By: Usman Fambuleh
Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has officially launched Sierra Leone’s FY2027 budget process, calling on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that public resources are carefully aligned with national development priorities and translated into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.
Speaking at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown under the theme “Building Resilience to Create Jobs,” Vice President Jalloh said the country’s growing youth population requires an economic strategy that goes beyond government employment. He maintained that sustainable job creation must be driven largely by a vibrant private sector, supported by appropriate policies, dependable infrastructure, access to finance and an enabling investment environment.
The Vice President also commended Sierra Leone’s international development partners for their continued support to the country’s development agenda. He specifically acknowledged the contributions of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, African Development Bank and the European Union, describing the EU as a longstanding and dependable partner.
According to him, development partners have provided support in areas including infrastructure, social services, institutional strengthening and technical assistance, while increasingly shifting their focus towards private-sector development, access to finance and improving the investment climate.
Dr Jalloh said collaboration with development partners remains important to the implementation of the Government’s Big Five Game Changers, noting that international support has helped Sierra Leone navigate difficult economic circumstances while strengthening institutions and creating opportunities for investment.
He stressed that the Government alone cannot deliver the desired transformation, making sustained cooperation between the public sector, private businesses and development partners essential.
As the FY2027 budget process gets underway, the Vice President identified five key principles that should guide budget preparation: realistic revenue and expenditure projections, prioritisation of critical investments, using public spending to stimulate economic growth, evidence-based taxation, and effective implementation.
He urged MDAs to move away from expenditure that produces limited public value and instead focus resources on investments capable of delivering visible outcomes, including improved schools, expanded electricity access, better roads and financing for viable businesses.
With the economy facing external shocks and domestic fiscal constraints, Dr Jalloh called for greater fiscal responsibility and smarter use of the country’s limited resources. He urged government institutions to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation while creating more room for private businesses to expand and generate employment.
He said the FY2027 budget must therefore serve not only as a financial plan but also as a practical instrument for building economic resilience, supporting investment and creating opportunities for Sierra Leone’s growing population.
