By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Sierra Leone for $224.2 million in support of the authorities’ economic development efforts.
Growth is expected to reach 7 percent in the medium-term and under the program, inflation is expected to fall to 12 percent by end-2017, further declining to 9.5 percent in 2018 and narrowing by about 0.5 percent each year thereafter.
The program aims at supporting important policies targeted at reducing inflation and significantly increasing domestic revenues, while increasing infrastructure spending and bolstering the social safety net.
It was gathered that the Executive Board’s decision will enable a first immediate disbursement of $54.3 million.
Business Post further gathered that the loan was approved by the board on Monday, June 5, 2017 and the programme will build on the lessons from the previous ECF arrangement.
It will support important policies targeted at reducing inflation and significantly increasing domestic revenues, including by eliminating numerous tax and duty exemptions, while increasing infrastructure spending and bolstering the social safety net.
The ECF program is also expected to play a catalytic role to maintain external support. In the medium-term, the arrangement will provide the framework for structural progress on revenue mobilization, public financial management and financial sector reforms, as well as increased reserves.
Commenting on the development, IMF Deputy Managing Director, Mr Tao Zhang and Acting Chair, noted that, “The new program provides support on three broad fronts: (i) provide financing space in the short-run to fund critical spending; (ii) make a strong contribution to the reduction of poverty; and (iii) support a medium-term structural reform framework, most critically in domestic revenue mobilization, public financial management (PFM), and financial sector reform.
“For the medium-term, the new program focuses on forceful revenue mobilization supported by a medium-term Revenue Mobilization Strategy (RMS), which the authorities will design and implement. On the expenditure front, the authorities are in the process of finalizing the regulatory framework for the recently passed PFM Act. The PFM Act will enhance the efficiency of spending, support medium-term budget planning, and consolidate the cash resources of various ministries, departments and agencies under the roof of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“In the short-run, the ECF arrangement will help create fiscal space, which will be used to scale up infrastructure and social spending to support higher and inclusive growth. To further this goal, the authorities’ decision to prioritize public investment, consistent with a moderate risk of debt distress rating, is welcome. The authorities’ efforts to expand the social safety net are also to be commended.
“The authorities’ commitment to implement a fuel subsidy reform no later than the second ECF review is important for a sustainable budget. In the meantime, the alternative actions taken to compensate for the delay in the implementation of this reform are welcome. These measures are the elimination of all import duty and GST exemptions as well as the collection of royalties from mining companies based on published market prices.
“Sierra Leone’s risk of debt distress remains moderate. Financing needs, particularly for large-scale investment projects will need to be covered mostly with grants and concessional loans. In addition, non-debt generating options should be considered for the proposed new airport.
“Monetary policy will remain focused on lowering inflation to single digits. The Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) shall seek to build reserves, while allowing further exchange rate flexibility and limiting its interventions to smooth exchange rate volatility. The BSL should also take firm action to strengthen the financial system, based on the conclusions of the recently completed diagnostics for the two state-owned banks. The establishment of a civil registry and financial sector reforms, including the move toward risk-based supervision, should help increase credit to private sector.
“Structural reforms aimed at enhancing governance and improving the business environment will help increase support for private sector participation in the economy and promote economic diversification.”
