Dr. Elsiddig Mohamed Rahma, the newly appointed Executive Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB), paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Finance, Mr. Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, on Monday, 9 February 2026, at the Ministry of Finance on George Street, Freetown.
Dr. Rahma, who is on a two-day working visit to Sierra Leone, said the visit aims to strengthen dialogue with member states, foster collaboration, and deepen his understanding of Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
As Executive Director representing Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, and Sudan, Dr. Rahma explained that since assuming office, he has been visiting countries within his constituency to better understand their development landscapes, assess economic performance, and enhance collaboration between the Bank and national institutions.
Minister of Finance Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura congratulated Dr. Rahma on his appointment and reaffirmed that the African Development Bank remains a critical development partner to the Government and people of Sierra Leone.
The Minister highlighted the Government’s commitment to ongoing programmes and reforms supported by the AfDB and other development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He further informed the Executive Director of recent economic gains, including improvements in inflation, fiscal deficit, interest rates, and domestic revenue mobilisation. Minister Bangura also outlined the Government’s development priorities under the Big Five Game Changers* and discussed opportunities for aligning the Bank’s project portfolio with these priorities.
Deputy Minister of Finance I, Mrs. Kadiatu Allie, thanked Dr. Rahma for the visit and expressed appreciation to the AfDB for its longstanding partnership with Sierra Leone, noting the Bank’s project interventions across several key development sectors.
During his two-day working visit, Dr. Rahma is expected to hold meetings with other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government.
