The Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, has in the Chamber of Parliament on Friday outlined the potential risks which could derail the implementation of the National Budget for the financial year 2021.
According to the Minister, further delay in the resumption of iron ore mining in both Tonkolili and Lunsar would negatively affect growth, exports, and domestic revenue and foreign exchange earnings in Sierra Leone.
He also mentioned that the delay or non-disbursement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) budget support loan would result to delay in budget execution or a cut in some expenditure categories which includes payment of arrears, support to State-Owned Enterprises and completion of capital projects in the energy and road sector.
Minister Saffa also noted that delay in implementing policy reforms especially those linked to the disbursement of World Bank budget support would also affect the implementation of the National Budget for 2021.
He outlined that if COVID-19 continues to prevail in the country; the pandemic would delay the economic recovery and would continue to negatively affect government finances, adding that the occurrence of natural disasters and associated emergency spending could also potentially derail the implementation of the 2021 budget.
By George M.O. Williams
17/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7952