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The Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, has called on the senior management team of the Ministry of Finance to adopt a bold and robust approach in implementing economic and financial management policies in 2026.
The Minister made the statement during the Ministry’s Senior Management Retreat held from January 14 to 17, 2026, at the Fabulous Resort in York Village. The retreat brought together senior officials to review past performance and outline strategies for the year ahead.
Minister Bangura commended the management and staff of the Ministry for concluding 2025 on a positive note, contrasting it with challenges experienced in 2024, including programme slippages under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrangement. He said renewed focus and discipline in 2025 helped the Ministry sustain and deliver on agreed commitments with development partners.
According to the Minister, the improved performance in 2025 was driven by the professionalism and dedication of staff, who made difficult decisions under constrained circumstances. He stressed the need to maintain this momentum in 2026, noting that key macroeconomic indicators had been achieved and must now be consolidated.
He further outlined his priorities for 2026, which include revenue and tax policy reforms, climate finance, expenditure management, budget execution, and exploring innovative approaches to financing the national budget to improve service delivery.
Also speaking at the retreat, Matthew Dingie underscored the Ministry of Finance’s responsibility to mobilise adequate resources to fund government programmes and projects. He explained that this objective informed the theme of the retreat:
“Repositioning the Ministry of Finance to Enhance Domestic Revenue Mobilisation for Sustainable Economic Stability and Service Delivery.” He urged directors to develop policies and programmes aligned with the government’s Big Five agenda.
Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kadiatu Allie, described the retreat as an opportunity for reflection on achievements and challenges, as well as a platform for identifying areas for improvement. She highlighted the importance of strengthening leadership, accountability, and transparency, and assessing progress in budget credibility, debt management, revenue mobilisation, macroeconomic and financial reforms, and expenditure management. She also called for sustained investment in social sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and local councils.
The retreat forms part of the Ministry of Finance’s efforts to enhance policy implementation and strengthen economic governance as the country prepares for the 2026 fiscal year.
