By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – President Brigadier (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio has formally declared January 18 as National Remembrance Day, fulfilling a long-standing recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The declaration was made during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Salone Civic Festival at the newly redesigned Miatta Civic Centre, Youyi Building, Freetown. President Bio said the day will be dedicated to honoring victims and survivors of Sierra Leone’s civil war, while promoting civic education, community service, and peacebuilding.
The President also used the occasion to announce the revival of two key state media institutions. He disclosed that the Sierra Leone Daily Mail will return as a modern, digital public-interest newspaper focused on factual reporting, investigative journalism, and civic education. In addition, the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) will be relaunched as a multimedia wire service aimed at combating misinformation through verified and timely reporting nationwide.
President Bio further unveiled Digital Transparency Tools, a platform developed by the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). The system will serve as a central portal for government announcements, public contacts, and a dashboard allowing citizens to track progress under the Medium-Term National Development Plan.
Three new policies were also launched to strengthen the country’s information and creative sectors. These include the Government Information Policy, the Records and Archives Policy, and the National Film and Video Policy.
Highlighting achievements in the health sector, President Bio announced a 79 percent reduction in maternal mortality over the past two decades, declining from 1,682 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 354 in 2023.
The President described the Salone Civic Festival as a key element of his administration’s commitment to open governance and citizen engagement. He said the transformed Miatta Civic Centre will serve as a hub for civic dialogue, artistic expression, and digital innovation.
“No administration in Sierra Leone has committed itself to promoting press freedom and creating space for national conversation more than my government,” President Bio stated, citing weekly press briefings and nationwide town hall meetings.
He noted that the three-day festival will feature exhibitions from government ministries, artists, and community groups, providing a platform for direct engagement between citizens and policymakers.
President Bio concluded by officially declaring the festival open and urged citizens to actively participate in the country’s ongoing national renewal process.
