The Salone Civic Festival 2025, held from December 11 to 13 at the Youyi Building precinct in Freetown, was a landmark event that brought together over 50 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to showcase their achievements and engage with citizens. Organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, the festival aimed to strengthen the relationship between government and citizens, promoting transparency and accountability.
The MDAs’ Performance Showcase served as a public report card, providing citizens with a rare opportunity to directly engage government officials and gain insight into how public resources are being utilized to drive national development under the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) and the Big Five Game Changers. The event featured interactive displays, demonstrations, and exhibitions highlighting projects, policies, and reforms in key sectors such as agriculture, health, security, finance, and technology.
The festival atmosphere was vibrant, with the Ministry of Sports booth showcasing energetic displays of athletic skills and the Arms and Ammunition Commission booth demonstrating a weapon-destruction machine alongside decommissioned rifles. The Ministry of Information and Civic Education highlighted its public engagement initiatives, including weekly press conferences, the Civic Day Series, and Presidential Town Halls.
Innovation and digital transformation took center stage at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation booth, where young innovators presented home-grown digital solutions, and the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) unveiled the Wan-Gov platform, a proposed one-stop portal for accessing government services.
The festival also featured a preview of the proposed fish harbour at John Obey, expected to boost the fisheries sector, and a practical demonstration of service delivery by the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA).
The Salone Civic Festival has positioned itself as a cornerstone of national unity, transparency, and participatory governance, reflecting President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s vision of a connected, accountable, and people-centered administration.
