Sierra Leone Finance Minister has presented the 2022 Government Budget and statement of Economic and Financial policies on the 19th November 2021, in the Chamber of Parliament. The major theme of the Budget is” Building Resilience for Inclusive Recovery”
In his opening Remarks, the minister rise to move that the Bill Entitled ‘’The Appropriation Act 2022’’ being an Act to authorize expenditure from the consolidated Revenue Fund, for the Service of Sierra Leone for 2022 be the first time”
The Minister stated that the since assumption of office in April 2018, Government has been implementing policies, programmes, and projects to address the challenges facing the country as articulated in the Medium-Term National Development Plan. However, he pointed out that due to many competing Priorities, adverse external shocks, limited fiscal space, and given technical constraints.
He stated that emerging challenges, including rising food poverty, natural disasters and climate change related risk, have led to the loss of livelihoods and now deserve attention. The Minister cited the recent national disaster of the fuel tanker Explosion at PMB Wellington has further exacerbated the loss of lives and livelihood.
The Minister further pointed out that it is therefore crucial to consolidate their programmes and intensify budget implementations to address food insecurity, strengthen systems to adapt and respond to climate change and natural disasters. This will also involve enhancing social protection measures, deepening human capital development , improving infrastructure as well as stabilizing the economy.
Moreover, the minister emphasized that in addition to ensure a stable macro economy, they will accelerate the implementation of budget efficiency measures to create the fiscal space to address these critical challenges. Thus, the theme of the 2022 Budget is: Building Resilience for inclusive Green Recovery.