What happened today

TL;DR:

President Bio named 2026 a “Year of Action” on 1 January.
Government launched a digital work permit platform with new fees.
Awoko reports an audit flagged delays in health projects.
Changes affect investors, workers, and patients nationwide.
Expect follow-up on delivery targets and contract oversight.

Here is a fast roundup for readers who want the main headlines from Sierra Leone on 5 January 2026.

On 1 January 2026, President Julius Maada Bio set 2026 as a “Year of Action,” promising visible results in food security, services, and the fight against the synthetic drug known as kush, the Office of the President said on 2 January 2026. The statement followed his New Year address in Freetown. Priorities include Feed Salone, youth jobs, and steady governance before the 2028 vote.

On 3 January 2026, the government launched a Unified Permits Platform for foreign workers and residents. The system moves work permit applications online and introduces a new price structure. Fees range by category, with the aim to reduce fraud and speed up approvals, Sierraloaded reported.

On 5 January 2026, Awoko highlighted fresh findings from the Auditor General’s 2024 report. The story details full payments on a hospital addendum contract and unfinished health projects years after award. It calls out risks to service delivery if oversight does not improve.

The presidency’s “Year of Action”

State House said the plan stresses practical delivery. The message links food security to the Feed Salone drive, jobs to agribusiness and small firms, and better services to honest use of public funds. It also urges calm politics ahead of 2028 and promises to carry out reforms under the Tripartite Agreement. The statement frames 2026 as a time for steady leadership, not big promises.

What this could change

Clearer delivery targets invite public tracking of progress each quarter.
Feed Salone and youth jobs may attract donors and private investors to agriculture and logistics.
A firm stance on drug control, paired with care, could shape health and policing budgets.

Work permits go online with set fees

Sierraloaded reports that the new Unified Permits Platform is live as of early January 2026. The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security and the Immigration Department lead the rollout. Applications, payments, and status checks move to one digital portal. Fees are tiered. The article cites categories for non-ECOWAS workers in the formal sector, ECOWAS citizens, workers on government or NGO contracts, and informal sector permits. The platform links records to the national registry to cut fraud.

What workers and firms should do now

Check which category applies before hiring.
Budget for the new fee schedule in 2026 plans.
Keep digital copies of passports, letters, and contracts ready for upload.
Track applications inside the portal, not by paper follow-ups.

Quick reference: permits

Step	What to prepare	Tip
1	Choose the right category	Check ECOWAS vs non-ECOWAS status
2	Upload ID and contract	Scan, name files by applicant
3	Pay fee online	Save the receipt number
4	Track status	Use the portal dashboard

Audit flags health project delays

Awoko’s 5 January story says the Auditor General’s 2024 report found hospital and health office works from 2021 still incomplete. It cites more than NLe 75 million in contracts, advance payments to most firms, and one addendum paid in full before third-party checks. The report urges the ministry to engage contractors or recover funds. This matters because delays hit dialysis, emergency care, and district management.

What to watch next

Ministry responses to the audit, including timelines and recovery actions.
Updates on the Lumley Government Hospital works and district offices.
Any procurement sanctions or re-tendering.

Background for new readers

Sierra Leone enters 2026 after a tough two years for prices and jobs. The presidency says stabilization steps are in place. The new focus is execution. A digital shift in permits aligns with wider moves to clean up public systems and improve data trails. Audit scrutiny remains tight after past crises in health and infrastructure. Together, these stories show a state trying to deliver and a press checking the books.

Why it matters

The “Year of Action” sets public expectations for 2026. Citizens can hold leaders to clear results.
The permit portal affects how fast firms hire talent, which shapes growth.
The audit push can free stalled health projects and protect scarce funds.

What happens next

Expect quarterly delivery updates from State House, a user guide for the permit portal, and a formal Ministry of Health reply to the audit. Readers should look for dates, not slogans, in each update. If timelines slip, ask why and what is fixed.

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