Acting Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Mahmoud Bah, has praised Sierra Leone for its unprecedented work in the preparation and development of the MCC compact and described His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio as a champion in the fight against corruption.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with President Bio, the Acting CEO said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, tremendous and amazing work has been done so far by Sierra Leone towards the development of a compact.

“The speed and calibre of your team have been impressive. Thank you for the leadership that you have provided for the great work,” Mahmoud Bah stated.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MCC, Alexia Latortue, explained the three priorities of the MCC – combating climate change, inclusion and gender and catalysing the private sector.

In response, President Bio said that Sierra Leone was fully committed to the development of the MCC compact, adding that the Threshold Programme had laid a strong foundation for the development of the compact.

He commended the MCC for its support and highlighted efforts by the government to fight corruption, mitigate climate change challenges, promote inclusive and gender issues, support the private sector and the human capital development agenda.

“The binding constraint we have is in the energy sector. We recognise that we are lagging, but we believe that the energy sector is a great enabler of Human Capital Development. Human Capital Development will not succeed if we do not provide accessible, affordable and green energy,” President Bio stated.

It could be recalled that in December 2020, the MCC Board of Directors selected Sierra Leone as eligible to develop a compact