Freetown, 16th September 2026 — Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has formally launched the FY2027 budget process, urging ministries and agencies to align spending with national priorities while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to job creation, private-sector growth, and fiscal discipline.
Speaking at the Miata Civic Centre under the theme “Building Resilience to Create Jobs”, Dr Jalloh stressed that sustainable employment for Sierra Leone’s youth cannot come from the Government payroll alone, but must be driven by a thriving private sector supported by sound policies, reliable infrastructure, and investment-friendly reforms.
The Vice President underscored the importance of partnerships in achieving this transformation, noting that the support of international allies has strengthened Sierra Leone’s development journey. “Government cannot achieve this transformation alone. We therefore express our sincere appreciation to our development partners for the important role they continue to play in Sierra Leone’s development,” he said.
Dr Jalloh highlighted the contributions of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and, in particular, the European Union, which he described as a longstanding and reliable partner. He praised their support for critical programmes ranging from infrastructure and social-sector projects to institutional reforms and technical assistance. Increasingly, he noted, partners are pivoting towards initiatives that strengthen the private sector, expand access to finance, and improve Sierra Leone’s investment climate.
“These partners have worked with Sierra Leone through difficult times. Today, they are also working with us to strengthen our institutions, improve the investment climate, develop stronger public-private partnerships and create better conditions for Sierra Leonean and international businesses to invest and grow,” Dr Jalloh affirmed, adding that their support has been vital to the Government’s flagship Big Five Game Changers.
The Vice President outlined five guiding principles for the FY2027 budget: realism in revenue and expenditure planning, prioritisation of essential investments, public spending that facilitates growth, evidence-based tax policies, and effective implementation. He emphasised that allocations must translate into tangible results such as functioning classrooms, reliable power connections, productive roads, and finance reaching viable enterprises.
With Sierra Leone navigating global economic shocks and domestic fiscal pressures, Dr Jalloh called for stronger discipline, smarter resource mobilisation, and deeper collaboration with partners to build resilience and prosperity. “Our task is to use the resources available to us more intelligently, create space for the private sector to thrive, and ensure that public policy supports rather than constrains productive economic activity,” he concluded.
