Press Attache Ishmael Bayoh catalogues president Bio's achievements of the week

By: Ishmael Bayoh

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I welcome you again to the second episode of the year. The highlight focuses on the first cabinet meeting held by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday 14th.

The President’s message to his Ministers is unequivocal: this must be a year of decisive action, one in which to not only accelerate the country’s progress but also implement meaningful steps that will significantly impact the lives of Sierra Leoneans. This Week with President Bio’s Development Agenda brings some developmental highlights from Friday 9th to Friday 16th January 2026.

▪️Following President Bio’s New Year’s Day address, on Tuesday 13th, he held a strategic meeting with his Ministers and stakeholders to prioritize programs and activities for this year of action as his administration is committed to making progress that positively impacts all Sierra Leoneans.

▪️On Tuesday 13th at the Freetown International Conference Center, Sierra Leone signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition aimed at boosting the country's counter-terrorism efforts.They also launched strategic initiative which is geared towards strengthening strategic partnerships, with focus on training defense forces personnel, develop expertise in anti-money laundering to combat terrorist financing and enhance national security, addressing threats from the volatile Sahel region.

▪️A Sierra Leonean artefact known as Nomoli that had been held for 60 years by an elderly Dutch couple, now aged 87 and 83, who acquired it during the colonial period was on Friday 9th returned to the Freetown Museum in a ceremony facilitated by the Dutch government. Measuring 21cm in length and 9cm in width, the Nomoli is a figure of ethnographic and spiritual significance.

▪️After the declaration of January 18 as National Remembrance Day by President Bio, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education announced a series of nationwide activities to commemorate the day from January 14 to 21.The National Remembrance Day was declared by His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio to honour victims and survivors of Sierra Leone’s civil war, which ended in 2002.

▪️The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has fully digitised the application and renewal process for Resident and Work Permits, making it faster, more transparent, and accessible. All non-nationals living and working in Sierra Leone are now required to submit their applications online through the Unified Permits Platform at:

https://unifiedpermit.gov.sl/

▪️On Wednesday 14th at State House, President Bio wore the white ribbon, symbolizing peace, healing, and unity. This mark of recognition as the country prepares for its first National Remembrance Day on 18 January 2026. Sierra Leoneans are encouraged to wear a white ribbon or cloth from 14 to 21 January.

▪️The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs on Friday 15th issued a press release that Sierra Leone will be hosting the 2026 Budapest–Bamako–Freetown Challenge Finish Line Events in Freetown. The rally is one of the world’s largest amateur vehicular and charitable adventure events, travelling from Budapest, Hungary, across Europe and Africa. This will be the third time Freetown will be serving as the finish destination.

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