Finance Minister Fantamadi Bangura Receives African Minister of 2025 from the African Leadership Magazine
Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura just afterreceiving his prestigious award
It’s a job I hold dearly to my heart, and I am grateful to President Bio for giving me the opportunity to serve my country,” African Government Minister of 2025, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura said just after receiving his prestigious award.
The Minister of Finance, Hon. Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, was awarded the African Minister of Finance for 2025 by the African Leadership Magazine (ALM) in the 15th Edition of the African Leadership Magazine (ALM) Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards in Accra, Ghana, on 27th February 2026.
The ALM Persons of the Year Awards stand as Africa’s premier public-choice recognition platform, celebrating leaders whose vision, courage, and transformative actions are shaping the continent’s development trajectory in the year under review. Minister Bangura emerged as the African Government Minister of the Year 2025, with 31.42 percent of the total votes cast.
The poll attracted robust participation from every region of the African Continent and beyond, underscoring widespread recognition of his contribution to strengthening economic governance, advancing critical fiscal and institutional reforms, and promoting financial stability and sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
In accepting the award, Minister Bangura thanked His Excellency, the President Rtd. Brig. Dr. Julius Maada Bio for his guidance and support. Minister Bangura noted that President Bio has listened, provided leadership, taken decisive actions, and supported the implementation of key policies and reforms.
Minister Bangura provided an update on the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Finance that formed the basis for his nomination as the African Minister for 2025, stating that the government has implemented sound economic policies in recent years to improve the living conditions of the people.
These efforts, he noted, are being supported by development partners, including the IMF, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, BADEA, and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
He highlighted the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement that will disburse about US$ 253.0 million between 2024 and 2027, stating that this approval also paved the way for the negotiation of another programme under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), which will also lead to the disbursement of between US$207.0 million to US$415.0 million to support macroeconomic management and address climate- related risks.
The African Minister of the Year awardee, Bangura, explained that the economy has been stable despite the challenging external environment through fiscal discipline and the implementation of structural and sectoral reforms in key sectors.
He further stated that macroeconomic fundamentals are all pointing in the right direction: low inflation, stable currency, and realistic borrowing costs. This is important for building a resilient economy to external shocks while laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
The Minister also informed his audience that apart from the economic gains, Sierra Leone, under the leadership of President Bio, has also made impressive contributions at the regional and global levels.
Sierra Leone served as an elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2024–2025 term, with a focus on African peace, security, and institutional reform. Holding the Presidency in August 2024 and again in November 2025, the country highlights women/youth in peacebuilding, cybersecurity, and conflict-driven hunger.
President Bio is also the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of States, enabling him to work with his colleagues, Heads of States, to address the numerous social, economic, and political challenges in the sub-region.
Minister Bangura concluded by thanking the African Leadership Magazine for this honour that has recognised the success of the Government of Sierra Leone in stabilising the economy in 2024 and 2025. He said the Government will continue to work tirelessly to improve the lives of our people.
He also thanked the Government and people of Ghana for the warm welcome and considers Ghana his second home, having worked there for six years at the West African Monetary Institute in Accra.
Minister Bangura expressed gratitude to his staff at the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Sierra Leone, and the National Revenue Authority for their selfless efforts in supporting the implementation of the government’s macroeconomic policies.
Minister Bangura thanked his wife and their three children, as they have been very supportive since President Bio appointed him as Deputy Minister II in 2020.
Copyright –Published in Expo Magazine, March-April 2025 Edition Vol.4, No.1, (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
