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Sierra Leone Government Spending Outpaces Revenue in First Four Months of 2026

SierraLoaded News | 6/2/2026, 3:15:33 PM

Sierra Leone’s consolidated fund recorded a fiscal deficit of more than 370 million Leones between January and April 2026, as government spending exceeded total revenue and foreign grants, according to the latest Statement of Fiscal Operations released by the Accountant General’s office. The report, published for the month ended 30th April 2026, shows that total revenue and grants receipts stood at SLE 5.84 billion for the January-to-April period. However, total government expenditure over the same four months reached SLE 6.21 billion, leaving a shortfall of approximately SLE 370 million. The deficit comes despite an annual budgeted revenue target of SLE 22.16 billion in domestic revenue alone, not including foreign grants. Domestic revenue collection weakened significantly in April, falling to SLE 1.46 billion from SLE 2.04 billion in March — a drop of nearly 30 per cent in a single month. Income tax receipts were particularly hard hit, declining from SLE 983 million in March to just SLE 590 million in April. Foreign grants, which were budgeted at SLE 3.77 billion for the full year, have all but failed to materialise so far. Between January and April, the government received only SLE 5.78 million in direct budgetary support from international organisations — barely 0.15 per cent of the annual target. No bilateral grants were recorded at all. On the expenditure side, the largest outlays fell under general public services, which consumed SLE 2.28 billion in the first four months. Public order and safety followed closely at SLE 924 million, while economic affairs accounted for SLE 330 million. Personnel expenditure for April alone stood at SLE 678 million, while other charges — including project arrears — reached SLE 873 million. Domestic development spending was comparatively modest at SLE 325 million for the month. The report was signed by Accountant General Richard S. Williams, in accordance with Section 66(1) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016. The post Sierra Leone Government Spending Outpaces Revenue in First Four Months of 2026 appeared first on Sierraloaded .

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