in Freetown.
He said policy coherence requires government institutions, budgets, investments and implementation systems to work towards common national objectives rather than operating independently.
“Policy coherence is about ensuring that government institutions, budgets, investments and implementation systems are working in the same direction, rather than operating in isolation,” Dr. Gaima said.
He warned that a lack of coordination could result in duplication of efforts, inefficiency and ineffective use of public resources.
Dr. Gaima stressed that policy coherence goes beyond administrative procedures, describing it as a critical requirement for governance and national development, particularly as Sierra Leone seeks to mobilize resources to achieve its development priorities.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who also addressed the symposium, urged government officials to focus less on producing policy documents and more on delivering measurable results.
He said the effectiveness of government policies should be judged by whether they solve the problems they were designed to address and improve the lives of citizens.
According to the Vice President, Sierra Leone already has numerous policies, strategies and institutional mandates, but the major challenge remains implementation.
“What we need now is stronger coordination among government institutions to ensure that policies translate into results for citizens,” Dr. Jalloh said.
The symposium brought together officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies to examine existing policy practices, identify gaps and develop a more coordinated approach to policy formulation and implementation.
Organizers said the initiative is intended to strengthen public sector performance and ensure that government policies result in measurable improvements in service delivery and citizens’ wellbeing.
