AYV News, January 28, 2026
The Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, has assured a World Bank scoping mission of the Government of Sierra Leone’s strong commitment to advancing Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms to improve accountability, efficiency, and service delivery.
The assurance was given on Monday, 26 January 2026, during the official welcome of the World Bank team undertaking a scoping mission for the proposed Strengthening Accountability and Local Oversight for the New Generation PFM Project. The project aims to enhance financial oversight and strengthen accountability across public sector institutions.
The mission will engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as Civil Society Organisations, from 26–30 January 2026. Discussions will focus on strengthening PFM accountability, improving local oversight mechanisms, defining project scope and activities, identifying results indicators, and agreeing on implementation arrangements, including fiduciary, technical, environmental, and social standards.
World Bank Country Manager, Abdu Muwonge, emphasised the need for strategic guidance from the Minister to ensure value for money and to sustain gains achieved under previous PFM reforms.
Minister Bangura thanked the World Bank for its continued support and stressed that the new project must build on existing reforms, including procurement systems, the Economic Governance Programme, revenue mobilisation, local council reforms, budget credibility, and implementation of audit recommendations.
Mission Lead, Raymond Muhala, outlined the project’s focus and consultation framework, while Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kadiatu Allie, encouraged the team to consolidate existing gains, particularly in decentralisation and district-level revenue mobilisation.
The mission also engaged key stakeholders across procurement, audits, public investment management, PFM interoperability, and related reform areas. A wrap-up meeting with the Minister is scheduled for Friday, 30 January 2026.
