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The Ministry of Finance hosted a formal welcome dinner at the Lagoonda Complex in Aberdeen, Freetown, in honour of the newly appointed Executive Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Elsiddig Mohamed Rahma.
The event brought together senior government officials, development partners, and key stakeholders to receive Dr. Rahma and reaffirm Sierra Leone’s strong partnership with the African Development Bank Group.
Delivering remarks, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, who previously served as an Executive Director at the AfDB, congratulated Dr. Rahma on his appointment. She offered valuable counsel as he assumes his responsibilities, urging him to remain steadfast in advancing the Bank’s development mandate. Minister Barlay also expressed appreciation for Dr. Rahma’s decision to prioritise engagement with Sierra Leone early in his tenure, underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration.
Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, formally welcomed Dr. Rahma to the “beautiful shores of Sierra Leone” and highlighted the significant impact of the AfDB’s portfolio in the country, particularly across critical sectors supporting national growth and development. He called for continued and enhanced support from the Bank to accelerate the Government’s development agenda.
The Financial Secretary, Matthew Dingie, who chaired the occasion, emphasised the fiscal importance of partnerships with multilateral institutions. He noted the contributions of both the AfDB and the World Bank to Sierra Leone’s public financial management and development financing landscape, acknowledging the presence of the World Bank Country Director as a demonstration of strong development cooperation.
In his response, Dr. Elsiddig Mohamed Rahma expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Sierra Leone for the warm reception. He reaffirmed his commitment to serving all five countries under his constituency-Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, and Sudan-with dedication and balance. Dr.
Rahma further disclosed that he deliberately chose to begin his country engagements in Sierra Leone to demonstrate the importance he attaches to the country and his desire to deepen collaboration from the outset of his tenure.
The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Abdu Muwonge, also addressed the gathering, congratulating the new Executive Director and reaffirming the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s development efforts while strengthening collaboration with sister institutions.
The dinner provided a platform for deepening partnerships, fostering dialogue, and celebrating the shared commitment of Government and development partners toward Sierra Leone’s socio-economic transformation.
