By Thomas Dixon –
One of Sierra Leone’s credible and formidable Civil Society Organisation, Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) with speciality in budget analysis, open budget and transparency has published its analysis of the 2025 Budget presented by the Minister of Finance to Parlaiment.
In their analysis, BAN explained that half of the money spent on overseas travel by the government of President Bio, can take care of Free Health Care Drugs, Amulances and the whole recurrent expenditure of Ministries of Social Welfare and Youth.
“If overseas travel expenses incurred in 2023 (NLe 191.8 million) alone is reduced by half, it will take care of the entire budget for free health care drugs, ambulance services, entire recurrent budget allocation for the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Youth Affairs for 2025,” BAN explained.
That while they (BAN) acknowledge some efforts by the government to increase domestic revenue, they are equally concerned with the growing projected increase in the overall budget deficit, including grants from NLe 2.7 billion in 2024 to NLe 7.5 billion in 2025.
That the continued widening in the overall deficit speaks to the fact that the government is spending far more than its domestic revenue and grants, thus resulting in heavy borrowing from the domestic market, which also continues to affect the fiscal space for the government to invest in public services.
“Domestic interest payments alone account for 38% of the projected domestic revenue. To reduce the deficit, among other things, the government should prioritise expenditures by focusing on essential services such as healthcare, education, etc., while cutting unnecessary or low-priority spending, introduce effective government to reduce the cost of stationery, reduce expenditure on overseas travel, and streamline institutions, thereby reducing duplicity,” BAN noted.
BAN called on the government to phase out the recruitment of other sectors in the medium terms besides health and education to reduce the deficit.
P’MENT PROBES DURA PLASTIC
Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Industry, Hon Veronica K Sesay has expressed frustration over the failure of Duraplast and Ferro Fabric factory to start operation in Sierra Leone.
She explained that the agreement was passed in 2021 and that it is three years now they are not seeing any operation or employment.
Mohamed Bility told the committee that they have not started operation yet but they have invested US$ 22M as they are constructing a building closed to SLPP Office at Mabenta.
Hon Sesay said that the committee will be going on oversight to see all the companies that signed agreement with the government of Sierra Leone during that period because the committee want to table their report in parliament.
According her, they called on Duraplast because they are seeing their products in the market.
Hon Sesay said the agreement that was signed with Duraplast is to be producing plastic bowls and iron rods, noting that the committee has not heard from them or seeing people working for the company or anything.
Mohamed Bility, the Acting Manager of Sierra Leone told the committee that the equipment will be in Freetown in twenty days.
Hon Dr. Koroma asked him to show the committee the items they have and bear their logo but the Acting Manager stated that they have a factory in Liberia that sells to Guinea, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone.
Hon Sesay said what frustrated her is because the company has been in Sierra Leone for three years but it is only now, they are building the factory.
Hon Veronica K Sesay said that the minister of trade and his team are not treating the committee with seriousness because the deputy minister told her that she is in a meeting which means that parliament is not important.
She noted that it is the leadership of Parliament that summoned the meeting because they are seeing Duraplast items and Vehicles in Sierra Leone.
Mohamed Bility told journalists that the agreement said they should do their best to get the company fully install in three years but if there is anything that hold the company, Duraplast and Ferro Fabric should inform the Ministry of Trade and industry which they did with the former Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Henry Hinga Sandy.
He assured journalists that the plastic factory will start operation in April 2025 while the iron ore factory will be completed in November 2025 and start operation in December 2025.
He attributed the delay to the Ministry of Trade and the first contractor the company hired.
