Sierra Leone: Year of action, President Julius Maada Bio sets a new course for his governance.
On August 7, 2026, at the opening of the fourth session of the sixth legislature in Freetown, President Julius Maada Bio declared that Sierra Leone had entered a decisive phase of governance, moving from making policies to demanding concrete and measurable results. His address, blending accountability, economic optimism, and institutional reform, was dubbed the “Year of Action and Fast Track,” marking a key moment in his push to turn reforms into real benefits for citizens.
Economically, he reported real GDP growth of 4.6% in 2024 and 4.8% in 2025, inflation at its lowest in nearly two decades before a rebound due to rising global oil prices, along with greater currency stability and reduced public debt.
The strategy centers on the “Big Five Game Changers”: Feed Salone, human capital, youth employment, technology and infrastructure, and public service transformation. Rice self-sufficiency rose from 68% in 2023 to 73%, cutting imports by over $18 million, while school canteens now source locally for around 270,000 students daily.
In infrastructure, over 474 kilometers of roads have been paved since 2018, with 23 bridges built or restored. The Mission 300 program aims to boost electricity access from 36% in 2024 to nearly 80% by 2030. In mining, exports surpassed $1.3 billion in 2025, while oil talks continue with Eni, Shell, and Marginal Energy Limited, the latter eyeing a $225 million investment.
Politically, he welcomed the return of opposition MPs and noted the dropping of charges against former President Ernest Bai Koroma, quoting the Krio proverb “Wan han nɔ de tai bɔndul” (“One hand cannot tie a bundle”) to urge unity. He closed by calling on Sierra Leoneans to put the nation above all else.
TheHatLady
