AGP Executive Report

Tourism & Branding: Sierra Leone’s Miss World 2026, Mariyam Lorba Konneh, has been named Brand Ambassador by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs after her return to Freetown, with officials citing her role in representing the country internationally. Cost of Living & Politics: Opposition APC member Ahmad Salim Sesay says economic hardship is eroding public confidence in the SLPP, pointing to rising prices; Statistics Sierra Leone reports annual consumer inflation of 15.66% in August 2026. Health & Regulation: Pharmacy authorities mark World Pharmacists Day by warning that informal medicine sellers still undermine Sierra Leone’s push for a more professional, digitally enabled pharmacy sector. UN & Finance Diplomacy: Sierra Leone calls for debt cancellation and fairer global financial architecture at the G77 and China meeting in New York, while also urging better access to SDRs. Land & Investment: A World Bank team visits Port Loko’s Bakeh Loko to support Sierra Leone’s land title registration pilot under the Sierra Leone Land Administration Project. Banking & Business: UBA Sierra Leone announces CEO Mohamed Alhajie Samoura’s resignation effective Sept. 30, with an acting MD expected subject to Bank of Sierra Leone approval. Digital Economy: Three ministries and private partners meet during UNGA week to map practical steps for Sierra Leone’s digital future, linking energy security, connectivity and trade.

Banking Leadership Change: UBA Sierra Leone says CEO/MD Mohamed Alhajie Samoura has resigned effective Sept 30, with Executive Director Francis Esiemokhai set to act as MD pending Bank of Sierra Leone approval. Public Finance & Reform: Sierra Leone Correctional Service presented its 2027–2029 budget priorities, including inmate and staff welfare, mechanised agriculture in facilities, digital record-keeping, and reducing overcrowding. Land Governance: A World Bank delegation visited Bakeh Loko (Port Loko) to support the Sierra Leone Land Administration Project, with mapping, recording and systematic title registration as a pilot blueprint for nationwide rollout. Police Integrity: DIG Andrew Mustapha Kamara warned police against bribery and drug-related misconduct, stressing discipline and professionalism to protect public trust. Campus Finance Access: IPAM (University of Sierra Leone) commissioned new banking facilities for four banks and upgraded postgraduate lecture rooms and a student information unit. Disability Livelihoods: Government launched a US$990,000 skills training project for persons with disabilities, commissioning centres in Kambia and Kenema under UNDP support. Global Policy Watch: UNGA coverage highlights Nigeria’s push for UN Security Council reform and Africa’s demand for permanent seats—an issue Sierra Leone President Bio also echoed in peacebuilding and representation talks.

UN Reform Push: Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima, speaking for President Tinubu at UNGA81, renewed calls for UN Security Council reform—at least two permanent African seats with veto rights and five non-permanent seats—arguing the 1945 power setup no longer fits 2026 realities. Sierra Leone at UN: President Julius Maada Bio met UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, stressing Sierra Leone’s role in peace and calling for “prevent, not just respond” peacebuilding. Skills & Inclusion: Government launched a US$990,000 skills training project for persons with disabilities, commissioning rehabilitated centres in Kambia and Kenema to support livelihoods. NGO Accountability: MoPED held an open information session reviewing NGO funding, implementation and impact, pushing for transparency and better alignment with national development. Energy Investment: Sierra Leone will pitch its offshore oil and gas to global investors at African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, with technical sessions led by PDSL.

UN Reform Push: Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima, speaking for President Tinubu at UNGA81, renewed calls for a radical overhaul of the UN Security Council—at least two permanent African seats with veto powers and five non-permanent seats—arguing the “1945 power” setup no longer fits the world of 2026. Sierra Leone Energy & Investment: Sierra Leone will pitch its offshore oil and gas prospects at African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, with the Petroleum Directorate set for upstream forums and a dedicated investment showcase. Fuel Price Stability: Sierra Leone’s government says fuel supply is adequate and pump prices will stay at NLe40 (petrol) and NLe45 (diesel), with subsidies maintained to protect current rates. Digital Fuel Management Growth: Tango Brook expands the Tango Fuel App into five African markets (including Sierra Leone), targeting tighter corporate control of fuel and generator spending. Budget Watch: Sierra Leone’s FY2027 budget hearings continue as MoICE and the Ministry of Trade and Industry present funding needs and revenue updates. Health & Women’s Rights: First Lady Fatima Maada Bio marks the UN’s new World Day against child, early and forced marriage and calls for concrete action to protect girls.

Agriculture & Finance: Sierra Leone validated its first national agricultural insurance policy to cut farmers’ production risks, with the document set for Cabinet approval and pilots under the Feed Salone agenda, supported by UNCDF and partners. Child Protection & Social Policy: President Julius Maada Bio backed First Lady Fatima Bio’s campaign after the UN General Assembly adopted an International Day to end child, early and forced marriage, with Sierra Leone pointing to its 2024 child marriage law. Health Budgeting: The Ministry of Health put the 2026–2030 health-sector strategy cost at about $2.054bn, seeking higher FY2027 funding to close service-delivery and financing gaps. Governance & Institutions: The Sierra Leone Law School says it remains operational, but a presidential probe into misconduct has exceeded its eight-week mandate, while governance questions persist. Energy & Business Tech: Tango Brook Technologies expanded the Tango Fuel App into five African countries, now including Sierra Leone, offering traceable digital fuel payments and fleet/generator monitoring for corporate users. SME & Payments Modernisation: The World Bank awarded Tunisia’s BFI Groupe a $3.194m contract to upgrade Bank of Sierra Leone systems for automated cheque processing and clearing, under a financial inclusion project. Regional Labour: Sierra Leone joined an AU/ILO tripartite labour migration meeting in Nairobi, focusing on fair recruitment, wage protection and migrant workers’ rights. Sports & Economy: Leone Stars received match allowances ahead of AFCON qualifiers in Morocco, with Sierra Leone’s home venue still under renovation. Fuel Prices (Accountability): A civil society leader accused oil marketers of engineering fuel scarcity to push prices up, urging government to freeze pump prices. International Diplomacy: Sierra Leone used UNGA to renew its push for African representation at the Security Council, arguing peace and global solutions need African leadership.

SME Finance Push: The International Trade Centre (ITC) and Access Bank/Access Africa Office signed a three-year plan to boost small business financing, market access and skills across 14 countries, starting with a Ghana pilot and covering Sierra Leone among others. School Feeding Jobs Link: Sierra Leone’s Information Minister Chernor Bah told UNGA81 that locally sourced school meals can strengthen education while creating markets for farmers and jobs for youth. Inclusive Skills for Persons with Disabilities: India, Sierra Leone and UNDP inaugurated a rehabilitated Skills Training Centre in Kenema under a US$990,000 India–UN grant, expanding TVET and entrepreneurship pathways for people with disabilities. Power and Cost of Living: Liberia’s finance minister used UNGA to argue that electricity access must rise fast, with smart metering and financial sustainability to cut losses—an energy lesson for the region. Digital Public Infrastructure: Minister Salima Monorma Bah urged universal global standards for digital public infrastructure to avoid exclusion and expand access to services. Constitutional Reform Debate: SLPP, APC and civil society debated the two-thirds threshold for constitutional amendments under Section 108(2)(b). Food Prices Pressure: In Pujehun, rainy-season transport disruptions are pushing up staple prices, squeezing household purchasing power.

School Feeding Push: Information Minister Chernor Bah says school meals must be folded into Sierra Leone’s wider education, agriculture and human-capital plans, arguing hunger directly blocks learning. SME Finance Boost: ITC and Access Bank launch a three-year, 14-country partnership starting with a Ghana pilot, aiming to expand SME financing, skills and market access, including Sierra Leone. Inclusive Skills for Disabilities: India, UNDP and Sierra Leone inaugurate a rehabilitated Skills Training Centre in Kenema under a US$990,000 grant, expanding vocational training and entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities. Digital Public Infrastructure Standards: Communication Minister Salima Bah urges universal safeguards as countries roll out digital public infrastructure, warning poor design can deepen exclusion. Excise Tax Compliance: NRA trains clearing and forwarding agencies on excise tax stamps with SICPA to curb evasion, smuggling and counterfeiting. Cost of Living Pressure: Rising food prices in Pujehun Town are blamed on rainy-season transport disruptions and poor roads, squeezing household budgets. Kenema Skills Centre: The Kenema centre is part of rehabilitating six training sites nationwide to widen pathways to economic independence. UN Peacebuilding in Pujehun: U TEAM SL launches the INSPIRE programme to fight misinformation and strengthen youth and gender-inclusive civic engagement across six chiefdoms. Cricket Update: Sierra Leone’s Men’s Patriots beat Ghana by six wickets in Lagos, setting up the next match vs Nigeria.

SME Finance & Skills: ITC and Access Africa Office (Access Bank) signed a three-year partnership to boost SME access to finance and markets, starting with a Ghana pilot and covering Sierra Leone plus 13 other countries. Excise Compliance: Sierra Leone’s NRA trained clearing and forwarding agencies with SICPA on excise tax stamp handling and verification to curb evasion, smuggling and counterfeiting. Gold Offtake Deal: Bank of Sierra Leone signed an MoU with FG Gold to buy gold from the Baomahun mine in local currency once production starts, strengthening reserves. Health Budget Push: Health and Gender ministries presented FY2027 funding requests to Finance, with Health seeking NLe341.27m recurrent and NLe263.57m capital to sustain services and infrastructure. TVET for Returnees: NAYCOM and IOM signed an agreement to expand TVET training for returnee youth in Freetown and Makeni under an EU-funded programme. Power Disruptions: Residents of Wellington in eastern Freetown reported recurring blackouts affecting homes and small businesses, calling for sustained utility intervention. Revenue Enforcement: NRA sealed BBT Quarry in Cline Town over an unpaid EIA licence fee of NLe276,935.42. Peacebuilding in Pujehun: U TEAM SL launched the INSPIRE programme in Pujehun to tackle misinformation and strengthen youth and gender-led civic engagement across six chiefdoms. Regional Trade Rules: ECOWAS Court urged media to press member states on enforcement of regional judgments, while ECOWAS competition talks in Banjul drew Sierra Leone’s deputy finance minister.

Education Budget Crunch: Sierra Leone’s Technical and Higher Education Ministry warned of funding gaps, delayed university subventions and infrastructure shortfalls heading into the FY2027 budget process, even as it pushes more technical institutes and digital upgrades. Budget Prep Talks: The Finance Ministry has started bilateral reviews with agriculture and education agencies to assess spending needs and past performance before allocations run through October 3. Gold Market Move: The Bank of Sierra Leone signed an MoU with FG Gold to buy gold from the Baomahun mine once commercial production starts, using local-currency payments to strengthen reserves. Power Supply Pressure: Wellington residents in Freetown report recurring blackouts despite earlier transformer work, urging sustained utility and government intervention. Revenue Enforcement: The NRA sealed BBT Quarry in Cline Town over an unpaid EIA licence fee of NLe 276,935.42, warning other regulated businesses to settle obligations. Football Finance: SLFA President Babadi Kamara told FIFA about revenue initiatives and digital player registration plans to boost football funding. Bolle Jos Fallout: European pressure is intensifying over Sierra Leone’s handling of fugitive Dutch drug trafficker Jos “Bolle Jos” Leijdekkers, with fresh scrutiny of the country’s international reputation. Digital Rights in MRU: A Sierra Leone lawmaker urged Mano River Union states to adopt human-centered AI and digital rights rules, including privacy and safety protections.

Youth & Health Investment: Sierra Leone’s youth minister urged bigger spending on young people’s health, education, skills and jobs, warning that issues like mental health, HIV, gender-based violence and digital gaps must be tackled as “strategic investment,” not charity. Digital Rights & AI Governance: A Sierra Leone lawmaker called for human-centered digital laws across the Mano River Union, pushing affordable internet, stronger privacy protections, and regional AI cooperation. IMF Talks on Reforms: President Bio met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to review Sierra Leone’s economic progress and ongoing reforms aimed at stability and growth. Startup Push: ECOWAS launched a $65,000 Startup Awards drive in Abuja, selecting 60 regional startups (including Sierra Leone) to compete for seed funding and deal facilitation. Food & Prices: Chicken Town Sierra Leone announced a modest Oct. 1 price adjustment due to rising commodity and supply costs. Football Budget: The Sierra Leone FA said AFCON qualifiers will cost government close to $2m, with matches staged in Morocco due to stadium constraints. Trade & Logistics: Maersk opened a 1,500 TEU container depot in Kribi, Cameroon, to ease West Africa supply-chain bottlenecks. Security & Trade Integrity: Coverage highlighted how corruption and weak port controls across West Africa enable trafficking networks, arguing ECOWAS needs shared tools to stop “one border at a time” failures.

Food Prices: Chicken Town Sierra Leone says it will raise prices from Oct. 1, blaming higher costs of key ingredients and supplies. Sports Finance: The Sierra Leone Football Association estimates the Leone Stars’ AFCON qualifiers will cost government close to US$2m, with “home” matches staged in Morocco due to stadium limits. Party Politics: The SLPP has launched a membership clean-up, saying some claimed members can’t be verified in its records, while Hon. Musa Tarawally rejects the party’s directive and vows legal action. Governance & Integrity: Sierra Leone faces renewed scrutiny over alleged narco-hub state capture, as one commentary warns criminal networks are exploiting political and institutional weaknesses. Youth & Development: A regional youth convening in Abuja calls for bigger investment in young people’s health, education, skills and jobs to drive sustainable development. Community Savings: SEND Sierra Leone reports Moyamba District communities are strengthening Village Savings and Loans Associations to improve household resilience and nutrition. Telecom Investment: Africell secured US EXIM financing of US$99.6m for Angola, with the operator also active in Sierra Leone.

SLPP Internal Crisis: Sierra Leone’s ruling SLPP has issued a public disclaimer telling members, supporters and the business community to stop all official dealings with flagbearer hopeful Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally under the party’s name, logo or authority, escalating a dispute over his dual-party membership claims. Fiscal Reform & Budgeting: Finance Minister Karefa A.F. Kargbo has launched the FY2027 budget preparation process, outlining a fiscal reform agenda focused on boosting domestic revenue, tightening public financial management and prioritising jobs, infrastructure and digital transformation. Digital Trust & AI: Government launched a national AI and deepfake awareness campaign in Freetown to help citizens spot manipulated content and use AI responsibly, supported by the World Bank via the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project. Mining Sector Watch: The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources met Marampa Mines Ltd to review its financial challenges and discuss steps to strengthen sustainability and keep operations running. Local Finance for Households: SEND Sierra Leone is strengthening Village Savings and Loans Associations in Moyamba District under the NOURISH & THRIVE project, aiming to improve household resilience and nutrition. Sports Funding: SLFA injected US$200,000 into the Men’s and Women’s Premier League boards ahead of the 2026/2027 season start on 10 October. Telecom Investment: Africell received a US$99.6m EXIM Bank loan to expand and upgrade mobile network technology in Angola, with knock-on implications for regional connectivity.

SLPP Party Dispute: SLPP flagbearer aspirant Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally rejected the party’s Sept. 19 directive, saying it is irregular and that he will pursue legal and constitutional remedies over claims he holds dual membership and should stop using the SLPP logo. Digital Integrity: Government launched a national AI and deepfake awareness campaign to help citizens spot manipulated content, with support from the World Bank under the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project. Fiscal Push: Finance Minister Karefa A.F. Kargbo kicked off the FY2027 budget process, outlining a fiscal reform agenda focused on boosting domestic revenue and tightening public financial management. Mining Oversight: The Ministry of Mines engaged Marampa Mines Ltd to review its financial challenges and discuss steps to sustain operations. Telecom Finance: EXIM Bank approved a US$99.6m loan to Africell for Angola network expansion using advanced mobile technology. Public Safety: Sierra Leone Police issued a wanted notice for Freetown businessman Hussein Khalil over an alleged $28,200 fraud scheme. Health Systems: ECA and Yemi Osinbajo advanced efforts for sustainable domestic health financing across Africa, amid shrinking external support.

Fiscal Reform Push: Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister Karefa A.F. Kargbo has kicked off the FY2027 budget process, outlining a fiscal reform agenda focused on boosting domestic revenue, tightening public financial management and improving efficiency to support jobs and resilience. Digital Trust & Identity: Government launched a national AI and deepfake awareness campaign to help citizens spot manipulated content, while the NCRA extended free National ID registration to inmates at Freetown correctional facilities to improve access to services after release. Politics & Business Risk: The SLPP issued a public disclaimer telling party members, the public and even corporate and financial institutions to stop official dealings with Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally under the SLPP banner without clearance—raising reputational and transaction risks for counterparties. Security & Fraud: Police issued a wanted notice for Freetown businessman Hussein Khalil over an alleged $28,200 fraud scheme. Sports Funding: SLFA injected US$200,000 into the Men’s and Women’s Premier Leagues ahead of the 2026/2027 season. Mining Oversight: The Ministry of Mines engaged Marampa Mines Ltd to review financial challenges and discuss steps to sustain operations.

EXIM Financing for Telecom Expansion: Africell secured a US$99.6m direct loan from the US EXIM Bank to upgrade its Angola network with advanced mobile technology, aiming to boost coverage, reliability and competition. Budget Push for FY2027: Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister Karefa A.F. Kargbo launched the FY2027 budget process, outlining a fiscal reform agenda focused on domestic revenue, tighter public financial management and job-creating resilience. Digital Trust Campaign: Government launched a national AI and deepfake awareness drive to help citizens spot manipulated content and use AI responsibly, supported by the World Bank through the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project. Mining Sector Engagement: The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources met Marampa Mines Ltd to review its financial challenges and discuss steps to protect the company’s sustainability and contribution to the mining economy. Sports Funding: SLFA injected US$200,000 into the Men’s and Women’s Premier League boards to prepare for the 2026/2027 season. Identity for Inmates: NCRA and the Sierra Leone Correctional Service registered 100 inmates for National Identification Numbers, with free national ID cards to support reintegration. Football Court Case: A Freetown businessman, Mohamed Kargbo, was sentenced to 18 months for stealing US$300, with an option to repay.

Fiscal Reform & Jobs: Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister Karefa A.F. Kargbo has kicked off the FY2027 budget process, outlining a push for stronger domestic revenue, tighter public financial management, and spending aligned to jobs, infrastructure, digital transformation and private-sector growth. Digital Trust: Government launched a national AI and deepfake awareness campaign in Freetown to help citizens spot manipulated content and use AI responsibly, funded through the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project with World Bank support. Public Procurement Reform: The National Public Procurement Authority met the Islamic Development Bank to deepen collaboration on e-GP digital procurement, open data, capacity building and transparency/anti-corruption controls. Identity for Reintegration: NCRA and the Sierra Leone Correctional Service registered 100 inmates for National Identification Numbers, with free ID cards to support access to work, education and financial services after release. Governance & Compliance: MoPED warned the public against dealing with “World Changing Centre Charity,” saying it is not a registered NGO. Diplomacy & Trade: China and Sierra Leone marked 55 years of diplomatic relations at a Freetown reception, highlighting economic and technology cooperation. Local Courts: A Freetown businessman, Mohamed Kargbo, was sentenced to 18 months for stealing US$300, with an option to repay.