The Executive Director (ED), Africa West Constituency of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Professor Ouattara Wautabouna, ends a five-day working visit in Sierra Leone after a series of engagements with members of the economic management on key issues and the current Extended Credit Facility Programme with the Fund.
Professor Ouattara Wautabouna arrived in Freetown on Thursday, 13th February, and was a guest at the Convergence Meeting of Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the West Africa Monetary Zone on Friday, 14th February, at Radisson Blu Hotel.
He later paid a courtesy visit to the Vice President, Honourable Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, where the Honourable Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura introduced the IMF Executive Director and informed the Vice President that Prof. Wautabouna made Sierra Leone his first official visit since taking up his appointment in November 2024. Prof Wautabouna was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cote D’Ivoire before being appointed Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund.
Prof. Wautabouna thanked the Vice President for the warm reception, and expressed his gratitude to President Bio for voting for him and being committed to work diligently to promote Sierra Leone’s interest in the IMF.
Prof Wautabouna informed the Vice President that the objective of his visitation was to understand the country’s position under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement with the IMF, on-going discussion on the Resilience Credit Facility (RSF), and to support the country to ensure the completion of the first review.
The Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, welcomed the Executive Director and thanked the International Monetary Fund for their support and advice to the Government of President Bio.
He informed the Executive Director that Sierra Leone is committed to the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, and the government is taking measures to improve domestic revenue mobilisation effort.
The Vice President emphasised the importance of having the resources to invest in the Government’s BIG FIVE GAME CHANGERS, reiterating the challenge the Government is facing in expanding infrastructure due to lack of resources.
He admonished the International Financial Institutions to support the country in addressing the binding constraints to economic growth and development.
The Honourable Minister of Finance also explained to the Vice President that Africa West Constituency is a new Constituency within the IMF; and as Chairperson of the Constituency Panel, he has been supporting the work of ED.
The Constituency has 14 countries, including Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal, Liberia, Mali, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Togo, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Guinea.
The ED also met with the Minister of Finance and team on Monday, 17th February, where the Minister of Finance briefed him on the progress of the ECF programme and the general economic outlook with inflation declining, a stable exchange rate, and challenges in debt and domestic revenue generation.
Professor Ouattara Wautabouna committed to working with the Government of Sierra Leone to address the challenging issues, and admonished the team to show strong commitments to meet the agreed benchmarks.
Credit: MOF Communications
