Ministry of Information Press Update

By: Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education held its weekly press conference on Tuesday, 7th October 2025, providing critical updates on government programs, international engagements, and national development priorities. Discussions focused on strengthening civic participation, advancing energy access through the Mission 300 Compact, and highlighting the government’s commitment to inclusive growth and sustainability. The following are the key highlights:

♦ Expanding Civic Engagement: The Civic Day Series

Strategic Communication Officer at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Mohamed Jaward Nyallay, informed the public about the highly successful Civic Day Series held in the United States. The event brought together nine cabinet ministers, over 300 Sierra Leoneans, and generated close to 30 questions centered on national development. Mr. Nyallay emphasized that the Ministry continues to expand civic engagement both within and outside Sierra Leone. He announced that on 13th and 14th October, the Civic Day Series will continue in Bo District to strengthen government–citizen dialogue and bridge the communication gap across the country.

♦ Sierra Leone’s Inclusion in Mission 300 Compact

The Energy Sector Lead and Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, provided background on Sierra Leone’s participation in the Mission 300 Compact, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. Although Sierra Leone was initially excluded, the country was later added after extensive work by Sierra Leonean energy experts led to the creation of the Sierra Leone Mission 300 Compact, endorsed by the World Bank and African Development Bank in New York in September 2025.

♦ Strategic Pillars of the Mission 300 Compact

Dr. Yumkella outlined five key pillars underpinning Sierra Leone’s $2.2 billion Mission 300 Compact: expanding power generation, leveraging regional integration, promoting decentralized renewable energy, incentivizing private sector investment, and strengthening the financial stability and governance of utilities. These pillars, he explained, form the strategic foundation for the country’s ambitious energy transition agenda.

♦ Ambitious Energy Targets for 2030

Dr. Yumkella also detailed Sierra Leone’s ambitious targets under the Mission 300 Compact: increasing electricity access from 36% to 78%, renewable energy usage from 46% to 52%, installed generation capacity from 271 MW to 1.12 GW, clean cooking access from 1.5% to 25%, and private sector capital from $615 million to $1.4 billion between 2025 and 2030. Funding will come from both private sector investments and government contributions.

♦ Differentiating the MCC and Mission 300 Compacts

The Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, clarified the distinction between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact and Mission 300 Compact. The MCC Compact, he said, focuses on foundational infrastructure such as transmission lines, distribution, and dispatch centers, while the Mission 300 Compact targets energy generation, including hydro, solar, and gas-powered systems to boost national capacity. Minister Fantamadi emphasized that, the money to achieve the targets in the compacts will come from the government budget, multilateral partners and private sector investment.

♦ Financing and Investment Confidence

Minister Fantamadi highlighted that the Mission 300 Compact is bankable, with each project component costed and supported by a robust business plan to assure investor returns. He noted that government reforms have de-risked the energy sector, breaking monopolies and opening opportunities for private investment.

♦ Electricity as a Catalyst for Development

Jestina Komba, Acting Executive Director of the Human Capital Development Consortium, commended the government’s bold initiative to expand electricity access. She emphasized that energy is central to improving education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment - critical sectors that depend on reliable power supply for sustainable national development.