Cabinet Approves $73.8M Development, Land, and Pension Reforms

Sierra Leone’s Cabinet has approved a $73.8 million development package and reforms targeting land administration, pensions, tourism, and mining, government officials announced Tuesday.

At a press briefing, Minister Chernor Bah outlined the initiatives, emphasizing their role in advancing food security, housing, and climate resilience.

The newly sanctioned financial backing spans three key initiatives designed to stimulate economic growth and boost local production:

• Affordable Housing Financing ($10M): A BADEA loan will fund equity acquisition in Shelter Afrique Development Bank to boost housing infrastructure capital.

• Rice Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone ($23.8M): Financed via the African Development Fund, Phase One will construct hubs to expand sustainable rice production and processing.

• Sustainable Agriculture Value Chain Project ($40M): An IDA grant will support climate-smart agriculture and market access for 100,000 farmers.

“Feed Salone remains a priority for this government,” Minister Bah stated, highlighting that the agricultural investments are tailored to generate employment and secure the domestic food supply.

In tandem with the funding approvals, Cabinet endorsed significant legislative updates across several state functions:

Pension Modernization: Cabinet approved replacing the 25-year-old National Social Security and Insurance Trust Act of 2001 with the proposed National Social Security and Pensions Authority Act of 2026. The updated legislation aims to extend pension coverage to self-employed, informal, and digital economy workers while improving fund governance.

Land Title Modernization: The introduction of the Land Adjudication Bill and Land Title Registration Regulations will establish a unified National Land Register and an online verification system to streamline land ownership verification and combat property fraud.

Mining and Tourism Governance: Cabinet authorized designating strategic mineral assets to the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation for structured state oversight. 

Additionally, the government resolved to seek a seat on the UN Tourism Executive Council for the 2027–2031 term to elevate the country’s global tourism profile.

The financial agreements and legislative bills are expected to be submitted to Parliament for formal ratification before the end of the year.