Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone stands as a towering pillar in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), its journey a masterclass in transformative governance, bold institutional reinvention, and relentless pursuit of democratic supremacy.
From its pioneering accession in 2004 to leading the APRM Forum as Chair in 2022, the nation has not only absorbed but amplified the Mechanism’s essence, delivering groundbreaking reviews that reshaped post-conflict recovery.
The June 19, 2025, Presidential Directive, which strategically repositioned the APRM Secretariat under the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), fuses governance excellence with national development. Led by the visionary Hon. Kenye Barlay (APRM Focal Point), with stalwart support from Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Secretary to the President Dr. Emanuel Gaima, and Development Secretary Ambrose James, the Second-Generation Review ignites a national renaissance.
Through district committees, youth forums, and digital innovations, Sierra Leone democratizes reform, conquering challenges with strategic resolve. This is no mere review; it’s a continental blueprint for unity, resilience, and prosperity. The APRM Second-Generation Review is a national moment of reflection. It brings communities together to assess how we are doing, what we have achieved, and where we can improve. By listening to each other, we strengthen our systems, build trust, and shape a better future for everyone. Together We Reflect. Together We Grow. Every Voice Matters. Every Story Counts. Take part in the conversation. Share your experiences. Be part of building a stronger Sierra Leone for all by listening, learning, and improving The APRM Way. End Summary.
Sierra Leone’s Trailblazing Commitment to APRM: From Accession to Continental Vanguard
Sierra Leone’s embrace of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in 2004 was no ordinary step; it was a seismic declaration of intent to lead Africa’s governance renaissance. Emerging from the ashes of a devastating civil war (1991–2002), the nation transformed the APRM from a diagnostic tool into a powerhouse of reform, setting benchmarks that resonate across the continent.
By 2022, under the dynamic leadership of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone ascended to the Chairmanship of the APRM Heads of State and Government Forum, succeeding South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa. This honor, bestowed at the AU Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, catapulted Sierra Leone into a role of unparalleled influence, where President Bio championed peer learning, citizen-centric policies, and institutional innovation for all 42 member states.
The country’s APRM legacy is etched in milestones of audacious achievement. The foundational Country Review in 2012 laid the groundwork for post-conflict renewal, while the 2020 Targeted Review on COVID-19 and Health Governance showcased Sierra Leone’s crisis leadership, influencing AU-wide health strategies.
The 2023 Targeted Review on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, peer-reviewed at the APR Forum, fortified democratic safeguards, earning accolades for its foresight. These triumphs, amplified by the unyielding political will of President Bio, have positioned Sierra Leone not as a participant but as a continental architect, bridging local realities with Agenda 2063’s vision of a prosperous, united Africa.
The Presidential Directive: A Strategic Masterstroke for Governance Under MoPED
At the heart of Sierra Leone’s APRM ascent lies the June 19, 2025, Presidential Directive, a bold, visionary stroke by President Bio repositioning the APRM National Secretariat under MoPED. This recalibration, executed with surgical precision, fused governance scrutiny with economic planning, unleashing a synergy that propels the Second-Generation Review into uncharted heights of impact. Led by the formidable Hon. Kenye Barlay as APRM Focal Point and Minister, the Secretariat now operates as a governance powerhouse, channeling NPoA reforms into MTNDP priorities like inclusive growth and resilience.
This directive’s genius is amplified by an unparalleled coalition of leadership: Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh’s dynamism of cross-ministerial alignment with radical precision and clarity; Dr. Emanuel Gaima’s unwavering advocacy for administrative streamlining; Development Secretary Ambrose James’s masterful resource mobilization, and Executive Secretary Mohamed Sheriff’s visionary leadership and transformation.
Together, they embody a political and administrative will that transforms challenges into triumphs, ensuring the review is not a ritual but a revolution, driving decentralization, anti-corruption, and community empowerment with relentless fervor.
Igniting the Second-Generation Review: Communities United for Transformative Reform
Sierra Leone’s Second-Generation Review, ignited in February 2024, is a clarion call to collective introspection, a careful assessment of progress since 2012, confronting emerging threats like climate shocks and inequality with unflinching resolve.
Coordinated by the APRM National Secretariat under Article 19 of the APRM Statute, the review harnesses 16 district Popularization Committees, blending grassroots wisdom with technical rigor. From Kono’s resilient health forums to Makeni’s economic roundtables, this process mobilizes 5,000+ stakeholders, embedding five thematic pillars, including Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance, Socio-Economic Development, and State Resilience to Shocks and Natural Disasters, into the national fabric.
The review’s genius lies in its hyper-local innovation: youth engagement channeling Gen Z insights, women’s roundtables dismantling gender barriers, and diaspora bridges repatriating global expertise. Partnerships with universities amplify academic firepower, while cultural events featuring Temne and Mende storytelling and Krio drama make governance relatable, bridging urban skyscrapers and rural villages.
Innovation Unleashed: Sierra Leone’s Digital Frontier in Governance
Sierra Leone isn’t just reviewing, it’s reinventing. The Secretariat’s groundbreaking multilingual website (https://aprm.gov.sl/) and the first-ever APRM inaugural Annual Report under Executive Secretary Mohamed Sheshu Sheriff herald a digital dawn, with AI-driven dashboards tracking NPoA metrics in real-time. Community scorecards, powered by mobile apps, empower citizens to rate services, while SMS hotlines democratize feedback, reaching 1 million users in months.
This tech-savvy pivot, fortified by the Presidential Directive, slashes data gaps by 40%, positioning Sierra Leone as Africa’s governance innovator, where tradition meets tomorrow.
Overcoming Challenges: Sierra Leone’s Unyielding Resolve
No journey is without hurdles, yet Sierra Leone confronts them with characteristic grit. Data silos and awareness gaps in remote areas? Tackled by rallying CSOs and media. Coordination frictions? Resolved through MoPED’s inter-ministerial hubs, backed by Chief Minister Sengeh’s orchestration. With Dr. Gaima’s administrative wizardry and Ambrose James’s resource wizardry, these challenges fuel acceleration, not stagnation, exemplifying the nation’s unbreakable spirit.
A Continental Beacon: Sierra Leone’s APRM Legacy Illuminates Africa
Sierra Leone’s APRM saga is Africa’s inspiration, a narrative of triumph where President Bio’s Chairmanship ignited reforms rippling from Addis to the Atlantic. As we gear up for the 2026 peer review, our Second-Generation Review, fueled by Barlay’s strategic helm and oversight, Gaima’s leadership, and James’s development drive, redefines excellence. It’s a testament: when political will converges with innovation, nations don’t just participate, they pioneer.
Comment: Sierra Leone’s APRM odyssey is a continental masterclass in audacious reform and inclusive triumph. From Bio’s Chairmanship catalyzing 42 states to Barlay’s MoPED fusion birthing a governance dynamo, the nation weaves peer learning into policy gold. With Gaima’s administrative alchemy and James’s resource mastery, it turns challenges into catalysts, democratizing reports through digital wizardry and grassroots symphonies.
This isn’t a review, it’s renaissance, a blueprint for Africa’s bold leap toward equitable, resilient futures. End Comment.
Source: Sierraloaded
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