By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Finance, through its Public Debt Management Division and with support from the Enhancing Efficiency in Public Debt Management Institutional Support Project (EEPDMISP), has concluded a three-day capacity-building workshop for economists, budget officers, and accountants from selected Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on public debt management and its implications for fiscal policy.
The training, held from July 1 to 3, 2026, at the Family Kingdom Conference Hall in Aberdeen, Freetown, brought together participants from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Defence.
The workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of public debt management by enhancing their ability to identify the fiscal risks associated with poor debt management practices and government borrowing.
Participants received training on a wide range of topics, including the fundamentals of public debt, the roles of key stakeholders in debt management, Sierra Leone’s public debt dynamics, the different types of public debt, government borrowing, debt transparency and accountability, the legal and institutional framework for debt management, and the economic and social impacts of public debt.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, the Deputy Director of the Public Debt Management Division, Charles Conteh, expressed appreciation to the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Sierra Leone for supporting the initiative through a grant aimed at strengthening public debt management in the country.
He said the training would improve the knowledge and capacity of government officials responsible for economic planning, budgeting, and debt management, thereby contributing to more effective public financial management.
Mr. Conteh encouraged participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the workshop in their respective institutions, emphasizing their critical role in ensuring prudent public debt management and responsible public expenditure.
He further disclosed that the Public Debt Management Division plans to extend similar training to staff of local councils across the country, recognizing their important role in implementing government-funded projects and supporting sound financial management at the local level.
The initiative forms part of the Government of Sierra Leone’s broader efforts to strengthen debt governance, improve fiscal sustainability, and enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.