AGP Executive Report

Energy & Power Access: Infotrix data says 5,981,016 Sierra Leoneans lacked electricity access in 2025, with grid/mini-grids reaching only 21.1% of households and solar making up much of the rest. Digital Government: Sierra Leone is rolling out Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) and automated audit tracking across local councils to cut revenue leakages and boost transparency. Digital Public Infrastructure: MoCTI wrapped up a National DPI Dialogue on building digital trust and transaction infrastructure, with banks and civil registration leaders stressing secure digital identity. Skills for Jobs: YAD/ITC/KOICA certified 80 youth in advanced digital literacy in Kenema, while President Bio highlighted TVET, micro-credentials, and skills-to-employment links. Youth & Innovation: A Sierra Leone youth innovator is turning electronic waste into solar lamps and plastic backpacks to tackle e-waste and pollution. Mobile Connectivity: QCell launched a new 035 number series with a six-month promo and KYC-linked SIM registration. Ebola Update (Regional): WHO says the DRC outbreak is outrunning response as cases near 4,000 and deaths approach 2,000. Education Tech (Global): Edubex expands AI-enabled learning and university partnerships across Africa, the UK, and the Middle East. Energy Sector Leadership: EGTC Director General Milton Gegbai has died in Freetown after a brief illness.

Ebola Response Under Strain: WHO says the DRC Ebola outbreak is outrunning the response as confirmed cases pass 4,000 and deaths near 2,000, with contact tracing thinning and experts warning the real toll may be higher. Digital Public Infrastructure Push: Sierra Leone’s MoCTI wrapped up a National DPI Dialogue on building digital trust and transaction systems, with NCRA urging an identity-first approach for secure services. Public Procurement Goes Digital: Government plans to launch electronic government procurement and automated digital audits across local councils to cut revenue leakages and boost transparency. Youth Digital Skills: YAD/ITC/KOICA-backed training in Kenema graduated 80 young people after nine months, linking digital literacy to internships and employability. Mobile Connectivity Boost: QCell launched a new 035 number series in Freetown with a promo package and stronger links to QMoney for financial inclusion. Energy Access Gap: New data estimates nearly 6 million Sierra Leoneans lacked electricity access in 2025, underlining the scale of the challenge. Policy & Governance: President Bio’s “Year of Action” speech doubled down on accountability, anti-corruption enforcement, and faster delivery.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation wrapped up a National DPI Dialogue, with leaders stressing citizen-first digital trust, secure identity, and payments as the backbone for services. Digital Governance: President Bio says local councils will get Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) and digital audits to cut leakages and boost transparency. Tax Tech: NRA and SICPA finished a Product Tracing System workshop for excise taxpayers in Freetown, focusing on tax stamps and compliance. Teacher Skills: The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, with UNICEF, pushed teacher education reform in Freetown, tightening standards and preparing teachers for AI-enabled classrooms. Youth Employment: YAD/ITC/KOICA certified 80 Kenema youth in advanced digital literacy with internships to improve job prospects. Connectivity & Inclusion: QCell launched a new 035 mobile number series in Freetown, linking SIM registration with QMoney for wider mobile financial access. Energy Access: New data estimates nearly 6 million Sierra Leoneans lacked electricity access in 2025, underscoring the infrastructure gap. Policy & Accountability: Bio warned officials that no office will shield anyone from scrutiny as Sierra Leone enters its “Year of Action.”

Digital Jobs & Skills: Youth in Action for Development (YAD) and ITC-backed Ready Salone SkYE Fund programme graduated 80 Kenema youth (35 women, 45 men) after nine months of digital training plus workplace internships, aiming to close the skills-to-employment gap. Youth Unemployment Focus: President Maada Bio used the State Opening to stress skills training and job creation, citing programmes like Excellence Skills Academy and a national micro-credential framework to help employers recognise practical skills. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation wrapped up a National DPI Dialogue, while NCRA’s DG Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi urged an identity-first approach using existing legal identity systems, secure data exchange, and digital payments. Public Finance Tech: Government plans to roll out Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) and automated audit tracking across local councils to cut revenue leakages and boost transparency. Tax Compliance Tech: NRA and SICPA concluded a Product Tracing System workshop for excise taxpayers, training businesses on tax stamps and compliance under the 2026 Finance Act. Connectivity & Inclusion: QCell launched a new 035 mobile number series in Freetown with a six-month promo and SIM registration tied to national ID. Energy Access Reality Check: New data estimates nearly 5.98 million people lacked electricity access in 2025, underlining the urgency for power and off-grid solutions. Investor/Mining Tech Watch: ELEKTROS continued promoting its Sierra Leone hard-rock lithium vision and proprietary EV charging technology to investors, citing growing market attention.

Electricity Access Gap: Infotrix estimates 5,981,016 Sierra Leoneans lacked electricity in 2025, with grid/mini-grid access at 21.1% of households and off-grid mainly solar at 14.7%, underscoring a huge rural energy divide. Digital Procurement & Audits: Government says it will roll out an Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system and automated audit-tracking across local councils to cut revenue leakages and improve transparency in public spending. AI for Learning: A World Bank report highlights how AI is helping Sierra Leone teachers plan lessons via WhatsApp chatbot support, while warning that weak electricity and internet access could widen gaps. Mobile Connectivity Boost: QCell launches a new 035 number series in Freetown with a promo package (voice, data, SMS) and links it to QMoney for wider financial inclusion. Digital Identity for DPI: NCRA urges Sierra Leone to anchor Digital Public Infrastructure on trusted legal identity systems, digital payments, and secure data exchange—warning against duplication. Feed Salone & Accountability: President Bio pushes “Year of Action” delivery, citing rising rice output and lower import bills, while a policy brief says the 5% rice import duty raised revenue but benefits to women farmers were limited.

Ebola Response: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has crossed 4,000 confirmed cases (4,053) with 1,850 deaths, spreading across five provinces and described as the fastest on record; experts warn the real toll may be higher due to delayed detection and strained surveillance. Digital Identity & DPI: Sierra Leone is consulting the private sector on a trusted digital ID framework built on open-source tech and verifiable credentials, while the NCRA urges DPI to be anchored on existing legal identity systems to avoid duplication. Public Services Delivery: President Maada Bio used the State Opening to push a “Year of Action and Accelerated Delivery,” citing recent economic gains and promising faster, measurable improvements in services and jobs. Youth & Innovation: NAYCOM marks one year of reforms under Commissioner Joseph Maada Lahai, reporting thousands trained in vocational and digital skills and support for youth-led SMEs. Mobile Money Safety: Government warns citizens to “pause and verify” as mobile money fraud and WhatsApp hijacking rise, driven largely by social engineering scams. Health Systems: Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health has appointed new leadership for laboratory, diagnostic and blood services, aiming to strengthen coordination and modern diagnostics. Protected Areas Enforcement: NPAA begins Phase Two GIS mapping to identify and verify structures inside protected areas for evidence-based enforcement. Agriculture Policy: A policy brief says Sierra Leone’s reintroduced 5% rice import duty raised revenue but delivered limited benefits to women farmers, who remain central to farm labour.

Digital Identity & DPI: Sierra Leone is consulting private-sector and other stakeholders on a trusted digital ID framework built on open-source tech and verifiable credentials, with MOSIP as the base for its digital transformation. Public Services & AI Readiness: A related push argues governments should build trusted digital public infrastructure first, so AI can run reliably in public systems. Mobile Money Fraud Crackdown: Sierra Leone’s communications ministry warns citizens to independently verify digital money requests as mobile money fraud and WhatsApp hijacking rise, citing social engineering and fake accounts. Youth & Skills Tech: NAYCOM marks one year of reforms under Commissioner Joseph Maada Lahai, reporting thousands trained in technical, vocational and digital skills and support for youth-led SMEs. Health Systems Strengthening: Sierra Leone’s health ministry brings in lab leaders to improve laboratory, diagnostic and blood services, introducing new leadership for the directorate. Regional Tech Procurement: Sierra Leone’s NPPA joins Liberia’s PPCC on e-GP learning, with Liberia’s phased rollout held up as a regional transparency model. Ebola Watch (DRC): Congo’s Ebola outbreak crosses 4,000 confirmed cases and 1,850 deaths; officials fear the strain may be mutating, complicating containment. EV & Lithium Spotlight: ELEKTROS renews visibility around its hard-rock lithium plans and a proprietary EV charging patent, as investor interest in electrification-linked tech stays high.

Digital Identity & DPI: Sierra Leone is consulting the private sector on a trusted digital ID ecosystem using open-source tech and W3C-compliant verifiable credentials, building on its MOSIP-based national ID push and a MoU with Bhutan NDI and the SIGN Foundation. Public Procurement Tech: Liberia’s PPCC and Sierra Leone’s NPPA are running a two-day study tour on Liberia’s e-GP implementation, with Liberia citing phased pilots and capacity-building as key to transparency. Fraud & Cyber Safety: Sierra Leone’s government warned citizens to “pause and verify” amid rising mobile money fraud and WhatsApp hijacking, saying many scams rely on social engineering and fake accounts. Protected Areas Mapping: NPAA began Phase Two GIS mapping to identify and verify structures inside protected areas, using GPS field surveys and high-resolution satellite imagery to guide enforcement. Health Labs Leadership: Sierra Leone’s Health Ministry appointed new leadership for laboratory, diagnostic and blood services, aiming to fix coordination and improve access to modern diagnostics. Energy & Environment Standards: NPRA and partners concluded a workshop to strengthen ECOWAS cleaner fuel and vehicle standards, targeting better fuel quality and lower emissions. Flood Risk in Freetown: Heavy rains triggered flash flooding, erosion and contaminated water sources, with calls for stronger settlement controls and climate resilience.

Ebola Watch: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is on track to surpass 4,000 cases this week, spreading about five times faster than past outbreaks at the same stage, with delayed detection, overwhelmed surveillance, armed conflict, and lack of vaccines/treatments for the Bundibugyo strain helping it outrun containment. Digital ID & Payments: Sierra Leone convened a national public-private dialogue to shape its national digital identity and wider Digital Public Infrastructure, building on an MoU with Bhutan NDI and the SIGN Foundation for open-source, verifiable credentials, plus secure payments and interoperable data exchange. Cybercrime & Mobile Money: Parliament pressed authorities and mobile operators over rising cyber-enabled mobile money fraud, with Minister Salima Bah pointing to WhatsApp hijacking, cloned profiles, and impersonation tactics—and promising stronger action. Floods in Freetown: Severe flooding and erosion hit Freetown, displacing hundreds and contaminating safe water sources after heavy rains, renewing calls for stronger settlement controls and climate resilience. Energy Access: Sungrow commissioned the RESPITE solar-plus-storage project in Sierra Leone, adding 35MWh storage and marking a major national-scale grid-connected power milestone in nearly a decade. Mapping for Planning: Sierra Leone plans a first high-resolution national base map using OpenStreetMap tech with Japanese expertise, starting with the Western Area Urban District. Telecom Milestone: NatCA marked 20 years, citing growth in coverage, fibre backbone expansion, and MVNO competition as key drivers of Sierra Leone’s digital transformation.

Digital Transformation Milestone: NatCA marked 20 years of telecom growth, citing 90% mobile coverage and a fibre backbone reaching 14 of 16 districts, and urged tighter collaboration to push Sierra Leone’s digital future. Digital ID Push: Sierra Leone convened a public-private dialogue to build national Digital Public Infrastructure, including a digital identity ecosystem using open-source, verifiable credentials, and secure payments. Cyber-Finance Crackdown: Parliament pressed for action as mobile money fraud rises; Communications Minister Salima Bah pointed to WhatsApp hijacking, cloned profiles, and impersonation scams, with government and operators responding. Floods in Freetown: Severe rains triggered flash flooding at Metchem and Juba, killing three and displacing hundreds, with contaminated water sources and missing children still being searched for. Ebola Warning for the Region: Reports from DR Congo say the Ebola outbreak is spreading up to five times faster than past epidemics, driven by delayed detection, overwhelmed surveillance, conflict, and limited countermeasures. Power Reliability Upgrade: Sungrow commissioned the World Bank-backed RESPITE solar-plus-storage project, adding 35MWh via eight PowerTitan units to support a grid that often suffers long outages. Geospatial Planning: Sierra Leone plans its first high-resolution national base map using OpenStreetMap, starting with the Western Area Urban District, to improve land use and disaster risk response.

Digital Identity Push: Sierra Leone convened a national public-private dialogue to plan a digital identity system and wider digital public infrastructure, using open-source tech and W3C verifiable credentials with privacy, security, and data sovereignty built in. Public Procurement Tech (Liberia): Liberia’s PPCC began phase-two rollout of ICT equipment for its e-GP system, aiming to move procurement from manual processes to a fully digital workflow. Mobile Money Fraud Crackdown: Sierra Leone’s Parliament pressed authorities and operators over rising cyber-enabled mobile money fraud, with Minister Salima Bah pointing to WhatsApp hijacking, cloned profiles, and impersonation tactics. Cleaner Fuel Standards: NPRA-led talks in Freetown set commitments to strengthen fuel quality rules and cut vehicle emissions as Sierra Leone moves to implement ECOWAS cleaner fuels and vehicle standards. National Mapping Upgrade: Sierra Leone plans its first high-resolution national base map with Japanese expertise, leveraging OpenStreetMap and starting with the Western Area Urban District. Power Reliability Boost: Sungrow commissioned the World Bank-backed RESPITE solar-plus-storage project, adding 35MWh storage to support grid stability in a country facing long outages. Ebola Spread Explained (DRC): A Reuters explainer says the DRC Ebola outbreak is spreading faster than past epidemics due to delayed detection, overwhelmed surveillance, conflict, and limited tools.

Geospatial Planning: Sierra Leone, via DSTI and the Lands Ministry, is partnering with Japan’s Aero Toyota (with JICA support) to build the country’s first high-resolution national base map, using OpenStreetMap tech; a pilot will start in the Western Area Urban District before a nationwide rollout, with capacity-building for local teams. Energy Access: Sungrow has commissioned the World Bank-backed RESPITE solar-plus-storage project, adding 35MWh of battery capacity through eight PowerTitan units—Sierra Leone’s first major national-scale grid-connected power project in nearly a decade. Digital Skills for Policing: 30 female Sierra Leone Police officers completed ICT training with DSTI and Victory Teens Organisation, covering Microsoft Office, internet use, and digital information management. Jobs & Safety: The Labour Ministry warned of a fake overseas employment advert circulating online, urging people to use only official channels. Industry Accountability: MACCEM’s CEO denied allegations of tax evasion and producing substandard cement, saying the US$40m Hastings plant is nearing completion before end-2026. Tourism Innovation: Wode Maya praised Sierra Leone’s tourism push under Minister Nabeela Farida Tunis, highlighting the Tacugama Innovation Centre linking conservation, digital learning, and eco-tourism.

Energy & Grid Resilience: Sierra Leone commissioned a World Bank-backed 35MWh solar-plus-storage project (RESPITE), adding eight Sungrow PowerTitan battery units to help stabilize a grid that often depends on a single 161kV, 70MW line and suffers outages lasting up to 18 hours. Digital Skills for Policing: Thirty female Sierra Leone Police officers completed ICT training with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, boosting digital information management and modern policing capacity. Critical Minerals & EV Tech: ELEKTROS renewed focus on Sierra Leone hard-rock lithium and its U.S. EV charging patent, saying investor interest is rising as electrification and battery-material demand grow. Health & Outbreak Response: DRC’s Ebola outbreak has surged to become the second-largest ever recorded, with reports that it may have been spreading for months before detection. STEM Inspiration: Sierra Leone-born Amie Fornah Sankoh became the first deaf Black woman to earn a STEM PhD in the U.S., in biochemistry and cellular/molecular biology. Governance & Data: ECOWAS advanced regional statistical harmonization guidelines, aiming for more reliable, comparable data to guide policy across member states. Women in Politics: West African leaders adopted the Abuja Regional Action Agenda to accelerate women’s political leadership, tied to ECOWAS’s 2035 gender parity push.

Solar Power Upgrade: Sierra Leone has commissioned a World Bank-backed RESPITE solar-plus-storage project, adding 35MWh of battery capacity via eight Sungrow PowerTitan units—using black-start and off-grid testing to handle the grid’s long outages. Digital Skills for Policing: Thirty female Sierra Leone Police officers completed an ICT training with DSTI and Victory Teens Organisation, focused on Microsoft Office, internet use, and digital information management. Road Safety: SLRA has immediately closed the Brookfields Old Railway Line Bridge in Freetown after an engineering assessment found serious structural deterioration, with repairs or reconstruction needed before reopening. Land & Climate Resilience: SLURC is working with communities in Thompson Bay and Pamoronko to promote climate-resilient land-use practices, tackling flooding risks in informal settlements. Ebola Watch: A report says the DRC Ebola outbreak may have been spreading for months before detection, with “intense transmission” and a high death toll. Women in Politics: ECOWAS leaders adopted the Abuja Regional Action Agenda to accelerate women’s political leadership, building on a Freetown gender-parity declaration. STEM Inspiration: Sierra Leone-born Amie Fornah Sankoh became the first deaf Black woman to earn a STEM PhD in the US, in biochemistry and cellular/molecular biology.

Energy & Power Upgrade: Sierra Leone has commissioned a World Bank-backed RESPITE solar-plus-storage project, adding 35MWh of battery capacity via eight Sungrow PowerTitan units to help cut long outages on the single 161kV, 70MW grid link. Digital Skills for Policing: Thirty female Sierra Leone Police officers completed ICT training with DSTI and Victory Teens Organisation, covering Microsoft Office, internet use, and digital information management to support modern policing. Health & Safety Watch: A new report says the DRC’s fast-spreading Ebola outbreak was detected months late, with “intense transmission” and a high death toll, highlighting gaps in spotting and response. Education & Nursing Pathways: COMAHS (University of Sierra Leone) released admission requirements for BSc (Hons) Nursing and Higher Diploma in Nursing, outlining WASSCE and direct-entry routes. Governance & Procurement Tech: NPPA and the National Investment Board are exploring links between e-GP and digital business registration to improve verification and transparency in public contracts. Regional Tech & Training: The African Cashew Alliance trained 81 cashew actors across 11 countries in production, processing, value addition, and marketing to boost jobs and rural incomes. Infrastructure Safety: SLRA ordered the immediate closure of Brookfields Old Railway Line Bridge in Freetown due to serious structural deterioration, with alternative routes advised. STEM Milestone: A Sierra Leone-born scientist, Amie Fornah Sankoh, became the first deaf Black woman to earn a STEM PhD in the US. Policy & Rights: Sierra Leone reaffirmed tobacco-control commitments to resist industry interference, while ILRAJ raised concerns over police blocking the Sierra Leone Bar Association AGM. Mining/EV Investor Noise: ELEKTROS repeated its long-term push around Sierra Leone hard-rock lithium and a US EV charging patent, citing rising electrification and critical-minerals interest.

Cashew Value-Chain Skills: Sierra Leone is among 11 cashew-growing countries sending 81 key actors to a week-long training in Mombasa, aimed at boosting production, processing, quality assurance, and market access—part of a push to move from raw exports to higher-value cashew products. Digital Police Training: 30 female Sierra Leone Police officers completed ICT training with DSTI support, covering Microsoft Office, internet use, and digital information management to strengthen modern, tech-enabled policing. Public Sector Tech Link-Up: NPPA and the National Investment Board are exploring how to connect their digital systems to speed up supplier verification and improve procurement transparency. Cybersecurity Watch: NatCA says it’s monitoring cybersecurity incidents and urges the public to use safer account practices and report suspicious online activity. Water Infrastructure Ahead of Launch: WASHAERP chair Hannah Macarthy inspected major Guma Valley Water projects in the Western Area, including storage and treatment upgrades. Ebola Update (Regional Health Alarm): DRC’s Ebola outbreak has surged to the world’s second-largest on record, with response strained by contact-tracing gaps and lack of a strain-specific vaccine. Infrastructure Safety: SLRA has closed the Brookfields Old Railway Line Bridge in Freetown due to serious structural deterioration, with alternative routes advised. Women’s Political Leadership Push: ECOWAS and Nigeria set a 2035 target for gender parity in political leadership across West Africa. STEM Milestone: Sierra Leone-born Amie Fornah Sankoh became the first deaf Black woman to earn a STEM PhD in the US, in biochemistry and cellular/molecular biology.