AYV News, July 15, 2026
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MLGCA) and the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources (MMMR), has launched the pilot preparation of Chiefdom Development Plans (2026–2035) for Maforki and Marampa chiefdoms, marking a major step towards decentralising development planning and strengthening community participation in governance.
The two-day exercise began with the training of eight local facilitators and 16 data collectors, followed by extensive consultations involving stakeholders from all sections of the two chiefdoms.
Participants included Paramount Chiefs and traditional leaders, the Mayor of Port Loko City, district and local council officials, representatives of the Senior District Officer’s Office, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), civil society organisations, private sector actors, women’s and youth groups, and other community stakeholders.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, officially launched the consultations in Maforki Chiefdom before travelling to Marampa Chiefdom to join Deputy Minister Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus-Williams, who was leading a parallel consultation.
The engagements form part of the Government’s broader commitment to localising development planning by ensuring that communities play a central role in identifying their priorities and shaping their own development agenda.
Addressing stakeholders, Minister Barlay described the initiative as a transformative shift from district-level planning to community-driven chiefdom planning, aimed at ensuring that development reaches every part of the country.
“We have prepared national and district development plans, but we recognised a gap at the chiefdom level. This initiative bridges that gap by allowing communities themselves to identify their priorities, develop bankable projects and unlock local resources for sustainable development,” she said.
The Minister explained that Maforki and Marampawere selected as pilot chiefdoms because they benefit from the Chiefdom Development Fund established under the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2023. She noted that structured development planning would help ensure that available resources are invested strategically, transparently, and in projects that deliver long-term social and economic benefits.
“This is about putting planning where development begins—within our communities. Every section has a voice, every stakeholder has a seat at the table, and every chiefdom deserves a roadmap that reflects its own aspirations and opportunities,” she added.
Representing the Paramount Chief of MarampaChiefdom, Alhaji Alim Swarray welcomed the initiative, describing it as a historic opportunity for communities to determine their own development priorities.
“For the first time, every section has the opportunity to decide what development should look like. This process gives our people ownership and lays the foundation for sustainable progress,” he said.
The Paramount Chief of Maforki chiefdom also commended the Government for adopting a bottom-up approach to development planning, noting that while chiefdoms have access to development funds, strategic planning is essential to maximise their impact.
Government expects the pilot programme to serve as a blueprint for the development of similar plans across all 190 chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, strengthening local governance and promoting inclusive, community-led development nationwide.
