AYV News, May 22, 2026
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) on Thursday 21st May 2026 commenced a two-day Public Investment Management-Technical Investment Committee (TIC) Inaugural Meeting at the Country Lodge Hotel, Hill Station in Freetown.
The Public Investment Technical Investment Committee is responsible to among others review and appraise projects and programs for selection and budgeting as well as review the stock of existing Public Investment Program to effectively streamline the portfolio.
In her keynote address, the MoPED Minister, Madam Kenyeh Barlay revealed that Sierra Leone has come a long way in improving the public sector and governance architecture, that the country is moving in the right direction and underscored that it is no longer business as usual.
She further noted that the fiscal space is diminishing, debt distress, restoration of the budget credibility and limited local resources as some of the challenges affecting the country.
According to the Minister, MoPED is aligning its programs to Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan as well as working with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund set up and enforce technical guidelines for new projects to be implemented in the country based on the availability of funds.
She went on to highlight forward-looking reforms that must be fully implemented noting that MoPED is the gatekeeper in all of these and the engine that would ensure efficiency and transparency in the implementation of projects.
Madam Kenyeh Barlay continued that the Ministry relies on the Ministry of Finance for technical expertise, elimination of wasteful spending and stalled projects, applied for the setting up of new standards on how public projects are implemented and wished participants successful deliberations.
In his statement of purpose, the Development Secretary, Ambrose James informed that the process started in 2024, that if the Committee delivers it would be for the good of the country, highlighted the legal and technical issues to be addressed to move the process forward reiterating that the Committee is very important and is working with the World Bank to look at three critical sectors:- water, electricity and roads.
He also affirmed the need to rationalise, retain, extend, exit and streamline public investment projects.
Mr. Ambrose James furthered that some priority projects like poverty reduction must be productive and assured that the Ministry would guide the process as well as provide the enabling environment and commended the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for their support.
The Finance Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Matthew Dingie disclosed that over the years there have been challenges with the budget and development partners in implementing capital projects like roads, water and energy.
He also revealed that the country has done well in implementing donor projects in spite of the challenges.
He also noted that some projects come in midway into the budget year, urged the Committee to start work almost immediately, called on all stakeholders against overspending and delay in releasing funds for ongoing projects pointing out that the cost of some projects triple before the end of the project and appealed for empirical evidence and proper analysis to ensure that projects are economically viable.
The Finance Secretary also revealed that their arevarious options to finance capital projects, underscored that the country must focus on projects that can be funded locally without strain on the budget against those that are donor funded asserting that donors have their own areas of interest.
According to the Financial Secretary, the private sector has appetite to invest in transport, roads and those with dedicated cash flows for which people are ready to pay.
Highlights of the meeting were PowerPoint presentations on the Medium Term National Development Plan; Progress and Challenges by Dr. Sheka Bangura, Director PPR/MoPED, PublicInvestment Program: A critical component in the Macro fiscal framework by Alimamy Bangura, Chief Economist, Ministry of Finance, PIM Regulatory Instrument and Aligning the National Planning and Public Investment Management by Dr. Sheka Bangura.
