Chairman of the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED), Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi, has on Friday, 15th August, 2025, paid a maiden visit to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Madam Kenyeh Ballay.
During his visit, Chairman Bindi expressed appreciation to MoPED as the parent ministry that laid the foundation for NaCCED’s establishment and operations in Sierra Leone.
The Chairman noted that although MoPED is no longer the parent ministry of NaCCED yet NaCCED will foster strong collaboration with MoPED, like all other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, in its civic education drive across the country. Quoting Chairman Bindi, “We are here, and we are still here working together”.
He further narrated the instrumental role MoPED played for the establishment of NaCCED as a Government entity and making sure it stands on its feet and functions well until the transfer of NaCCED to the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
The Chairman further stated that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen the collaborative relationship between the two institutions and also to congratulate Mr. Ambrose James as the new Development Secretary of MoPED.
Giving an insight into the operations of NaCCED, Bindi emphasized the importance of civic education in fostering development, governance, and national cohesion through President Bio’s agenda in waging war against indiscipline through sustainable change, which can be actualized through civic education, behavioral change, and patriotism.
He expressed appreciation and thanks to President Bio’s visionary leadership. Bindi thoroughly explained to the Minister and her team the support government provides, the work NaCCED has embarked on in key areas such as the re-introduction of civics in schools, Popularization of the national budget (The Citizens Budget), roll out of the national development plan, Youths in drug abuse, implementation of the Tripartite Recommendations, the Constitutional Review process and the Population and Housing Census.
He concluded by expressing that from the positive evidence of NaCCED’s role in the above-mentioned activities and especially in the Mid Term Census of 2021, and as Sierra Leoneans await the 2026 census slated for December next year, NaCCED is vital to the process in carrying out thorough civic education, engagements, and awareness-raising programmes throughout the country.
Minister Kenyeh Ballay thanked Mr. Bindi for the visit, appreciating the role NaCCED played in the rollout of the Mid-Term National Development Plan and Census. She stated that as NaCCED’s birth mother, she, however, understands NaCCED’s role within its current adopted Ministry of Information and Civic Education. She furthered that in promoting sustainable development for all Sierra Leoneans, her ministry (MoPED) will continue to work with relevant MDAs and partners to enhance peace and national cohesion through interventions to curb hate speeches and misinformation, and in the process, NaCCED can play a vital role, especially with issues dealing with youths and women. “Peace is pivotal and the driving force for national development,” she said.
Madam Kenyeh Barlay expressed that with Civic Education, Sierra Leone has a high chance of development through a radical change in people’s mindset. She also affirmed that civic education impact on many positive laws, such as the Gender Equality and Empowerment Act are areas to tap into for the benefit of women in the country.
The Development Secretary at MoPED, Ambrose James, said the penetration of civic education in the regions, community outreach, and showing NaCCED’s strength, whilst telling the stories, are possible ways that set NaCCED apart in propagating Civic Education. He assured Chairman Bindi and his team of MoPED’s commitment to collaborating with NaCCED to enhance effective civic education in the country.
The visit by the Chairman and team to Minister Kenyeh Barlay is essential as MDAs are working together to actualize the Government’s agenda and ensure sustainable development for Sierra Leoneans.
