By: Alimatu Kargbo
Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh has issued a firm commitment to deliver on the government’s 2025 “Year of Action” plan, outlining specific targets and announcing a major new transparency initiative.
Speaking at the weekly press conference hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Dr. Sengeh began by extending New Year and National Remembrance Day greetings, urging citizens to remember the “peace and what we have to do” to secure the nation’s future.
Focus on Delivery, Not Just Reports
The Chief Minister shifted focus from planning to execution. “We don’t need a report. We need implementation,” he stated, affirming that the government, under President Bio’s directive, is committed to delivering on its promises linked to the National Development Plan and international commitments like the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Progress on the “Big Five”
Dr. Sengeh provided a sector-by-sector breakdown of 2025 targets:
- Agriculture: Targets set for land conservation, mechanization, and reducing rice importation are being met, moving the country closer to self-sufficiency.
- Education: The school feeding program is on track to reach 900,000 children by 2025, alongside teacher training initiatives.
- Health: Targets are being met on key indicators, including maternal and child mortality.
“On almost every indicator… we will meet our targets,” the Chief Minister asserted.
Addressing economic concerns, Dr. Sengeh highlighted the government’s management of inflation, which he said has been brought down from 54% to “under 5% the lowest single-digit rate in 20 to 30 years. He also noted a roughly 30% reduction in rice prices since the start of the year.
In a significant move, the Chief Minister announced that all future cabinet conclusions will be publicly disclosed.
“Every cabinet conclusion will be given to the people… Cabinet discussions are secret because we solve problems, but the conclusions should not be,” he said, citing models like Rwanda and the White House. This will be a key metric on the government’s Performance Tracking Table (PTT).
Dr. Sengeh explained that the PTT will now rigorously track the implementation of audit recommendations and cabinet decisions. “Cabinet conclusions matter,” he emphasized, noting they are essential for policy coherence and securing grants.
He urged the public and media to move beyond using audit reports for criticism and instead follow them as a process to ensure accountability. “The bulk of the performance contract… will be measured against the National Development Plan,” he concluded, underscoring that the roadmap for national development remains the central focus.
