London, United Kingdom,
28th October 2025.
Sierra Leone has taken another major step in strengthening its public sector through a new partnership with the United Kingdom. In London today, Mr. Prince E.O. Cole, Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, and Mr. Kalilu O. Bah, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ms. Denise Smart, Director of the UK Civil Service College. This is the leading institution that provides training, capacity building, and governance support for public sector institutions in the UK and globally.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the 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 agreement seeks to strengthen collaboration in leadership training, policy formulation, and public sector reform. A key objective of the MoU is to transform the Civil Service Training College into a Public Service Academy by 2026, advancing the government’s commitment to professionalising the civil service.
Minister Kallon is leading the high-level delegation to the UK, which has also been engaging with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other development partners. The Public Service team is working on the implementation of Sierra Leone’s Public Service Transformative Strategy, aligned with Cluster 5 of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030), aimed at building a modern and performance-driven public service.
Following the MoU signing, the delegation was warmly welcomed at the Sierra Leone High Commission by Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh and staff, where it held a follow-up meeting with officers from the Commonwealth Secretariat. In her remarks, Mrs. Yvonne King Odigboh highlighted the enduring historical ties between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, noting that the country’s governance structure was originally modelled on the British system, making continued collaboration both natural and necessary.
The Sierra Leonean delegation held discussions with Prof. Luis Franceschi, Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General; Ms. Abiola Sunmonu, Head for Africa; and Ms. Denise Smart of the Civil Service College. Talks focused on technical support, training, and institutional capacity-building.
Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa eloquently presented Sierra Leone’s reform roadmap, outlining President Julius Maada Bio’s vision of a professional and accountable civil service, noting that the success of the national development agenda hinges on a reformed and robust civil service. “We know where we are coming from, where we are heading for, and what we want to achieve”, he underlined, while calling for meaningful partnership to enhance the process.
Minister Kallon reaffirmed the government’s determination to rebuild and depoliticise the public service. He cited reforms such as the revival of the Civil Service Code, implementation of the Five-Year Strategic Plan, and drafting of the Public Service Bill as ingredients in a credible and evolving process.
In his contribution, Mr. Prince E.O. Cole emphasised the need to nurture a new generation of competent and ethical civil servants, noting that “the success of any country depends on the professionalism, integrity, and efficiency of its public service.”
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 effective reform implementation.
The visit will conclude tomorrow with a meeting at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to explore further cooperation in public sector modernisation.
This mission marks another milestone in Sierra Leone’s effort to build a modern, efficient, and accountable public service under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio.
Abdulai Braima
Information Attaché