The current mayor of Bo is Harold Logie Tucker; he is a member of the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).

The Mende people form the largest ethnic group in Bo District at over 60 percent of the population.

[citation needed] With Bo being the second largest city in Sierra Leone, trading, gold and diamond mining are major economic activities for the district; as well as agricultural production of rice growing, and coffee, cacao and oil palm.

Bo District suffered badly at the hands of rebel forces during 1994–1995, and many major towns were almost entirely destroyed (Tikonko and Bumpe, for example).

However, since the ousting of the Junta in early 1998, Bo District has remained secure, due mainly to the strong presence of the Civil Defence Forces.

The major recovery needs according to sectoral priorities are as follows: road rehabilitation, education, water and sanitation, health, agriculture, restoration of local government structures, and shelter.