BY: Ahmed Yusuf Turay
The Civil Service Training College on Sunday 8th February 2025, awarded 69 Gradaunts with Certificates, Diplomas and Postgraduate Diplomas from various disciplines at Tower Hill in Freetown.
In his Keynote address, Minister of Public Administration And Political Affairs, Hon Amara Kallon on the Theme: “Capacity Building for a Result-Driven Workforce Under the Revamp of the Public Service Architecture of Sierra Leone”.
He described the occasion as significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Sierra Leone’s public service. He disclosed that as this was the first graduation since the Civil Service Training College was reopened in 2012 and the first since the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs was established and under the revamp of the public service architecture.
He said the event is the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of civil servants who have successfully completed their certificates, diplomas, and postgraduate diplomas at the Civil Service Training College. He maintained that the theme for this graduation ceremony, “Capacity Building for a Result-Driven Workforce Under the Revamp of the Public Service Architecture of Sierra Leone,” as timely and aligns with the government’s broader vision of a professional, effective, and accountable civil service.
Hon. Amara Kallon went on that the revamping of the public service architecture is not just a policy decision; it is a fundamental necessity for achieving good governance, efficiency, and national development. Over the years, he said Sierra Leone’s public administration has faced numerous challenges, including bureaucratic inefficiencies, skills gaps, and limited capacity for service delivery.
He noted that the government has embarked on comprehensive reforms aimed at improving institutional capacity, fostering innovation, and ensuring that public service delivery is aligned with Pillar five of the Medium-Term National Development Plan-2025-2030.
He added that his ministry in collaboration with the leadership of the public service had undertaken the following major reforms in revamping of the public service architecture: an international conference on the public service to take stock of what they have in the public service and what other countries in Africa and beyond are doing in public service reforms and regulations; develop the strategic roadmap for the revamp of the public service architecture, the approval of the 2024 Civil Service Codes and Rules, the development of a chapter for the public service to be included into the revised 1991 constitution, the ongoing development of the first public service policy and Act; the assessment of the regulatory public service institutions, reviewed of the Individual Performance Appraisal System ( IPAS); setting of a technical team to plan the transition of the CSTC to the Public Service Academy; the Management and Functional Reviews of MDAs and the signing of an MoU with the Central Agency for Organization and Administration in Egypt to develop and deploy the first digital recruitment and human resource management system among other things.
He went on that the training has provided them with a deeper understanding of public administration, governance, leadership, and service delivery, all of which are critical in building a civil service that is responsive, transparent, and accountable as they step forward into their respective roles, he urges all to apply the required knowledge use the skills and expertise gained from the program to improve efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery, uphold Integrity and professionalism. He maintained that the public service is the backbone of government operations, and its effectiveness depends on ethical leadership and professional conduct to embrace Innovation. He said the world is rapidly evolving that must of our public institutions adopt technology, data-driven decision-making, and innovative solutions to improve service delivery accountable and transparent as civil servants are entrusted with the responsibility to serve the people with honesty and dedication to support the public service reform Agenda. Mr. Kallon furthered that; government is committed to a performance-driven civil service role in implementing policies and ensuring institutional effectiveness, adding that they will continue to enhance training programs, introduce new learning modules, and create opportunities for further professional development to build a workforce that delivers results, not only train civil servants but also create an enabling environment where they can apply their skills effectively including strengthening leadership structures, improving working conditions, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
He congratulated all Gradaunts as the nation looks forward to their contributions in shaping a better and more prosperous Sierra Leone. He encourages them to embrace development in making the public service remarkable.
Several eminent speakers also made significant contributions towards the ceremony including the CSTC principle Dr. Victor Massaquoi, Minister of Technical and higher education Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Director General of Public Service Reform (PSR), among others while special prizes were presented to the best male and female students.
