AGP Executive Report

Pujehun Communities: Residents and market women are urging authorities to repair the Gbondapi Road, saying its poor condition raises transport costs and disrupts trade, especially in the rainy season. Health and Education: Pujehun District Council has screened four proposed projects, including upgrades to a maternal and child health post and a school, with solar power and WASH facilities planned. Girls’ Rights: Education Minister Conrad Sackey called for stronger protection and equal opportunities for girls, saying safe schools and access to learning are vital to their future. Youth Sport: Sierra Leone’s under-15 football team is heading to Baku for FIFA’s inaugural youth festival, where it will face teams from five countries. Women in Sport: Aminata Fullah has made history as Sierra Leone’s first female referee in a men’s U-20 AFCON qualifier.

Education & Innovation: Attorney General Alpha Sesay urged Sierra Leone’s universities and research centres to protect ideas and turn them into products, setting a December deadline for updated intellectual-property policies and technology-transfer offices. Jobs & Living Standards: A year after a national survey found low approval of the government’s record on jobs and poverty, many concerns remain unresolved; just 22% of respondents said job creation was being handled well. Girls’ Education: Education Minister Conrad Sackey called for stronger protection and equal opportunities at the National Girls Summit, while a new public-speaking competition will give girls a stage to address issues including early marriage and educational equity. Youth & Sport: Sierra Leone’s under-15 football team is heading to Baku for FIFA’s inaugural youth festival, where players will face teams from around the world. Salone Food Abroad: In Sydney, Sierra Leone-born restaurateur Koroma is bringing Salone jollof together with Nigerian and Ghanaian styles at Jollof Junction, hoping to unite diners over the dish.

Education: Former UConn football players are raising support to build a school in Sierra Leone, where costs, food insecurity and unsafe journeys keep many children out of class. Girls’ Empowerment: Education Minister Conrad Sackey urged stronger protection and equal opportunities for girls at the National Girls Summit, while a Freetown public-speaking contest will give girls a platform to address issues including early marriage and violence. Women in Business: Sierra Leone MP Mabinty Funna joined an ECOWAS delegation in Liberia promoting women’s participation in trade. Sport: Sierra Leone’s U-15 team is heading to Baku for FIFA’s inaugural youth festival, offering young players international experience. Food & Culture: A Sierra Leonean-born restaurateur in Sydney is bringing West African jollof styles together, with Salone jollof served alongside stew. Research & Innovation: Attorney General Alpha Sesay has called on universities to protect intellectual property and help researchers turn ideas into products.

Youth Football: Sierra Leone’s U-15 squad is heading to Baku for FIFA’s first youth festival, giving 14 players a chance to compete internationally and experience different football cultures. Girls’ Education: Education Minister Conrad Sackey called for safer schools, equal opportunities and protection from harmful practices at the National Girls Summit in Kenema; a girls’ public-speaking competition is also set for Freetown on October 31. Health and Wellbeing: Sierra Leone has asked China to help upgrade Jui’s Friendship Hospital and build a permanent public health agency complex at Kerry Town. After tremors in Freetown, health officials also urged residents to seek verified updates and look after their emotional wellbeing. Women in Sport: Aminata Fullah became Sierra Leone’s first female referee to officiate a men’s U-20 AFCON qualifying match. Food and Culture: In Sydney, Sierra Leonean refugee-turned-restaurateur Koroma is bringing West African jollof styles together at Jollof Junction, aiming to end the “Jollof Wars.” Immigration: Fatou Traore, an Iowa City mother deported to Sierra Leone despite having never been there, faces uncertainty after decades in the U.S. and a protection ruling tied to her home country, Côte d’Ivoire.

Youth Football: Sierra Leone’s 14-player U-15 squad is heading to Baku for FIFA’s inaugural youth festival, with matches against Afghanistan, Russia, Sudan, Türkiye and Djibouti starting Oct. 24. Girls’ Voices: The Patriotic Advocacy Network will stage its fourth Public Speaking for Girls Competition on Oct. 31 in Freetown, with students tackling issues including education, early marriage and gender-based violence. Mental Wellbeing: After mild tremors in Freetown, health authorities say fear is a normal response, urge people to follow verified updates and reassure that the advisory is not a sign of an impending disaster. Women’s Empowerment: Port Loko stakeholders have backed WAADO’s project to boost women’s and young people’s savings, leadership and role in community decisions. Football Milestone: Referee Aminata Fullah became the first Sierra Leonean woman to officiate as centre referee in a men’s U-20 AFCON qualifying match.

Mental Well-being: Sierra Leone’s health authorities issued guidance after tremors in Freetown, urging people to share verified information and support anyone feeling distressed. Women’s Empowerment: Port Loko leaders backed a WAADO project offering savings groups, business support and leadership training for women, young people and people with disabilities. Women in Sport: Referee Aminata Fullah became the first Sierra Leonean woman to officiate as centre referee in a men’s U-20 AFCON qualifier, a milestone for women in football. Skills and Opportunity: Milton Margai Technical University opened an entrepreneurship academy for students, market women, young people and people with disabilities. Women’s Resilience: First Lady Fatima Bio joined African counterparts in Dakar to advance a campaign supporting women and girls facing climate and conflict-related challenges. Deportation Fallout: Fatou Traore, an Iowa City resident originally from Ivory Coast, was deported to Sierra Leone despite having U.S. protection from return to her home country; her family and supporters fear she could be sent back there. Drug Trafficking: A Guardian investigation alleges that European cocaine trafficker Jos Leijdekkers’ network reached deep into Sierra Leone, with serious claims of violence and criminal influence.

Women’s Leadership: First Lady Fatima Maada Bio welcomed Senegal into the Building Resilience campaign in Dakar, where African first ladies pledged stronger action to protect women and girls from climate and conflict. Mental Health: After tremors in Freetown, health authorities urged residents to seek verified updates and support anyone experiencing distress, stressing that the advisory does not signal an impending disaster. Rights and Inclusion: The Human Rights Commission trained 40 civil society representatives to tackle stigma and discrimination against vulnerable groups, including people living with HIV. Women in Sport: Aminata Fullah became the first Sierra Leonean woman to referee a men’s U-20 AFCON qualifying match, a milestone for female officials and aspiring young referees. Skills and Enterprise: Milton Margai Technical University launched an entrepreneurship academy for students, market women, young people and people with disabilities. Deportation: Fatou Traore, an Iowa City resident deported to Sierra Leone despite having protection from return to Ivory Coast, faces uncertainty in a country she had never visited.

Women in Sport: Aminata Fullah has become Sierra Leone’s first woman to referee a men’s U-20 AFCON qualifying match, a milestone for women in football. Skills & Enterprise: Milton Margai Technical University has opened an entrepreneurship academy offering practical training and networking for students, market women, young people and people with disabilities. Campus: FBC law student Edwina Jamiru is challenging her year-long rustication, saying it could derail her legal career. Girls’ Rights: The Gender Ministry marked Girl Child Day with a call to end child marriage, while a separate initiative is helping girls take leadership roles. Community: Chinese medical teams and businesses provided supplies and free consultations at Waterloo’s Chris Brownlie Wellness Center. Deportation: Iowa City community members are protesting Fatou Traore’s deportation to Sierra Leone, a country she had never visited, despite her protection from removal to her native Ivory Coast.

Higher Education: Fourah Bay College law student Edwina Jamiru is challenging her year-long rustication, saying her comments concerned the dean’s official actions and alleging the punishment could derail her legal career. University lecturers are also continuing their strike over pay and conditions. Women and Girls: First Lady Fatima Bio joined the launch of a Senegal-led campaign to build women’s and girls’ resilience to climate change and conflict. Greener Freetown: The City Council is training 112 participants to use a new app to track and monitor trees planted across the capital. Community Health: A Chinese business chamber and medical team provided free consultations and supplies at Waterloo Community Health Center. Sport: Cricket Sierra Leone secured a five-year, US$400,000 sponsorship to support senior men’s and women’s leagues and teams. Women’s Livelihoods: WAADO launched a savings initiative for women, youth and people with disabilities in five districts, using community savings groups to improve access to loans and business opportunities.

Youth & Sport: Groundwork has begun on a FIFA-supported mini-pitch at Bo Government Secondary School, expanding access to football for young people. In the women’s league opener, FC Kallon beat VEM Buck FC 5–0. Higher Education: University of Sierra Leone lecturers say their strike will continue until the government addresses demands for a 100% pay rise and revised service conditions. Community Health: A Chinese medical team and business group provided free consultations and medical supplies at Waterloo’s Chris Brownlie Wellness Center. Women’s Economic Power: WAADO has launched savings groups in five districts to help women, young people and people with disabilities build financial security and grow their businesses. Girls’ Futures: The Gender Ministry marked Girl Child Day with calls to end child marriage, while 135 girls are set to receive continued support through secondary school. Freetown’s Green Spaces: The City Council is training 112 participants to use a digital app to track and monitor trees planted across the capital.

Community Health: A Chinese medical team and the China Chamber of Commerce provided free consultations and medical supplies at Waterloo’s Chris Brownlie Wellness Center, supporting local healthcare and community ties. Greener Freetown: The City Council is training 112 people to use a new app to track the location and survival of trees planted across the capital. Women’s Livelihoods: WAADO has launched savings groups in five districts to help women, young people and people with disabilities build financial security and strengthen their businesses. Girls’ Rights: The Gender Ministry marked Girl Child Day with calls to end child marriage, while a separate initiative with Plan International aims to help girls lead and shape change. Coastal Communities: At Mahera Beach, sand mining brings income to local families but is eroding the coast and hurting tourism, with women bearing much of the trade’s burden. Census Countdown: Sierra Leone has begun the final 50-day countdown to its first fully digital census, urging communities to take part in the December exercise.

Coastal Livelihoods: Sand mining is putting Mahera’s shoreline, tourism and ecology at risk, even as women rely on the trade to support their families. Girls’ Rights: At International Day of the Girl Child events, officials called for action against child marriage, while girls took leadership roles at the Gender Ministry. Women’s Economic Power: WAADO launched community savings groups for women, young people and people with disabilities across five districts. Peace & Inclusion: President Bio urged women and young people to help shape peace decisions, not simply attend negotiations. Culture & Sport: Finnah Sesay was elected Mammy Queen of the Kurankoh Tribal Union, while Cricket Sierra Leone secured a five-year, US$400,000 sponsorship to develop its men’s and women’s leagues. Families Abroad: Fatou Traore, an Ivory Coast national and mother of four, was deported from the United States to Sierra Leone before a judge ruled on her request to pause removal; advocates are seeking her return to her children.

Coastal Livelihoods: Sand mining at Mahera Beach brings income to women supporting their families, but nearly 50,000 cubic metres are taken each year, damaging the coast and threatening tourism. Women in Peacebuilding: President Julius Maada Bio says women and young people must shape peace decisions, not just attend talks. Girls’ Rights: The Gender Ministry and Plan International are giving girls leadership experience, while officials in Port Loko call for stronger action to end child marriage and protect girls’ education. Kuranko Culture: The Kurankoh Tribal Union has elected Finnah Sesay as Mammy Queen, renewing its focus on cultural heritage and community unity. Food and National Pride: Reality TV personality Kumba Sinah is seeking public and corporate backing for her planned Guinness World Record cooking marathon attempt. Human Trafficking: Sierra Leone remains on Tier 2 in the US trafficking report; investigations and prosecutions increased, but victim services and convictions remain concerns.

Girls’ Leadership: The Gender Ministry and Plan International marked International Day of the Girl by giving girls a chance to lead from inside the Ministry, while officials in Port Loko called for stronger action against child marriage and abuse. Kurankoh Culture: Finnah Sesay was elected Mammy Queen of the Kurankoh Tribal Union, which works to preserve the community’s language and traditions. Cooking Record Bid: Reality TV personality Kumba Sinah is seeking national support for her Guinness World Record longest cooking marathon attempt, saying she has weeks left and is awaiting responses to sponsorship proposals. Girls’ Rights: Girls in Kabala urged stronger action against child marriage and female genital mutilation, warning these practices can disrupt education and limit future opportunities.

US Visa Restrictions: Sierra Leone is among 12 African countries whose nationals face a full suspension of US visa issuance, covering immigrant and non-immigrant visas, with limited exemptions. Girls’ Rights: Girls in Kabala urged stronger action to end child marriage and female genital mutilation at a UNFPA-backed symposium, warning that these practices can derail education and future opportunities. Girls’ Education: A $1 million fund announced by Michelle Obama will support grassroots groups in 15 countries, including a Sierra Leone initiative promoting girls’ leadership. Mental Health: Sierra Leone’s specialist workforce remains critically small: the country has just two psychiatrists, two clinical psychologists and 19 mental health nurses, while an estimated 98.8% of people needing formal care go untreated.

Girls’ Rights: Girls in Kabala called for stronger action against child marriage and FGM at a UNFPA-backed symposium, urging communities to protect girls’ education and choices. Mental Health: Sierra Leone has just two psychiatrists for a population of about seven million, highlighting a severe shortage of care and specialists across West Africa. Girls’ Education: A community programme will support 135 girls in nine Sierra Leone villages with school supplies, counselling and peer support through the 2026–27 school year. Culture & Tourism: Sierra Leone is preparing to host the UN Africa Gastronomy Summit on December 2–4, with plans to showcase the country’s food, heritage and hospitality. Inclusive Sport: The Sierra Leone Judo Association will mark World Judo Day on October 28 with children’s and women’s competitions focused on belonging and wider participation.