13/08/2025
Sierra Leone’s APRM Office Charts Bold Path Forward Under MoPED Leadership
Freetown, August 14, 2025 — In a compelling appearance on SLBC’s “Morning Coffee” program, Executive Secretary of the APRM National Secretariat, Mohamed Sheshu Sheriff, outlined a series of transformative accomplishments since the Presidential Directive of June 19, 2025, which repositioned the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) under the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED).
While the head of the transition, Dr. Emmanuel A.R. Gaima, continues to consolidate the transition process—including engaging critical players such as Hon. Minister Kenye Barlay, members of the National Governing Council, the APRM National Secretariat, and other stakeholders—the actual repositioning of the APRM governance architecture took effect on June 19, 2025, as the Presidential directive categorically stated “effective immediately.” “This decisive move marked a strategic shift toward embedding governance diagnostics within national development planning and granting the Secretariat full administrative autonomy.” Executive Secretary stated.
Under the leadership of Hon. Minister Barlay, the APRM process has gained momentum. Key milestones include the identification and possible formation of a multidisciplinary technical team, NPPA’s sole-source procurement approval, and the reactivation of district-level committees to ensure inclusive participation. Public awareness campaigns and strategic media outreach have amplified citizen engagement, while budget disbursement and vendor coordination have been successfully executed.
According to Executive Secretary, “The recent milestones reflect a masterful orchestration of institutional repositioning, technical precision, and stakeholder alignment—an embodiment of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s bold commitment to enhancing public sector efficiency, accountability, and delivery for the people of Sierra Leone.” The seamless transition of the APRM process to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), anchored in strategic autonomy and coordinated leadership, marks the beginning of a new era in reform-driven governance.
From district-level mobilization to targeted media outreach, the APRM National Secretariat has demonstrated agility, foresight, and inclusivity. The activation of multidisciplinary technical teams and the acceleration of procurement processes underscore Sierra Leone’s operational readiness and institutional discipline. These efforts are not simply procedural—they are transformative.
This repositioning is a declaration of intent, a blueprint for national renewal, and a bold stride toward Sierra Leone’s continued leadership in governance innovation. As the country remains aligned with APRM’s continental timelines, it stands poised to deliver a nationally owned, reform-driven Second-Generation Review. More than a national achievement, Sierra Leone’s approach serves as a model for the APRM process across Africa—reaffirming its role as a vanguard of democratic excellence and institutional reform.
Mohamed Sheshu Sheriff