Religious Leaders in Sierra Leone Urged to Hold Government Accountable on Public Debt Accumulation and Management
The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), in collaboration with the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL), convened a stakeholders' engagement meeting on public accountability and debt management in Sierra Leone from 2 to 3 April 2025 in Freetown. The meeting was aimed at raising awareness on public debt and corruption while strengthening the capacity of religious leaders to track and document public resource management data to enhance their prophetic role in society. Participants included religious leaders, legislators, civil society, media, independent Commissions, experts on public resource management, the private sector, women and youth groups.
Dr. Tinashe Gumbo, the AACC Program Executive on Economic and Ecological Justice analyzed Africa’s debt crisis based on the research carried out in Burundi, Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone between 2022 and 2024. He highlighted familiar drivers of debt accumulation and emphasized the urgent need for faith leaders to take an active role in advocacy.
Faith leaders were encouraged to persistently advocate for responsible debt management, leveraging their influence over communities and policymakers for public awareness and campaigns. This was affirmed by other stakeholders who also committed to collaborate with the faith community in pursuing economic justice.
In the Photo: Rev Henry Samuels, the CCSL President making welcome remarks during the meeting [courtesy - Dr. Tinashe Gumbo]
