By: Saidu Jalloh
A delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), led by Mr. Alex Saye Yeanay, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Country Representative, has concluded an appraisal visit to Sierra Leone to assess the proposed Sierra Leone Rice Special Agro-Industrial Processing Project. The visit also provided an opportunity to update the Ministry of Finance on the project’s progress.
During a meeting with ministry officials, Mr. Yeanay commended the Ministry of Finance for maintaining consistent communication with the Bank regarding the project’s implementation. He emphasized that the Bank’s technical team is working diligently to ensure the project is executed within the agreed timeline.
Ms. Rebecca Dadzie, Senior Agribusiness Officer at AfDB, stated that the mission aimed to engage government officials and key stakeholders to evaluate the project’s preparedness in accordance with the Bank Group’s lending and grant policies. She noted that the mission assessed the project’s technical, economic, climate, social, and environmental viability as part of the pre-approval process.
Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie and his team reiterated the importance of placing the private sector at the forefront of project implementation. They also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing counterpart funding a key requirement for securing the Bank’s support.
According to Ms. Dadzie, the mission’s findings were informed by sector-specific analyses, stakeholder consultations, and on-site inspections. The proposed project focuses on rice production and aims to establish Special Agro-Processing Zones in Kambia and Port Loko, based on a formal request from the government.
During their field visits, the AfDB team identified several challenges affecting agricultural productivity, including limited availability and use of certified seeds, poor land preparation, high soil acidity, and inadequate access to fertilisers and agrochemicals.
Minister of Finance Ahmed Sheku Fantamadi Bangura welcomed the AfDB mission and encouraged the team to collaborate with existing partners already investing in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector. He also recommended adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ensure the effective oversight and management of the facilities to be developed.