Announcements

The Citizen Rights Network Sierra Leone (CRN-SL) recently presented its findings and recommendations on the recently concluded FY2025 budget hearing held at the Ministry of Finance on George Street, Freetown.

The report primarily focused on discussions aimed at uncovering challenges and enhancing transparency and accountability within the budget presentation process.
The Executive Director of CRN-SL, Ibrahim Bai Koroma, highlighted that 55% of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were late in presenting budget proposals, disrupting the flow of discussions. Additionally, 60% of MDAs failed to provide the required fifty copies of their documents, undermining the efficiency of the process. Some MDAs also missed the bilateral discussions, which further affected the overall process.

Bai Koroma emphasized the significant involvement of the Ministry of Finance's Technical Team that critically evaluated the budget proposals through rigorous questioning. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the press, non-state actors (NSAs) and the District Budget Oversight Committees (DBOCs) were given the opportunity to scrutinize MDAs' presentations, underscoring a multi-faceted approach to oversight.

Specific challenges were highlighted, including the Sierra Leone State Lottery Company's issues with non-compliance from Partners Accord Logistics, which failed to provide financial records to the Sierra Leone National State Lottery. The Sierra Leone National Shipping Company also expressed dissatisfaction with non-cooperative ministries and mining companies, noting that Kingho Mining Company was the only one complying over the past years.

Mr. Koroma stressed the need for the Ministry of Finance to empower CSOs, NSAs and the press to hold MDAs accountable for improper presentations. He advocated for the monitoring of timely disbursements with a focus on identifying efficient and effective MDAs. Virtual presentations were suggested to accommodate various stakeholders, and the inclusion of sign language services was emphasized to ensure accessibility for the hearing-impaired.
Furthermore, Mr. Koroma recommended that the Ministry enforce the Finance Act of 2018 and relevant regulations for all government institutions and mining companies. Revenue-generating and developmental MDAs should receive focused attention in budget discussions. He advised structuring the agenda for ease of monitoring by various stakeholders and suggested considering a larger venue to facilitate public monitoring. Specific time frames for budget presentations were also recommended for MDAs.

The Office of the Chief Minister should ensure oversight across all ministries during budget presentations, and revisions to the FY2024-2025 SALWACO report should be considered, he stated.

Mr. Koroma expressed pride in CRN-SL's commitment to advocating for citizens' rights and ensuring that budget discussions are transparent and inclusive. The outlined recommendations aim to address observed challenges and improve future budget processes.
The successful conclusion of the FY2025 deliberations, as acknowledged by Financial Secretary Mr. Mathew Dingie highlights collaborative efforts toward better governance.

CRN-SL looks forward to continued collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to advance democratic rights and effective governance in Sierra Leone.

The Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) has been commended for its outstanding performance in stabilizing the economy during challenging periods marked by currency fluctuations. Throughout this process, the bank has effectively outlined its role and responsibilities.

At the conclusion of the evaluation, teams from the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) received positive feedback, achieving high scores from various stakeholders, including the Technical Team, Non-State Actors (NSA), District Budget Oversight Committees (DBOC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the press.

This recognition highlights the bank's commitment to excellence and its significant contributions to the economic stability of Sierra Leone.