BY: MOHAMED SAHR
Sierra Leone has been ranked 47th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Report on Open Budget Survey, according to an updated statement released by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. This ranking reflects a significant improvement of 17 points from its 2021 ranking of 64 out of 125.
The country has been commended for its sustained commitment to transparency and accountability across various sectors. The Open Budget Survey (OBS), recognized as the world’s only independent, comparative, and fact-based research instrument, assesses public access to central government budget information, opportunities for public participation in the national budget process, and the role of budget oversight institutions such as legislatures and national audit offices.
Sierra Leone’s notable progress in transparency is reflected in its scorecard, with a score of 55 out of 100, surpassing countries like Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tomé e Principe. The assessment focuses on public access to information on how the central government raises and spends public resources, evaluating the availability, timeliness, and comprehensiveness of eight key budget documents.
These documents include Pre-Budget Statements, Executive Budget Proposals, Enacted Budgets, Citizens Budgets, In-Year Reports, Mid-year Reviews, Year-End Reports, and Audit Reports. Sierra Leone’s transparency score of 55 in the OBS 2023 marks a significant improvement from 45 in 2021 and 38 in 2017.
The Ministry of Finance attributes this improvement to government efforts in implementing reforms aimed at enhancing the availability of budget information, particularly through increased information provided in the Enacted Budget and In-Year Reports. President Bio’s administration remains committed to implementing further reforms in areas such as Public Participation and Budget Oversight to ensure continued improvement in Sierra Leone’s ranking and public financial management.
The recognition of Sierra Leone’s progress in transparency and accountability underscores the government’s dedication to fostering good governance and ensuring responsible financial management. The Ministry of Finance reaffirms its commitment to transparency and pledges to continue working towards enhancing public access to budget information and promoting participatory budgeting processes.
