The All People’s Congress (APC) Leader, Abdul Kargbo has issued a strong warning regarding the government’s approach to the 2025 Sub Appropriation Supplementary Act, expressing concern that it may be used to conceal significant spending cuts.

During a parliamentary debate on July 29, 2025, Kargbo criticized the government for its heavy reliance on the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) and other revenue agencies, suggesting that this strategy could adversely affect pensioners and the economy at large.

Kargbo characterized the supplementary budget as a “disguised” attempt to implement austerity measures, arguing that it fails to meet essential fiscal consolidation goals.

He called for the government to take action to stabilize the leone’s exchange rate and to align fuel prices with global trends. Kargbo further urged the administration to make further cuts in government spending, particularly in travel, to focus resources on critical sectors.

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In response, Hon. Francis Amara Kaisamba, Chairman of the Finance Committee, defended the government’s fiscal policies. He commended the Minister of Finance for presenting the supplementary budget and highlighted achievements such as declining inflation and enhanced revenue collection by the National Revenue Authority (NRA).

Kaisamba emphasized the importance of parliamentary involvement in budget adjustments and called for the timely release of funds to ministries and agencies.

Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, explained that the supplementary budget was necessary due to shifts in domestic and global economic conditions. He pointed to improvements such as lower inflation rates, a stronger exchange rate, and reduced treasury bill rates, which required adjustments to revenue and expenditure forecasts.

Despite these positive indicators, Bangura cautioned about ongoing global economic uncertainties, including rising tariffs, conflicts, reduced foreign aid, and tightening financing conditions. He stressed the need for prudent fiscal management to maintain macroeconomic stability and mitigate debt accumulation.

The Supplementary Budget aims to reduce the budget deficit from 3.9% to 3.8% of GDP and to decrease government borrowing from the banking sector, which is crucial for containing inflation and stabilizing the leone. The Minister reported a significant drop in inflation, from 54.5% in October 2023 to 7.1% in June 2025, along with improved export values and a narrowed trade deficit.

The Supplementary Appropriation Act 2025 authorizes revised government spending of 14.46 billion leones for the second half of 2025, a reduction from the original budget of 27.7 billion leones, reflecting a downward revision of 871 million leones.

Concluding the debate, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, Leader of Government Business, thanked Parliament members for their contributions and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing inflation and addressing debt challenges, noting that current debt repayments are predominantly related to obligations inherited from the previous administration.