Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with development partners, has concluded a three-day workshop to review the country’s Public Debt Management Act of 2011.
The event, held from August 20–22, 2025, at Nimiyama Hotel in Rokel, Freetown, brought together government officials, legal experts, civil society, and international partners to assess the country’s debt management framework in light of changing global and domestic conditions.
Speaking at the closing session, Santigie Charles Conteh, Deputy Director of the Public Debt Management Division, noted that evolving market dynamics and institutional reforms within the Ministry have created the need to update the Act. He explained that revisions are also driven by global trends, including changes in concessional financing and creditor structures, as well as new guidelines from international financial institutions.
Mamoud Turay, National Economist Specialist at UNDP, commended the initiative, stressing that debt management is closely tied to broader financial governance. He reaffirmed UNDP’s support for the Ministry in financing Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
For his part, Cyrus Lusani, Acting Director of the Legal Affairs Division, emphasized that aligning domestic legislation with international best practices is critical to strengthening fiscal responsibility, ensuring debt sustainability, and creating the fiscal space required for inclusive growth.
Civil society was also represented at the workshop. Abu Bakarr Kamara, Coordinator of the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), underscored that debt transparency is a matter of governance, not just technical compliance. He cautioned that inadequate accountability can fuel corruption and welcomed the review as an opportunity to enhance openness in the management of public funds.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Thullah, Assistant Director of the Public Debt Management Division, outlined proposed areas for reform. These include clearer provisions on borrowing purposes, sustainability measures, approval processes, transparency requirements, management of guarantees, and borrowing by local councils.
