By Joseph Momoh, D.S
The Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura used the opening of the 16th African Business Leadership Awards Summit to present Sierra Leone as a reform-driven economy attracting investment and trade.
Addressing delegates at the Hilton London Metropole on Wednesday, the Minister said Africa must convert ambition into results. Speaking under the summit’s theme, “From Vision to Velocity: Driving Africa’s Next Wave of Growth and Leadership,” he argued that the continent’s resources, youthful population, and expanding markets position it for a new growth cycle.
“The world needs what Africa has,” Bangura said, urging stronger institutions, deeper regional cooperation, and bold leadership.
He outlined Sierra Leone’s economic framework under President Julius Maada Bio, built around five priorities: Feed Salone, human capital development, youth employment, infrastructure and technology, and a more efficient public service. He said the country is shifting its narrative from aid reliance to investment, innovation, and trade.
The Minister reported progress on macroeconomic stability, including lower inflation, a steadier exchange rate, reduced borrowing costs, and consistent primary fiscal surpluses. He credited fiscal discipline, improved revenue mobilisation, and transparency for the gains, and cautioned that avoiding policy missteps remains critical.
“Sierra Leone is increasingly being recognised as a destination for investment rather than dependency,” he said.
Bangura also called for a continent-wide shift toward value addition, greater intra-African trade through the AfCFTA, and more investment in young people. “Economic leadership for a New Africa is not a future aspiration. It begins today,” he stated.
A dedicated Sierra Leone Economic and Investment Roundtable followed, with Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie and Chief Economist Alimamy Bangura detailing the government’s fiscal reforms. They highlighted December 2025 inflation at 4.4% — a 20-year low — alongside currency stability, higher revenue collection, and tax reductions that they said are improving the investment climate.
The delegation held meetings with investors, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders throughout the summit to build confidence and partnerships around Sierra Leone’s growth agenda.
Government officials said the London engagement reflects a deliberate effort to market the country’s economic turnaround and position it as a competitive destination for long-term investment.
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