By Mohamed Lamin Banya
The Chief Economist at the Ministry of Finance, Alimamy Bangura, says Sierra Leone’s economy had shown strong improvement before the outbreak of conflict involving Iran.
Speaking on the country’s economic outlook, Alimamy said key indicators had improved significantly in recent years. Government revenue increased from 7.2 percent in 2022 to 11.3 percent in 2025, while inflation dropped to 4 percent and the exchange rate remained relatively stable.
He added that the gap between revenue and expenditure narrowed from 6 percent of GDP in 2022 to 4 percent in 2025, and the trade deficit also reduced.
According to him, these gains show that the country’s economic fundamentals are being managed well by economic authorities.
However, the Chief Economist warned that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could threaten Sierra Leone’s economic growth.
Rising global fuel prices, he said, could increase the cost of food and other essential goods.
He assured citizens that the Government is working on measures to cushion the impact on the population, similar to the support programmes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
