By Chernor Bah, Minister of Information and Civic Education
Every year, as April 27 approaches, Sierra Leoneans commemorate a pivotal moment in our national history — the day we gained independence from colonial rule. Yet, alongside the celebrations, a familiar chorus echoes across newspapers, radio stations, and social media: “What have we gained since independence?” Some even go so far as to argue that we would have been better off remaining under colonial rule.
This line of thinking is not only historically misguided — it dishonors the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom and underestimates the industry and resilience of the Sierra Leonean people.
To question our progress is fair. To ignore it is not.
Let us begin where this conversation often ends — with the data. In 1961, fewer than 15% of primary school-aged children were enrolled in school. Today, thanks to Free Quality Education and years of investment, enrollment exceeds 150%. In 1961, adult literacy was dismally low, especially among women. By 2023, nearly half of Sierra Leonean adults were literate, with steady gains each year.
Our economy, once valued at a mere $328 million, now stands at over $6.4 billion. GDP per capita has risen from approximately $150 to over $1,100. Life expectancy at birth has nearly doubled — from about 37 years in 1961 to over 61 years today. Access to electricity, although still a work in progress, has expanded far beyond the city limits of Freetown, now reaching over 30% of the population.
Our population has grown from just over 2 million to almost 9 million — a testament not just to growth, but also to survival and endurance.
Of course, we have not arrived at the promised land. Poverty, unemployment, and inequality persist. Corruption and political instability have, at times, stifled the promise of our democracy. And our journey is peppered with years of dramatic setbacks, including years of one-party dictatorship, a violent civil war, and a vicious Ebola outbreak, among others. Yet, despite the challenges, we remain a sovereign nation — one where leaders are chosen by ballot, not by decree; where debates occur in parliaments, not in colonial offices.
Independence was never going to be a magic wand. It was a declaration of responsibility — to govern ourselves, to learn from our mistakes, and to build our future with our own hands. That process is ongoing. But to suggest that we have made no progress — or that we would have been better off as subjects of empire — is to ignore both the facts and the spirit of our people.
It is precisely for this reason that this year, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education will host the first-ever National Independence Symposium. The event is part of President Julius Maada Bio’s vision to not only foster continued debate about our country’s progress, but to do so in a way that is grounded in an appropriate historical context, and that centers on the land we love: our Sierra Leone.
This inaugural symposium aims to reclaim our narrative of independence and inspire a culture of civic pride. It will feature mini-lectures from Professor Joe A.D. Alie, eminent historian and official Presidential Librarian; Joseph Kaifala, head of the Monuments and Relics Commission and a published historian; and Isatu Thorlu Bangura, daughter of one of our founding fathers, the great Paramount Chief Bai Farama Tass. Their contributions will deepen our understanding of how far we’ve come and the values we must carry forward.
Freedom is not measured only in income or infrastructure. It is measured in dignity, in the right to choose our path, in the ability to determine our destiny. That is what independence gave us. And that, above all, is worth celebrating.
So, on this 64th Independence Anniversary, let us reflect — not with denial or defeatism, but with clarity and courage. We have not been perfect. But our progress is undeniable. And our journey, while unfinished, is firmly our own.
Let us honour it. Let us own it. Let us keep moving forward.