AYV News, August 19, 2026
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has challenged young people around the world to transform their frustration over injustice into action, leadership and institution-building.
Minister Bah made the call during two engagements at the AFS Youth Assembly in Geneva, where he delivered an opening plenary address under the theme “Rise. Reimagine. Rebuild: A World for All” and participated in a fireside conversation on civic education, youth leadership and political participation.
Drawing on his personal journey from becoming a youth activist in Sierra Leone at the age of 15 to serving in government, Bah reflected on how outrage over injustice has shaped his activism and public service.
“I am an activist, a noise maker, somebody who refuses to settle when things are not right,” he said.
However, he stressed that activism must go beyond identifying problems and criticising institutions.
“My activism is not just about bringing things down; it is about bringing things up.”
Bah recalled helping to establish the Sierra Leone Children’s Forum Network when he was just 15 years old, creating a platform for children to participate in national discussions, including the country’s peace process and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“I was only 15, but I had the audacity to ask my country to do better,” he said.
He also reflected on the global reaction to the shooting of Malala Yousafzai for advocating girls’ education and his own decision to leave his job during Sierra Leone’s Ebola outbreak to support the national response.
His work during the Ebola crisis, particularly in supporting women and girls, later contributed to the establishment of Purposeful, a movement-building hub supporting girls and feminist organising.
For Bah, these experiences demonstrate that anger and frustration can be powerful catalysts for change, but they must be followed by organised action.
“Outrage is powerful, but outrage alone is not enough.”
He urged young leaders to identify the issues that concern them, organise around those issues, understand the systems responsible for them and work collectively to build better alternatives.
During the fireside conversation hosted by Wantoe T. Wantoe, Executive Director of African Policy and AFS Intercultural Programs, Bah extended his message to the importance of youth participation in politics and public service.
Reflecting on his transition from activism into government, he encouraged young people seeking social change not to abandon the institutions where important decisions are made.
Bah said that after years of challenging decision-makers from outside government, he came to believe that activists must also be willing to enter decision-making spaces and help shape the policies and decisions that affect society.
“When young people get involved, they shift the conversation. It changes the landscape. It changes rooms,” he said.
He cited Sierra Leone as an example, pointing to President Julius Maada Bio’s appointment of young people to senior government positions, including ministers under the age of 40.
Bah also spoke about his experience as Minister of Information and Civic Education, particularly the challenge of misinformation and the importance of making government communication accessible to ordinary citizens.
He explained that the increased use of Krio, proactive communication and the timely provision of factual information have helped government communicate more directly with citizens.
Rather than focusing exclusively on those spreading misinformation, he argued that institutions must also understand why citizens turn to alternative information sources and ensure that official information is delivered in languages and formats people understand and trust.
Bah further cautioned young activists who eventually move into positions of leadership not to become disconnected from the people and causes that inspired their activism.
“When you enter positions of leadership, as many of you will, do not become so comfortable in the room that you forget those still outside it. Keep a seat open. Keep listening.”
Across his engagements in Geneva, Bah maintained that young people must not only challenge systems that fail them but also take responsibility for organising, leading and building better institutions.
“Most times, you cannot do it alone. Find your clique, someone who is outraged like you, and rise, reimagine and rebuild.”
He concluded by urging young leaders to challenge limitations, rethink exclusionary systems and build institutions and communities that serve everyone.
“Rise above the limits imposed on you. Reimagine systems that exclude people. Rebuild institutions, communities and relationships so that they work for everyone.”
