The Minister of Finance, Mr. Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, has urged the Senior Management Team of the Ministry of Finance to act boldly and robustly in implementing economic and public financial management policies in 2026. He made this call while addressing the Ministry’s Senior Management Retreat held from January 14 to 17, 2026, at the Fabulous Resort in York Village.
The Minister emphasized that strong, decisive leadership is critical to achieving government policy objectives and sustaining economic stability.
Minister Bangura commended the management and staff of the Ministry for ending 2025 on a positive note, noting that the year 2024 ended “with a sour taste” due to slippages in the programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“In 2025, we resolved not to repeat those mistakes. We became very sharp and focused in ensuring that we sustained, maintained, and delivered on the programme,” he stated.
He added that 2025 proved to be a robust year, with a strong focus on meeting commitments to development partners. This, he said, was achieved through the dedication and professionalism of Ministry staff, who made difficult decisions and remained firm even under challenging and strained circumstances.
The Minister further stressed the importance of every department proactively meeting its 2026 targets, urging staff to maintain the momentum gained in 2025, especially now that key macroeconomic indicators have been achieved.
Outlining his vision for 2026, Minister Bangura highlighted priority areas including revenue and tax policies, climate finance, expenditure management, budget execution, and innovative financing mechanisms to support service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry’s leadership, Mr. Matthew Dingie stated that the primary responsibility of the Ministry of Finance is to mobilise the resources required to fund government programmes and projects. He explained that this informed the choice of the retreat’s theme:
*“Repositioning the Ministry of Finance to Enhance Domestic Revenue Mobilization for Sustainable Economic Stability and Service Delivery.”
He admonished directors to develop policies and programmes for 2026 that would directly contribute to the Government’s Big Five agenda.
Deputy Minister of Finance I, Mrs. Kadiatu Allie, described the retreat as an opportunity for reflection on achievements and challenges, and a platform for identifying ways to improve performance. She noted that the retreat should strengthen leadership in accountability and transparency, assess gains in budget credibility and processes, debt management, and revenue mobilization, deepen financial and macroeconomic reforms, improve expenditure management, and promote impactful social spending in key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and local councils.