Public Sector Reform Retreat Unveils to Accelerate Service for Citizens.

The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) has brought together key stakeholders for its Annual Staff Retreat, a collaborative, forward-looking journey from reflection to insight and from insight to action.

The three-day gathering, kick-started on December 11, 2025 at the Bureh Resort in Companaero Beach Town, Peninsula, Freetown, is designed to be interactive, using World Café, Appreciative Inquiry, and small-group workshops to ensure every voice is heard and to yield practical outcomes. The agenda will culminate in a concrete framework for the Annual Work Plan and a renewed commitment from the team.

Director Sulaiman Phoray-Musa welcomed staff and partners, underscoring that their participation signals a strong commitment to strengthening the public service. He described the retreat as a platform to celebrate progress, consolidate gains, and accelerate reform momentum that is reshaping Sierra Leone’s public sector. Its theme centered on "From Structures to Service; Reforming for Result and Service Delivery."

Phoray-Musa recalled the challenges he faced when taking office on February 13, 2024: a lack of strategic direction, a fragile organizational structure, eroded reporting lines, stalled staff career progression, low morale, and inconsistent working conditions. He expressed gratitude for a dedicated team that has not only tackled priority reform issues but also instituted systemic changes that reposition the PSRU to lead public sector governance effectively.

“We have rebranded the institution, restored professionalism, expanded competition, and built a culture of equity, innovation, and accountability. We now operate with a clear structure that offers staff meaningful opportunities for career growth,” he stated.

The PSRU has delivered high-profile assignments and complex reform projects with professionalism, efficiency, and timeliness, demonstrating its capacity to provide robust technical support to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. The unit has also cultivated strong local and international partnerships, with collaboration continuing to strengthen reform efforts and create capacity-building opportunities.

As director, Phoray-Musa highlighted one of his greatest achievements: nurturing a vibrant, professional, and deeply committed team guided by integrity, discipline, and excellence. The retreat will showcase the year’s achievements, milestones, and outcomes delivered through collective effort.

The director praised the support of the Minister, the PSC Chairman, the Head of Civil Service, and Cyrus Sherif at the Presidency for their steadfast backing of the PSRU.

Saidu Bocakrie, Acting Director of Management Services at the Human Resources Management Office (HRMO), commended the retreat’s theme, “From Structure to Service, Reform and Concrete Results.” He reiterated that while structural reforms lay the groundwork for recruitment, performance management, and career progression, these efforts must translate into tangible benefits for citizens. At HRMO, the aim is to build a responsive, citizen-centered public service that is more efficient and better understood by the communities it serves.

Bocakrie noted that the success of public sector modernization, including new HR policies, depends on continued partnership between HRMO and the PSC. Reforms must be coordinated, coherent, and guided by shared values and outcomes. HRMO remains committed to advancing an agenda that transforms institutional structure into improved service for the people of Sierra Leone.

This requires moving beyond policy documents to ensure reform is reflected in everyday service delivery, stronger accountability, and higher professional standards. He urged participants to reflect on their roles, share ideas, and recommit to excellence during this annual retreat.

Prince Cole, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, stressed that PSRU’s mandate is crucial for providing strategic leadership that drives meaningful reform and supports economic advancement. He challenged those who seek a revitalized commerce sector to fully back the PSRU and its operational needs.

Cole encouraged looking back to understand the reform journey: recalling that in the 1980s and 1990s PSRU was often linked to structural adjustment measures that emphasized downsizing and private-sector profitability, sometimes oversimplifying complex public service dynamics. He noted an evolution toward citizen-centered public service objectives and urged steady implementation, especially at the local government level.

While changes may cause friction, he expressed confidence that the reforms will thrive with continued collaboration and commitment.

 true accountability must reach the community’s core the districts and villages where people’s lives are affected every day. The reform story must be about real improvements in people’s daily experiences.

Vyrus V. Sherif, Director of Public Sector Delivery at the Office of the President, stressed that effective management mechanisms underpin reform, providing rigorous auditing and a clear path to trustworthy improvements. Public service remains the backbone of national administration, and its strength directly impacts every citizen. A robust public service aligned with the PSRU framework is vital to the Big Five Game Changers; without this foundation, other pillars risk weakness. The Office of the President, the Chief Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Public Administration, and PSRU will continue coordinating to clear bottlenecks and accelerate reform with coherence and momentum.

Kalilu O. Bah, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, noted that reforms require institutions to keep people at the center and pursue meaningful change. He emphasized that public sector reform is non-negotiable and urged everyone to participate fully to ensure a bright future for Africa. Bah highlighted tangible progress in PSRU’s work, including Management and Functional Reviews, which are shifting strategic relevance and fostering collaboration. He underscored that delivering services depends on strong partnerships and regional cooperation, with success built on three pillars: collaboration across departments and communities, ethics guided by integrity and constitutional principles, and innovation through modern tools and practices.

Amara Kallon, Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs and keynote speaker, linked the retreat theme to a powerful truth: real success is measured by the capacity to engage with and serve citizens, not merely by buildings or frameworks. Since the ministry’s inception in 2023, its partnership with PSRU has grown into a strategic alliance. The reform is central to Sierra Leone’s national development agenda. Since independence in 1961, the country’s public service has weathered many changes, and the current reform aims to modernize, restructure, and revitalize it to meet 21st-century demands.

Minister Kallon highlighted the President’s vision, placing public service reform as a central pillar of the five game changers in the national development plan. He acknowledged past challenges and stressed the mission to build a professional, independent, and capable public service that serves every Sierra Leonean.

The reform agenda is informed by continental innovation and demographic realities. He pointed to examples from Africa where technology is transforming public service delivery and emphasized investing in youth. With 62% of the population under 35, Sierra Leone has allocated 22% of its GDP to free quality education.

The reform blueprint seeks to address these imbalances through concrete steps: enacting a historic Public Service Act, transforming the Civil Service Training College into a Public Service Academy to anchor career advancement in skills and competence, and legally empowering the PSRU to secure progress against political shifts.

Additional steps include establishing a Code of Conduct to align political leadership with permanent officials and digitizing HR systems to provide a transparent, professional talent pathway. Together, these measures aim to create a modern, efficient, and trustworthy public service fit for Sierra Leone’s future.

Correspondent/News Editor-Amara Kargbo

Public Sector Reform Unit

Email: kargboamara079@gmail.com

Tel: +232 73111507