By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone — September 19, 2025: As part of the ongoing Fiscal Year 2026 bilateral budget discussions hosted by the Ministry of Finance, several key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have presented their budget proposals and performance updates for 2024 and 2025. The sessions, held at the Ministry’s conference rooms on George Street, Freetown, aim to align national priorities with resource allocation.
On Friday, the Ministry of Energy proposed a budget of NLE 951,678,600 for its 2026 activities. Shebora Kamara, Director of Policy Research, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, outlined the Ministry’s mandate to oversee energy policy and infrastructure across sub-sector agencies including EDSA, EGTC, and Bumbuna Watershed Management.
Kamara highlighted major accomplishments in 2025, including:
- Strengthening the national grid infrastructure with a 225KV double circuit transmission line from Bumbuna to Waterloo Newton.
- Expansion of the 66KV and 33KV networks along the Peninsular.
- Electrification of seven district towns and ecological agro zones under the Feed Salone Project.
- Rehabilitation of EGTC plants and support for rice field electrification in Mambolo, Kychum, and Gbondapie/Tomabome.
The Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) also made its case for increased resources. Company Director of Finance, Lahai Kamara, reported that SALWACO currently operates in 10 out of 44 targeted towns, with ongoing construction and rehabilitation efforts. The agency achieved 95.6% of its 2024 revenue target, collecting NLE 8.22 million out of a projected NLE 8.25 million. Kamara noted a 21% revenue growth from 2022 to 2024 and projected NLE 17 million in revenue for 2026, supported by solar-powered systems to enhance water production.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources submitted a budget request of NLE 312.9 million for its 2026 operations, while the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) proposed NLE 613,557,932.40. MOECC’s budget will support initiatives such as tree planting and sustainable management of the Western Area Peninsula.
However, MOECC flagged several challenges, including inadequate funding, limited technical capacity, and weak inter-agency collaboration.
The budget discussions continue as MDAs advocate for the resources needed to deliver on their mandates and contribute to Sierra Leone’s development goals.