Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister delivered a powerful keynote address at the Sierra Leone-Canada Trade, Investment, and Cultural Show 2025, urging investors, policymakers, and diaspora stakeholders to prioritise digital transformation as the foundation for inclusive national development. He framed his remarks around President Julius Maada Bio’s “Big Five Game Changers,” arguing that digitisation is required — not optional — to increase opportunity across the country.
Addressing a diverse audience of potential partners, the Chief Minister highlighted concrete advances in connectivity, including the widespread expansion of 3G and 4G mobile networks, as well as pilot 5G deployments that are reaching even remote areas like Koindu. He emphasised that improved digital infrastructure is enabling practical gains in sectors ranging from education to healthcare.
To demonstrate the impact, he cited a remarkable 79% drop in maternal mortality, which the government credits in part to digital health systems that improve access to care and data-driven decision-making. He also highlighted educational innovation, such as the “468” SMS platform, which allows parents across the country to receive student exam results instantly, describing it as democratizing access to information.
On legal and governance reforms, the Chief Minister cited the Criminal Procedure Act 2024 as a critical step toward a more equitable justice system that includes alternatives to custodial sentences. He praised the repeal of criminal libel provisions that had limited free expression, and reaffirmed the administration’s renewed commitment to transitional justice by implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations.
“This Trade, Investment, and Cultural Show is not merely an exhibition—it is a call to action,” he said, encouraging attendees to invest in innovation that reaches “every corner of Sierra Leone” and to form meaningful, inclusive partnerships. The forum highlighted opportunities for collaboration in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital innovation, presenting Sierra Leone as a destination for tech-driven, inclusive investment and long-term partnerships.
