Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has held a successful engagement with Sierra Leoneans in the United Kingdom during a well-attended Town Hall meeting in Leicester over the weekend. The event, held on Saturday 30th May 2026, brought together Sierra Leoneans from the Midlands and across the United Kingdom to engage directly with the Chief Minister on issues relating to national development, governance, youth empowerment, investment opportunities, and the role of the diaspora in Sierra Leone’s continued progress.
The day’s activities began earlier in the morning with a friendly football match between Sierra Leonean-based players and Sierra Leoneans residing in the United Kingdom. The match served as a vibrant symbol of unity, camaraderie, and community spirit among members of the Sierra Leonean diaspora. Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh actively participated in the game and delighted supporters by scoring a goal, adding a light-hearted and memorable moment to the day’s engagements before proceeding to the Town Hall meeting.
Organized by the Leicester-based women’s group, Empowering Ladies, the gathering demonstrated the growing influence of Sierra Leonean community organizations in the United Kingdom and their commitment to fostering constructive engagement between government leaders and citizens abroad.
Introducing the event, Mrs. Tuma Adama Gento Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, described Leicester as “a dynamic haven of inclusion,” emphasizing that the community continues to demonstrate unity and empathy in all circumstances. She expressed support for the ongoing national development programmes of the Government under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and voiced strong optimism for the future.
The Town Hall attracted a large and diverse audience, reflecting the strong desire among Sierra Leoneans in the UK to remain connected to developments back home.
In his introduction of the Chief Minister, Ing. Francis Kallon, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation and SLPP Young Generation Leader, provided a broad overview of Dr. Sengeh’s academic and professional journey, from AWADA Primary School in Bo to globally renowned institutions including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned distinction and recognition along the way. He highlighted the Chief Minister’s background in biomedical engineering, innovation, national education reform, global engagement initiatives, and public service leadership.
In his keynote remarks, Dr. Sengeh underscored the importance of engaging with Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora and listening to their perspectives on governance, investment, technology, education, and national development. He highlighted ongoing government initiatives under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, detailing efforts to expand electricity access, digitize public services, strengthen healthcare systems, improve educational outcomes, and promote partnerships with the diaspora and private sector. He also spoke extensively on initiatives relating to renewable energy, artificial intelligence policy, infrastructure development, and youth empowerment.
He further underscored that while government bears the responsibility of delivering services and spearheading development, national prosperity also depends on citizens holding government accountable. He lauded the active contributions of the diaspora as cultural ambassadors, investors, and bridge-builders. He emphasized the need for citizens to unite behind the right vision and support sound policies capable of delivering progress and prosperity for all.
Several notable speakers and community leaders contributed to the discussions. Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, spoke about the importance of peace, unity, and inclusive political engagement among Sierra Leoneans abroad, stressing that electoral competition should never create divisions or hostility among citizens. Mr. Derrick Beoku Betts, one of Leicester’s longest-serving Sierra Leonean residents and a potential APC flagbearer aspirant, welcomed the Chief Minister and encouraged Sierra Leoneans to focus on solutions, dialogue, and national development, while urging all attendees to serve as good ambassadors for Sierra Leone.
Also present was Mrs. Judith Kosseh, Deputy Head of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, who spoke about ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of Sierra Leone’s ports, including the establishment of a Dry Dock facility in the Hastings area to support increased trade and cargo movement.
The event was skillfully steered by Mr. Marx Vandy, whose thoughtful anecdotes and reflective commentary helped guide the discussions smoothly while encouraging constructive engagement throughout the programme.
The interactive question-and-answer session allowed participants to engage directly with the Chief Minister on issues including energy, artificial intelligence, healthcare, road infrastructure, youth employment, environmental protection, airport taxes, diaspora voting rights, security, and economic opportunities. Responding to concerns raised by attendees, Dr. Sengeh emphasized the importance of partnership between citizens and government, national unity rooted in shared principles, and the need to project a positive image of Sierra Leone internationally while continuing to address existing challenges at home.
Chairperson of Empowering Ladies, Mariama Serray Cole, thanked the Chief Minister for engaging with the Sierra Leonean diaspora and commended his commitment to innovation, education, youth empowerment, and support for women. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the SLPP UK & Ireland Deputy Chairperson, Mrs. Theresa Boima, who praised the spirit of dialogue, partnership, and collaboration demonstrated throughout the gathering.
The successful Leicester Town Hall further strengthened the bridge between the Government of Sierra Leone and its citizens abroad, while also showcasing the leadership and organizational capacity of the Empowering Ladies group in bringing together the community for meaningful national conversations. The event stands as another example of ongoing efforts to maintain open engagement with Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora, recognizing their vital role in promoting development, investment, peace, and national unity under the vision of building a stronger and more inclusive Sierra Leone.
