By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

As the Financial Year 2025 still in progress at the Ministry of Finance Head Office at George Street in Freetown, Salone Tourism ministry has presented its programs of actions to be unveiled.

On Friday, August, 23nd 2024 the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA) presented projects timeline on budget to MOF for approval.

They had first informed journalists, civil societies and donor partners regarding key deliverables and achievements recorded over the previous financial year budgets of FY2023-2024.

The Fy2025 budget was approved by a 51% vote by financial plan experts in the hall.

In her presentation, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Kadijatu Grace Kamara, highlighted key deliverables and others that are not implemented in the Fy2023 and Fy2024 budgets respectively, adding that the Ministry has created 2,500  capacity building entrepreneurships opportunities for women and youth  in tourism across the country.

And a master plan on ecotourism and national tourism strategies are in advance stage. But a survey on cultural/heritage assets in seven (7) districts are yet  to be implemented in the country. “Awareness raising workshops on domestication of all UNESCO conventions are yet to be implemented since 2023 to date.”

The implementation of the hybrid records management system still is not implemented and refurbishment of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs building is also in an advance stages now.

The Ministry, however, said, 800 woman are already being trained as a way of capacitating them.

Mr. Mohamed Jalloh, Director of Tourism, in a summary presentation of their internal proposal budget  for FY2025, stressed on the monitoring and overseeing of tourism sites, hospitality venues etc,  noting that facilitates and allocation of tourism development areas and zones are significant in touristic approach across the country.

He said the establishment of a meddle level non-formal and semi-formal skills development training centers, the development of tourism facilities in two prime ecotourism sites and the opening up of coastal areas is ticked as their projects in mind. Sierra Leone economic diversification project is  important for the activities and programs underlined in the overall national budget of 2025. “The major challenge is the unpredictability of the release of funds, the approval of funds by parliament and sometimes the release of funds does not correspond with the activities or plans, “he said.

In an interview with one Mr. Abubakarr Sesay, a youth at the Aberdeen Beach, clearly told this medium that the Ministry of Tourism strides in creating employment for many is highly selective though, he said, they are making some  strides over the years in teams of beautifying the Lumley beach, Aberdeen beach, Burah beach and others. “We are calling on government to focus on youth employment and job creation not only for the beach boys. Tourism can attract investment and entertainment with passion for many, but jobs are limited at the ministry,” he said.

Foday Jalloh, Director of Entrainment and Cultural Affairs said the vision of MTCA is to transform Sierra Leone to become one of the most attractive tourist countries and cultural destination in the world. And its mission is to promote sustainable tourism for economic growth and socio-cultural empowerment in order to preserve, protect and promote cultural diversity with the view to reviving and strengthening national consciousness at all times.

He however talked of the endless challenges faced in terms of funding some well-thought of projects.