AGP Executive Report

Memory & Design: Freetown’s First World War memorial has been renewed with an illuminated glass extension honouring more than 900 Sierra Leone Carrier Corps members, whose names are commemorated there for the first time. Creative Economy: Sierra Leone and Kenya have joined Idris Elba’s Commonwealth partnership to connect creative talent with skills, investment and markets. Tourism: Sierra Leone promoted its tourism potential at London’s World Travel Market, with gastronomy highlighted as part of the country’s development strategy. Youth & Environment: Sierra Leone’s “Coastal Watch Schools” project, using youth-operated drones to monitor vanishing shores, won a public vote at the OceanLove Innovation Awards. Girls & Women: Girls Alliances Incorporated pledged strategic support for girls’ leadership, while a Sierra Leone–Namibia exchange is strengthening digital systems for managing gender-based violence cases. School Meals: A Japanese grant will fund meals for nearly 30,000 children in Pujehun District over two years.

Creative Economy: Sierra Leone and Kenya have signed on as founding champions of a Commonwealth partnership with Idris Elba’s Akuna Group, aiming to connect creative talent with skills, investment and new markets. Higher Education: Academic staff associations have suspended their strike after the Vice President’s intervention, while seeking a written agreement from government. Women’s Safety: Sierra Leone and Namibia are sharing digital tools to improve confidential, survivor-centred responses to gender-based violence. Tourism: Sierra Leone showcased its tourism potential at World Travel Market London, with gastronomy and sustainable growth among its priorities. Youth and Environment: Sierra Leone’s Coastal Watch Schools project, using youth-led drone monitoring to track vanishing shores, won a public vote at the OceanLove Innovation Awards. Children’s Education: A new Japan-WFP grant will fund school meals for nearly 30,000 children in Pujehun District over two years.

Creative Economy: Sierra Leone and Kenya have signed on to a Commonwealth partnership with Idris Elba’s Akuna Group, aiming to connect creative talent with skills, investment and markets. Tourism & Culture: Sierra Leone promoted its tourism potential at World Travel Market London, with Tourism Minister Nabeela Tunis highlighting gastronomy as a way to support national development. Women’s Safety: A Sierra Leone–Namibia exchange is helping strengthen digital case management and survivor-centred services for gender-based violence. Children & Education: A new Japan–WFP grant will fund school meals for nearly 30,000 children at 135 schools in Pujehun District over two years. Community Health: Women in Freetown’s Mabela community received free breast cancer screening and advice on seeking early medical care.

Tourism & Culture: Sierra Leone used the World Travel Market in London to promote sustainable tourism and gastronomy, and announced two international events planned in the country before year’s end. School Meals: A new Japan-WFP grant of US$1.25 million will fund meals for nearly 30,000 children in 135 schools across Pujehun District for two years, while supporting local rice farmers. Disability Inclusion: The NCPD and One Family People called for community-based rehabilitation to expand nationwide, helping people with disabilities access healthcare, training and jobs closer to home. Women’s Health: First Lady Fatima Bio urged Commonwealth leaders to turn cancer pledges into action; in Freetown, a community foundation offered women free breast cancer screening and health advice. Women’s Empowerment: Sierra Ride is training women to work in Freetown’s electric-vehicle transport sector, while Women in Auto teaches mechanics and business skills to help women build livelihoods. Ocean Conservation: A Sierra Leone youth project using drones to help schools monitor disappearing coastlines won the public vote at the OceanLove Innovation Awards.

Women’s Health: First Lady Fatima Bio urged Commonwealth leaders to turn cancer promises into action, including wider HPV vaccination and stronger screening. In Freetown’s Mabela community, Rina’s Empower Her Foundation offered women free breast cancer checks and advice on seeking care early. Ocean Conservation: Sierra Leone’s “Coastal Watch Schools” project, which uses youth-led drones to monitor vanishing shores, won the public vote in the OceanLove Innovation Awards. Women’s Rights: The Human Rights Commission has begun training civil society groups to advance Women, Peace and Security commitments and improve accountability. Green Jobs: Sierra Ride is training young people, including women, to work in electric transport, with a Freetown rollout planned. Children’s Welfare: UNICEF and the Parliamentary Budget Office called on lawmakers to protect funding for children’s health, education and safety in the 2027 budget. Tourism: Sierra Leone is courting more UK visitors at London’s World Travel Market, building on more than 20,000 arrivals from Britain in 2025.

Community Accountability: Sierra Leone’s civil society leader King Kappr Thally Bah warned that relying on government funding can weaken organisations’ ability to hold public institutions to account. Separately, MoPED urged NGOs to align their programmes with national priorities and show clear results. Women’s Health: Rina’s Empowered Her Foundation offered free breast cancer screening and health education to women in Freetown’s Mabela community, urging them to seek medical advice about unusual changes. Tourism & Heritage: Sierra Leone is courting more UK visitors at the World Travel Market in London, while Tiwai Island offers wildlife encounters and community-led tourism in the Upper Guinean rainforest. Youth Opportunities: West African governments adopted the Freetown Declaration, calling for job-focused education, vocational training and better access to finance for young people. Education: A Fourah Bay College lecturer said the 2026 WASSCE results raise concerns about English proficiency and exam integrity, and called for prompt, fair reviews of withheld results.

Development Partnerships: MoPED has urged NGOs to align their work with national priorities and show clear results for vulnerable communities. Tourism: Sierra Leone is courting more UK visitors at World Travel Market London, building on more than 20,000 arrivals from Britain in 2025. Youth Jobs: The Freetown Declaration sets out a regional plan to link training with jobs and invest in opportunities for young people. Education: A Fourah Bay College lecturer says the 2026 WASSCE results raise concerns about English learning and delayed results for thousands of candidates. Creative Industries: Idris Elba’s Akuna Group is launching a free AI filmmaking programme for creators in Sierra Leone and four other African countries. Culture and Sport: Government plans to honour music veteran Jimmy B at the Salone Civic Festival, while the SLFA says it will establish a football academy after the U-15 team’s FIFA success.

Census Readiness: Information Minister Chernor Bah says residents will be counted where they spend the night of December 1, urging people not to travel between districts to affect their census registration. Digital Culture: Two Mile 91 TikTokers were each fined Le1,000, or face six months in prison, after apologising for their weeks-long online “Mammy Kuss” feud. Youth & Education: Koinadugu quiz and debate winners earned places at December’s Salone Civic Festival, while education reform calls have highlighted the WASSCE gap between Mathematics and English results and delays affecting thousands of candidates. Arts & Food: Music veteran Jimmy B is set to be honoured at the Civic Festival, and Sierra Leonean chefs won gold and silver at an international culinary competition. Sport: The SLFA says it plans to establish a football academy after the U-15 team’s FIFA experience.

Youth & Sport: The Sierra Leone Football Association says it will create a football academy to develop young talent after the U-15 team’s FIFA competition. Education: A government contribution will fund daily meals for more than 276,000 schoolchildren in 2026/27, while Fourah Bay College and IPAM have eased English entry requirements for some diploma and certificate programmes after poor WASSCE results. Culture & Community: Two Mile 91 TikTok personalities were fined Le1,000 each over an online feud and ordered to apologise to their community. Health & Opportunity: Nine-year-old Baindu, whose painful bowed legs kept her from school and play, has received surgery through Mercy Ships. Youth Employment: West African governments adopted a Freetown Declaration setting a three-year plan for skills training and more job opportunities for young people.

Creative Opportunities: Sierra Leonean filmmakers can apply for a free 50-week AI filmmaking programme from Idris Elba’s Akuna Group and Google. Applications close November 15, with selected teams eligible for production funding. Social Media: Two Mile 91 TikTok personalities were fined Le1,000 each, or face six months in prison, after a weeks-long online feud and court-ordered apologies. Education & Wellbeing: Government funding will provide daily meals to more than 276,000 schoolchildren in 2026/27. Meanwhile, Fourah Bay College and IPAM will accept a D7 English pass for diploma and certificate courses after poor WASSCE results. Girls’ Rights: MP Mariama Munia Zombo won a continental award for her role in advancing Sierra Leone’s child-marriage ban. A nine-year-old girl from Kenema has also received free surgery through Mercy Ships, offering hope of a more active childhood. Music: Veteran musician Jimmy B is set to receive a tribute concert at December’s Salone Civic Festival. African Arts: The NAACP Image Awards has opened 10 new categories for African film, television and music creators, including artists from Sierra Leone.

Education: Fourah Bay College and IPAM have lowered English entry requirements for 2026/27 after weak WASSCE results: diploma and certificate applicants can apply with a D7, while degree programmes require a C6. Medicine and law requirements remain unchanged. Health & Childhood: Nine-year-old Baindu, whose bowed legs kept her from school and everyday activities, has received free surgery through Mercy Ships, offering hope of a more active childhood. Gender & Protection: Sierra Leone is sharing its experience managing gender-based violence data with a visiting Namibian delegation. MP Mariama Munia Zombo has also won a continental award for her role in advancing the law banning child marriage. Music & Culture: Veteran musician Jimmy B will be honoured with a tribute concert at the Salone Civic Festival in Freetown, scheduled for December 9–11. Youth & Achievement: Limkokwing University’s Grace Aliyah Bangura has been crowned AYV Miss University 2026, with a year of advocacy and community work ahead.

Civic Engagement: Government’s Civic Day Series is in Kabala on Nov. 2–3, giving residents a chance to question officials and discuss local concerns. Young Women: Limkokwing student Grace Aliyah Bangura won AYV Miss University 2026, with a year of advocacy and community service ahead. Creative Opportunities: Idris Elba’s Akuna Group and Google are offering free AI filmmaking training to creators in Sierra Leone and four other African countries. Tourism & Culture: Sierra Leone is widening its appeal beyond beaches, with the One Nation Reggae Festival and an African gastronomy tourism forum among upcoming events. Education: WAEC withheld 47,454 WASSCE results over suspected malpractice, raising fresh concerns for pupils and families. Women’s Safety: Campaign for Good Governance and partners are working to improve coordination on sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response in Moyamba. Older Persons: The Human Rights Commission donated food and hygiene supplies to Freetown’s King George VI Memorial Home, highlighting the need for stronger support and healthcare for older people.

African Heritage: Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr praised the documentary The Eyes of Ghana at a private screening, highlighting the need for Africans to preserve and tell their own history. She also joined a Quranic recitation honouring late APC chairman Minkailu Mansaray. Women’s Safety: Campaign for Good Governance and partners have begun work in Moyamba to strengthen coordination on preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence. Education: WAEC’s decision to withhold 47,454 WASSCE results has sparked concern for students’ futures; a rights group has given WAEC and the Education Ministry 21 days to act or face legal action. Tourism and Culture: Sierra Leone is promoting more than its beaches, with upcoming events focused on music, gastronomy, investment and creative industries. Creative Opportunities: Sierra Leonean chefs won gold and silver at an international competition, while a free AI filmmaking programme backed by Idris Elba’s Akuna Group and Google is opening training and production opportunities to local creators.

Migration & Resilience: Former Sierra Leone captain Kei Kamara says sport helped him cope with bullying after moving to the US as a refugee, as he reflects on the killing of Ghanaian teen Javits Frimpong. Author Komba Kembay also shares how writing his memoir helped him grieve his father and confront the realities of starting over in Canada. Tourism & Culture: Sierra Leone is expanding its appeal beyond beaches, with Freetown and Lungi set to host a reggae festival, an investment summit and an African gastronomy tourism forum in the coming weeks. Education: More than 47,000 WASSCE results were withheld over suspected malpractice; an advocacy group has given WAEC and the education ministry 21 days to address the cases. Women in Sport: Thirty-five football administrators completed SLFA and FIFA training to strengthen women’s football management. Creative Futures: Idris Elba’s Akuna Group and Google are offering free AI filmmaking training and production funding to creators in Sierra Leone and four other African countries.

Youth & Culture: Information Minister Chernor Bah met eight Miss University contestants, who discussed beauty, careers and the Safe Motherhood Bill ahead of the pageant finale. Education: Sierra Leone’s 2026 WASSCE results show more passes than last year, but 47,454 results were withheld over suspected malpractice and fewer than one in ten candidates earned an English credit. Tourism: Freetown and Lungi are preparing for a busy cultural season, with a reggae festival and an African gastronomy forum among events aimed at showcasing more than the country’s beaches. Creative Industries: Idris Elba’s Akuna Group and Google are offering free AI filmmaking training to creators in Sierra Leone and four other African countries. Women’s Football: Thirty-five administrators completed SLFA and FIFA training in leadership, finance and safeguarding to support the sport’s development. Health: Bo recorded five maternal deaths from July to early October, down from 16 over the same period last year, though officials say continued action is needed.

Youth & Culture: Information Minister Chernor Bah met the eight Miss University finalists ahead of tonight’s Freetown finale. Their discussion ranged from beauty and careers to the proposed Safe Motherhood Bill. Education: The 2026 WASSCE results have raised concerns: 47,454 candidates’ results were withheld, and fewer than one in ten earned a credit in English. Justice Reform Initiative-SL has given WAEC and the Education Ministry 21 days to address the cases. Tourism: Sierra Leone is promoting more than its beaches, with a busy run of cultural and business events ahead: an investment summit in Lungi on Nov. 17–18, the One Nation Reggae Festival in Freetown from Nov. 25–30, and an African gastronomy forum from Dec. 2–4. Creative Industries: Idris Elba’s Akuna Group and Google have opened applications for a free 50-week AI filmmaking programme for creators, including Sierra Leoneans; applications close Nov. 15. Women’s Football: Thirty-five administrators have completed SLFA and FIFA training in leadership, safeguarding, finance and club management to support the country’s new women’s football strategy.