By Sallieu S. Kanu
Dr. Elsiddig Mohamed Rahma, the newly appointed Executive Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, and Sudan, paid a courtesy call on Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, on Monday, 9 February 2026, at his office on George Street in Freetown.
Dr. Rahma, who is on a two-day working visit to Sierra Leone, said the purpose of his mission is to strengthen dialogue with member states, foster collaboration, and deepen understanding of Sierra Leone’s development priorities. He explained that since assuming office, he has been visiting countries under his portfolio to gain insight into their economic performance and explore ways to enhance cooperation between the Bank and national institutions.
Minister Bangura congratulated Dr. Rahma on his appointment and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s appreciation for the AfDB’s longstanding support. He noted that the Bank has been a critical partner to the government and people of Sierra Leone, and highlighted ongoing commitments to programmes and reforms in collaboration with the AfDB, World Bank, and IMF.
The Minister also outlined recent economic gains in inflation control, deficit reduction, interest rate management, and domestic revenue mobilisation. He emphasized the government’s priorities under the “Big Five Game Changers” and discussed how the AfDB could align its project portfolio with these national development goals.
Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kadiatu Allie, expressed gratitude to the AfDB for its continued partnership and acknowledged the Bank’s interventions across several development sectors.
During his two-day visit, Dr. Rahma is expected to meet with other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to further strengthen cooperation and support Sierra Leone’s development agenda.