By Thaimu T Kamara
Ministers, Deputy Ministers and their representatives have participated in the final stakeholder consultation on Sierra Leone’s proposed revised Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, 2026, as the Government moves closer to updating the country’s legal framework for managing public finances.
The consultation, organised by the Ministry of Finance on Friday, August 21, 2026, was held at the Ministry’s Conference Room on George Street, Freetown. It marked the latest stage in a broader review process that has involved consultations with key stakeholders on proposed changes to the legislation.
The review is intended to ensure that the PFM Act reflects Sierra Leone’s current economic realities while strengthening fiscal governance, accountability and efficiency in the management of public resources.
Chairing the meeting, Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie described the consultation as an important milestone in the review of the legislation. He noted that public financial management is constantly evolving and that the legal framework governing it must respond to emerging economic, institutional and technological challenges.
According to Dingie, the Ministry remains committed to an inclusive and transparent review process in which the views of stakeholders are properly considered before the proposed legislation advances to the next stage.
He assured Ministers and their representatives that all comments, recommendations and concerns raised during the consultation would be documented and carefully reviewed as the draft Act is refined.
Dingie said the Ministry’s approach was aimed at ensuring that the revised legislation is evidence-based and protects the public interest while improving the effectiveness of public financial management.
Acting Minister of Finance Kadiatu Alie also welcomed the review, describing the proposed revision as timely and necessary to strengthen Sierra Leone’s fiscal governance framework.
She said a modern PFM law was essential to supporting effective fiscal planning, sound treasury management and stronger financial oversight across government.
Alie further stressed the importance of improving the management of fiscal risks and ensuring that the country’s public finance legislation keeps pace with developments in technology and modern financial management practices.
She highlighted the growing role of digital financial management systems, noting that emerging approaches to public finance should be adequately recognised within the revised legal framework.
Technical presentations were delivered by the Ministry’s legal representative and consultants involved in the PFM reform process. The presentations provided participants with an overview of the existing Public Financial Management Act of 2016, the reasons for undertaking the review and some of the emerging issues that informed the proposed amendments.
The technical team also outlined key reforms contained in the draft legislation, including provisions that are new, modified or expanded under the proposed 2026 Act.
Following the presentations, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and their representatives engaged in detailed discussions on various aspects of the proposed legislation.
Participants raised comments, suggestions and concerns, while also offering practical recommendations aimed at improving the clarity and effectiveness of the revised law.
Discussions focused on ensuring that the proposed provisions are practical, applicable and capable of addressing the challenges facing public financial management in Sierra Leone.
Participants also emphasised the importance of having a legal framework that supports stronger accountability and effective oversight in the use of public resources.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to considering the contributions made during the consultation. Officials assured participants that the recommendations would be documented and reviewed as part of the process of finalising the draft legislation.
The completion of the consultation represents a significant milestone in the review of Sierra Leone’s PFM framework.
The proposed revised Act is now expected to move to Cabinet for consideration and approval. If approved, it will subsequently be submitted to Parliament for legislative consideration.
The review forms part of the Government’s wider efforts to strengthen public financial management and ensure that public resources are managed in a more transparent, accountable and efficient manner.
The proposed legislation is expected to provide an updated legal foundation for fiscal management while responding to changing economic conditions, institutional requirements and advances in digital financial systems.
With the stakeholder consultation now concluded, attention will turn to finalising the draft and preparing it for the next stages of the legislative process.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 31st August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
