By Davida Spaine Solomon
Freetown, 21st January 2026- Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh has announced that the Government of Sierra Leone successfully met most of its development targets for 2025 and is preparing to roll out an ambitious programme of reforms and investments in 2026 aimed at improving livelihoods and accelerating national growth.
Dr Sengeh made the disclosure during the Weekly Government Press Conference in Freetown, where he presented a detailed assessment of government performance under the National Development Plan and outlined priorities for the year ahead.
According to the Chief Minister, key targets in health, education, and agriculture were largely achieved in 2025, with only a few shortfalls. He pointed to notable economic improvements, including a reduction in inflation, a 30 percent decrease in rice prices, and the stabilization of the exchange rate over the past three years.
He also revealed that government introduced pricing formulas for other essential commodities as part of efforts to protect consumers and stabilize market prices.
Explaining how performance is monitored across government, Dr Sengeh said the Performance Tracking Table (PTT) brings together audit recommendations, Cabinet conclusions, and major components of the National Development Plan to track the delivery of ministries, departments, and agencies.
In 2025 alone, he disclosed, government produced 113 Cabinet papers, of which 85 were approved, while the remainder were withdrawn. He assured the public that the PTT report will be published this year as part of ongoing transparency and accountability efforts.
Despite the gains, the Chief Minister acknowledged challenges in the audit process, particularly the continued reliance on paper-based systems within many government institutions. He said the lack of full digitization increases the risk of misplaced records and complicates auditing, urging MDAs to embrace digital systems to improve efficiency and accountability.
Addressing public misconceptions about the Tripartite Steering Committee, Dr Sengeh clarified that the committee has been meeting quarterly and continues to make steady progress. He announced that electoral reforms emerging from the Tripartite process will soon be presented to Parliament for consideration and approval.
On infrastructure, the Chief Minister presented comparative figures showing that while the previous APC government constructed 432 kilometers of road over 11 years, the Bio administration has constructed 442 kilometers in seven years. He reaffirmed that road and bridge construction will remain a top government priority in 2026.
Looking ahead, Dr Sengeh outlined a wide range of initiatives citizens should expect next year. These include the establishment of an agriculture bank, increased egg production, expansion of the school feeding programme, improvements in the minimum wage, and continued reduction in maternal mortality.
He also announced plans for the rollout of a national health insurance scheme, a 45 percent increase in electricity access, expanded social protection for workers in the informal sector, improved financial inclusion, and sustained prudent economic management.
The Chief Minister further disclosed that Sierra Leone will host ECOWAS in 2026, a development expected to trigger further infrastructure upgrades across the country.
Responding to concerns from Kono District, Dr Sengeh assured residents that academic activities at Kono University are ongoing, while construction of permanent infrastructure will continue throughout 2026.
On the Tormabum agricultural project, he confirmed that work is progressing, revealing that government has cultivated 3,500 hectares, while the private sector has cultivated an additional 2,000 hectares.
He concluded by reaffirming government’s commitment to performance, reform, and delivery, stressing that the focus for 2026 will be on turning policy promises into tangible benefits for Sierra Leoneans.
