Mensah presented the Letters to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francess Piagie Alghali, during a ceremony held on March 22. The event marked the official start of his tenure in the country.
Deputy Minister Alghali welcomed Mensah and underscored the strong and longstanding partnership between Sierra Leone and the AfDB. She highlighted the Bank’s substantial contributions to national development, particularly in agriculture, transport, energy, and water and sanitation.
She said the Bank’s support is well aligned with the priorities outlined in Sierra Leone’s Medium‑Term National Development Plan and expressed confidence that Mensah’s appointment would further strengthen cooperation.
The AfDB remains a key development partner for Sierra Leone, with 89 approved operations and cumulative commitments totalling $1.36 billion. The African Development Fund accounts for the largest share of the portfolio 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 Bank‑administered instruments.
The Bank’s portfolio spans critical sectors including water and sanitation, agriculture, energy, transport, governance, health and education. These interventions have improved access to clean water and strengthened urban resilience in Freetown, enhanced food security and agricultural value chains nationwide, expanded rural electrification, supported public financial management reforms and improved regional connectivity through transport corridors within the Mano River Union.
Mensah expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and reaffirmed the AfDB’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
“It is an honour to serve as Country Manager for Sierra Leone, a country with strong economic potential,” Mensah said. “The Bank remains fully committed to supporting economic transformation through strengthened policy dialogue, accelerated project implementation and enhanced private sector development.”
The AfDB said it will continue working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone and national stakeholders to maximise the developmental impact of its operations.
–AfDB/ChannelAfrica–
