Sierra Leone has taken decisive action to accelerate public sector reform by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom’s Civil Service College in London. The agreement was signed by Mr Prince E.O. Cole, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, and Mr Kalilu O. Bah, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, and countersigned by Ms Denise Smart, Director of the UK Civil Service College.
The ceremony was witnessed by Hon. Amara Kallon, Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, and Mr Sulaiman Phoray Musa, Director of the Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) in the Office of the President.
The UK Civil Service College is known for providing training, capacity building, and governance support to public sector institutions both domestically and internationally. The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for cooperation in leadership development, policy formulation, and institutional reform, with the goal of strengthening Sierra Leone’s administrative capacity and civil service professional standards.
The agreement aims to transform the existing Civil Service Training College into a Public Service Academy by 2026. That goal is directly aligned with the government’s larger commitment to professionalising the civil service and incorporating continuous learning, ethical standards, and performance management into public institutions.
Minister Kallon is leading a high-level delegation in the UK that has met with the Civil Service College, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and other development partners. The delegation’s work is closely related to Sierra Leone’s Public Service Transformative Strategy, which is part of Cluster 5 of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030). The strategy aims to create a modern, performance-driven public service capable of meeting national priorities and promoting economic and social development.
Mrs Yvonne King Odigboh, Deputy High Commissioner, and her staff welcomed the delegation to the Sierra Leone High Commission in London following the signing of the MoU. Officers from the Commonwealth Secretariat attended the meeting. Mrs King Odigboh emphasised the long-standing historical ties between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, noting that many aspects of Sierra Leone’s governance architecture were originally modelled after the British system, making continued collaboration both logical and beneficial.
The Sierra Leonean team met with senior Commonwealth officials, including Prof. Luis Franceschi, Assistant Secretary-General, Ms Abiola Sunmonu, Head for Africa, and Ms Denise Smart from the Civil Service College. The discussions centred on the technical support, training programs, and institutional capacity-building measures required to support reform efforts. These engagements aimed to identify practical forms of assistance that could be mobilised in the short to medium term to help Sierra Leone’s reform agenda become a reality.
President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for a professional, ethical, and accountable civil service was articulated in a comprehensive reform roadmap presented by Mr Sulaiman Phoray Musa.
He emphasised that the success of Sierra Leone’s national development agenda depends on a reformed and robust public service, saying, “We know where we are coming from, where we are heading for, and what we want to achieve,” and calling for meaningful international partnerships to accelerate implementation.
tion.
Minister Kallon reiterated the government’s commitment to rebuilding and depoliticising the public service. Recent reforms, such as the Civil Service Code revival, Five-Year Strategic Plan implementation, and Public Service Bill drafting, demonstrate a credible and evolving reform process, according to the speaker. The measures aim to establish institutional foundations for merit-based recruitment, clear performance incentives, and enhanced accountability.
Mr Prince E.O. Cole emphasised the importance of developing a new generation of civil servants who are competent, ethical, and efficient, pointing out that the state’s effectiveness and credibility are dependent on the professionalism of its public employees. Mr Kalilu O. Bah described the establishment of the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs as “a bold and visionary step; a progressive move that sets Sierra Leone apart in Africa,” reaffirming President Bio’s commitment to implementing reforms at the highest levels of government.
The UK mission will conclude with a meeting at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) to discuss additional opportunities for collaboration on public sector modernisation. Sierra Leonean officials regard the Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Civil Service College, as well as the accompanying diplomatic and technical engagements, as a significant milestone in President Julius Maada Bio’s ongoing efforts to build a modern, efficient, and accountable public sector. The partnership aims to provide a practical platform for training, technical assistance, and institutional reforms that can lead to better public service delivery at home.
