AfDB Executive Director Pays Courtesy Call on Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
The Executive Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Elsiddig Mohamed Rahma, has paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in the implementation of Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone agenda and to enhance ongoing investments in the agricultural sector.
The visit, which took place on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, was held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall on the second floor of the Youyi Building in Freetown. Senior officials of the Ministry in attendance included the Deputy Minister I, Dr Theresa Tenneh Dick, and the Senior Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nancy A.S. Tengbeh.
Welcoming the AfDB delegation, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, underscored the central role of agriculture in transforming Sierra Leone’s economy. He said President Julius Maada Bio views agriculture as a key engine for national development.
Dr Kpaka explained that the Feed Salone strategy is designed to address hunger, poverty and malnutrition, while creating employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people. He noted that the continued support of development partners such as the African Development Bank remains critical to translating the President’s agricultural vision into tangible results.
He added that the Ministry’s commitment extends beyond Feed Salone, with a strong focus on building a resilient and sustainable food system. According to the Minister, this has been supported by a series of reforms aimed at transitioning from subsistence farming to more commercial and competitive agriculture, strengthening policy frameworks, and consolidating financing for key interventions. He cited partners such as the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) and the Sierra Leone Rice Agro-Industrial Cluster (SL-RAIC) as examples of progress made.The Minister also commended the African Development Bank for its longstanding capacity-building support to the Ministry, noting that such assistance has significantly strengthened institutional performance. He appealed for the continuation of this support.
Responding, Dr Elsiddig Mohamed Rahma, who represents the AfDB constituency covering Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Liberia, Ghana and Sudan, said the visit was aimed at reinforcing strategic partnerships with the Government of Sierra Leone. He noted that the engagement would also help the Bank gain a deeper understanding of the Ministry’s development priorities and the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
Dr Rahma, who is on his first official visit to Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the African Development Bank’s commitment to supporting agricultural transformation and sustainable development in the country..