Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698836851329.pdf (Sierra Leone)
PARLIAMENT BUILDING OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL FREETOWN E-mail: sierraleoneparliament@hotmail.com/admin@parliament.gov.sl 24th NOVEMBER, 2021 PRESS RELEASE FIRST ALLOTTED DAY: PARLIAMENT COMMENCES DEBATE ON NATIONAL BUDGET FOR 2022 The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Wednesday 24/11/2021 commenced debate on the Bill entitled: "The Appropriation Act of 2022 for the authorization of expenditure for the financial year 2022 and for other related matters for the services of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Contributing, Chairman of Finance Committee, Hon.

Francis Amara Kaisamba thanked the Minister of Finance and Team for presenting a solid budget to Parliament for consideration.

He said the GDP of the country was projected to grow by 6.9%, but COVID-19 pandemic prevented that projection and the economy was contracted by 4.0%.

He described the budget as "honest".


He said based on certain indicators in the medium term, he said the economy would do well in 2022, whilst speaking on challenges and achievements in the health and education sectors.

Hon.

Sallieu O. Sesay said COVID-19 should not be used as an excuse for the poor performance of the economy.

He described the budget as "suffer posh" and spoke on other economic challenges including disparities in the wage Bill.

Hon.
Hon.

Sahr Charles said in spite of the huge sums of money allocated to free quality education, yet it was not serving the desired purpose.

He commended government for efforts that are being made to improve tertiary education in the country.

Hon.

Joseph Williams-Lamin thanked President Bio for championing development in the country and said the budget was all embracing to realize the development aspirations of Government.
He said as government, they are doing all they could to improve the livelihoods of the people of Sierra Leone.

Hon.

Abdul Munir Lansana said government has done well by establishing new MDAs and 25% increments on the salaries of teachers and security forces was a step in the right direction.

He said the budget was a direct response to economic growth and recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in light of diversification of the economy, human capital development and social protection services.
Hon.

Abdul Karim Kamara said the current Government has presented five budgets and all they had said on education, fiscal management and employments could not be felt on the ground.

He said the budget was in contrast with what the Minister of Finance presented to Parliament for consideration.

Hon.

Umpha Koroma said the economy was on life support and said the depreciation of the Leone against the Dollar has negative impacts on the economy of the country.
He said poor management of the economy has made the people worse off and referred to the budget as a bloated one.

Hon.

Dr. Munir Turay said the investments so far on education have yielded positive results and spoke on effective debts management and prudent expenditures to improve the economy of the country, adding the economy was doing well before it was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic.

Hon.
Hon.

Musa Fofanah thanked Government for efforts that have been made for the construction of the university of science and technology in Kono District and called on Parliament to provide more funds to enhance effective oversight on MDAs for the development of the country.

He said a lot needed to be done for the supply of safe and clean water to the people of Sierra Leone.

Hon.
Hon.

Moses Edwin debunked some statements made on the economy and that of the wage Bill, whilst he was speaking on the negative impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the economy of the country.

He described the budget as true to the current economic situation in the country.

Hon.

Abdul Aziz Bangura thanked Government for allocating funds to persons living with disability.

He said he was disappointed that the budget did not cater for a bridge to link Lungi and its environs.

Hon.
Hon.

Abdul K. Kamara said he was expecting the Minister of Finance to work with the theme of the budget and questioned huge allocation of resources to the office of the Chief Minister as against other important sectors of Government.

Hon.

Veronica K. Sesay commended the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for the high impacts and transformation in that sector and thanked the Minister of Finance for presenting a credible budget to Parliament for consideration.
Calling on MPs to support gender inclusion and mainstreaming in politics, she said in respect of trade, the government has reduced taxes considerably to alleviate suffering of the masses and to improve small and medium enterprises in the country.

The debate continues tomorrow.

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