By Theresa Kef Sesay
Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Member of Parliament representing Constituency 30 in the Bombali District has heaped praises on the Ministry of Finance for managing the country’s economy despite the COVID-19 pandemic that is affecting the world’s economy.
He manifested that on the 24th November 2020 in the Well of Parliament while making his submission in the ongoing Government Budget and Statement of Economic and Financial Policies debate.
“I agree with the Minister of Finance that the outbreak of the Corona Virus is posing a serious challenge to the country’s economy. It is a global phenomenon. The Finance Minister and his team have done a little bit of a good job,” he said and reminded Sierra Leoneans that the Coronavirus is not yet over.
“This administration very much believes in institutions like the International Monetary Fund(IMF) and World Bank, noting that for Sierra Leone to be participating in the global financial system is very important and the Government has done very well in that area,” the MP stated.
He however expressed frustration over the 6 percent budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture, noting that it is far from the 10 percent according to the Maputo Declaration for African Countries and stressed the need for Government to invest in Agriculture.
He regarded the lack of transshipment and monitoring as factors affecting the Fisheries sector and stressed the importance of fisheries in the country.
“As a proactive Government, we took necessary steps to respond to the pandemic even before Sierra Leone recorded its COVID-19 index case on 30th March 2020). These steps culminated into the COVID-19 Health Preparedness and Response Plan, which focused on SAVING LIVES and the Quick Action Economic Response Programme (QAERP), which focused on SAVING LIVELIHOOD,” according to paragraph two of the FY 2021 Budget Speech delivered by the Minister of Finance Mr. Jacob Jusu Saffa.
