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During an interview with Liberty Online TV, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh addressed growing discussions surrounding the influence of international financial institutions on Sierra Leone’s domestic policies.
While explicitly recognising the substantial support the nation receives from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Sengeh firmly stated that these global bodies do not and cannot dictate the country’s governance.
Responding to questions about whether economic policies are entirely shaped by external forces following meetings in Washington, Dr. Sengeh clarified the dynamics between multilateral lenders and the state. He characterized the World Bank and the IMF as “great partners of development,” but added that they are not the sole drivers behind the nation’s socio-economic trajectory.
“We benefit plenty from the World Bank and IMF plenty. They are great partners for development,” Dr. Sengeh stated. “[But] it’s not the World Bank and IMF who tell us to do a gender equality and women’s empowerment bill. It’s what we want to do.”
The Chief Minister stressed that transformative legislative milestones, such as gender equality reforms, originate from internal national priorities rather than international mandates, underscoring a commitment to homegrown governance solutions.
When pressed on the nature of the policy discussions between international financial institutions and the government, Dr. Sengeh noted that while the global landscape can sometimes present challenging and complex dynamics, it remains vital for the government to maintain its strategic vision. He indicated that conversations with external bodies should be grounded in mutual respect for a country’s independent goals.
Sengeh further stated that regardless of the advisory tables set by global entities, the ultimate execution of national strategy rests in the hands of Sierra Leonean leadership, signaling a firm push toward achieving middle-income status on the country’s own terms.
