As part of the relentless efforts towards rolling out environmental communication and awareness across the country, the Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) has reinforced environmental awareness raising activities in communities in the Eastern regional headquarter towns of Kenema and Kailahun. The awareness raising activity coincided with the visit of His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio in Kailahun District.This awareness raising activity was done bearing in mind the environmental threats and challenges facing the two districts. It was done mainly in the form of community mobilization where key stakeholders were reintroduced into the general dynamics of the environment, the work and mandates of the Agency and how communities should involve to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change and other related challenges. The Deputy Director for the department of Public Relations and Intersectoral Collaboration, Salihoe Salliue Saidu as well as the Assistant Director of the same Department, James Tamba Kamara were hosted on radio stations and both talked about environmental issues affecting the two districts. An appreciable number of residents expressed their views on the current state of the environment through text messages. Many of those contributors called on fellow Sierra Leoneans to support the work of the EPASL to achieve His Excellency’s vision on sustainable environmental protection in Sierra Leone. Also, interviews were done with community stakeholders and were aired on Radio in order to further motivate community participation. In one of those interviews, Hon. Hindolo Moiwo Gevao of constituency 003, Kailahun District, talked about the need for Sierra Leoneans to work together to redefine environmental protection in the district and the country at large. He expressed optimism for the environment of Sierra Leone but warned that hard choices needed to be made. Hon. Gevao recommended for an amendment of the 2008 EPA Act to make environmental protection more robust in the country.
