The Ministry of Finance on Friday, August 21, 2026, held the final stakeholder consultation on the proposed revised Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, 2026. The engagement brought together Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and their representatives at the Ministry’s Conference Room on George Street, Freetown.
The consultation formed part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to review and update the PFM legal framework to reflect current economic realities, strengthen fiscal governance, and promote greater accountability and efficiency in the management of public resources.
Chairing the session, Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie described the consultation as a significant stage in the review process. He noted that public financial management continues to evolve and must respond to emerging economic, institutional, and technological challenges.
Mr. Dingie assured participants that their views, recommendations, and concerns would be properly documented and carefully considered before the revised draft is submitted to Cabinet and subsequently presented to Parliament. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to an inclusive, evidence-based, and transparent review process that safeguards the public interest.
Acting Minister of Finance Kadiatu Alie welcomed the review, describing it as timely and essential to strengthening Sierra Leone’s fiscal governance framework. She stated that the revised legislation should provide a modern legal foundation for effective fiscal planning, sound treasury management, stronger financial oversight, and improved management of fiscal risks.
She further emphasized the need to incorporate digital financial management systems and emerging approaches to public finance into the revised Act.
Technical presentations by the Ministry’s legal representative and PFM consultants provided an overview of the existing 2016 PFM Act, the rationale behind the review, emerging challenges, and key proposed reforms. The proposed amendments include new, revised, and expanded provisions aimed at improving the effectiveness and applicability of the legislation.
Following the presentations, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and their representatives engaged in discussions, providing comments, suggestions, and recommendations on various aspects of the proposed legislation. Participants highlighted the importance of ensuring that the revised Act adequately addresses Sierra Leone’s current public financial management needs.
The Ministry assured stakeholders that all contributions would be documented and considered during the finalization of the draft legislation.
The conclusion of the consultation marks a major milestone in the review process, with the revised PFM Act expected to proceed to Cabinet for consideration and approval before its eventual submission to Parliament.