The newly appointed Country Manager of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group for Sierra Leone, Andoh Obed Mensah, has officially presented his Letters of Credence to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francess Piagie Alghali, at a ceremony held on March 22 in Freetown.
Deputy Minister Alghali welcomed Mensah and reaffirmed the strong and longstanding partnership between Sierra Leone and the AfDB Group. She highlighted the Bank’s significant contributions to the country’s development, particularly in agriculture, transport, energy, and water and sanitation.
According to her, the Bank’s support aligns closely with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan, and she expressed confidence that Mensah’s appointment would further strengthen cooperation.
The AfDB remains a key development partner for Sierra Leone, with a portfolio of 89 approved operations and total commitments amounting to $1.36 billion.
The African Development Fund, the concessional arm of the Bank Group, accounts for the largest share at $769 million. Additional financing includes $42.6 million from the Bank’s public sector window, $33 million in non-sovereign investments, and $549.9 million mobilised through trust funds and other financing instruments administered by the Bank.
The Bank’s interventions span critical sectors such as water and sanitation, agriculture, energy, transport, governance, health, and education. These efforts have contributed to improved access to clean water, enhanced urban resilience in Freetown, strengthened agricultural value chains, expanded rural electrification, supported public financial management reforms, and boosted regional connectivity through Mano River Union transport corridors.
Mensah expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed the AfDB Group’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s development agenda. He noted that the country holds strong economic potential and pledged to prioritise policy dialogue, faster project implementation, and private sector development.
The AfDB Group says it will continue to work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone and other stakeholders to deliver sustainable development outcomes and maximise the impact of its operations across the country.
