Information Minister Reveals Town Hall Budget as Public Demands Detailed Breakdown
By Kelvin Jay
Following growing public concerns over the cost of the Government’s Town Hall engagements spearheaded by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Minister Chernor Bah has disclosed what he says are the expenditures associated with the programme both at home and abroad.
Speaking on the Truth media morning devotion programme, the Minister stated that the Town Hall meeting held in the United States cost the Government less than $15,000, while the entire UK Civic Day series amounted to approximately $25,000. He further disclosed that Civic Day engagements in the provinces cost an average of Le500,000 each.
According to Bah, the U.S. event benefited from donations by Sierra Leoneans, particularly in providing food, thereby reducing government expenditure. He added that the UK programme’s costs mainly covered venue rental for hosting of the event, media assets, photography, and other operational expenses.
The Minister explained that venue rental represented the largest expense, revealing that the Office of the Vice President paid around $20,000 for the UK venue, while the Ministry covered additional media and logistical costs. He argued that the engagements have been impactful, attracting hundreds of Sierra Leoneans and providing a platform for citizens to directly question government officials.
However, the Minister’s disclosure has sparked fresh debate rather than settling public concerns.
Many citizens are now demanding a detailed cost breakdown, particularly regarding the reported Le500,000 average expenditure for Civic Day engagements in the provinces. Questions are being raised over how these funds are allocated and whether value for money is being achieved.
Among the questions being asked are:
• How much of the Le500,000 is spent on venue rental, transportation, accommodation, publicity, media coverage, refreshments, and other logistics?
• If the UK venue alone reportedly cost around $20,000, what was the total expenditure when all associated costs are added together?
• Why has the Government not published a comprehensive expenditure report for each engagement to enhance transparency and public confidence?
• Were competitive procurement processes followed in securing venues, media services, and other logistical arrangements?
• How does the cost of these engagements compare with similar events organized by development partners, or private institutions?
While the Ministry maintains that all expenditures can be accounted for, many Sierra Leoneans argue that transparency requires more than broad figures. They say the publication of detailed financial records would help address concerns and allow taxpayers to independently assess whether public funds are being spent efficiently.
As public scrutiny intensifies, attention is now turning to whether the Government will release a comprehensive cost analysis to support the figures presented by the Minister.
