Freetown: World Bank Group Executive Directors have successfully concluded a three-day working visit to Sierra Leone, where they conducted field inspections of critical infrastructure and healthcare projects in Kailahun District. According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the delegation comprised seven Executive Directors and three Alternate Directors, representing 67 countries that collectively hold 39% of the World Bank's total voting power. This visit is noted as one of the largest and most significant missions by the Bank's board to the country. The primary objective of their visit was to evaluate the real-world impact of the Bank's activities in Sierra Leone. Spokesperson Madam Zainab Ahmed, who represents Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa, stated that the team focused on understanding how the World Bank's interventions in agriculture and energy are meeting the country's development needs. The delegation also aimed to identify emerging opportunities and persistent challenges faced by Sierra Leone. During a courtesy call, Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura provided the delegation with an economic briefing. He highlighted the government's commitment to the National Development Plan, which includes key pillars such as Human Capital Development with a priority on free quality education, the Feed Salone Program targeting national food security, and Infrastructure and Energy initiatives aimed at modernizing the power grid and improving connectivity. Minister Bangura expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its advisory role and for expanding Sierra Leone's portfolio to $1 billion. He emphasized that the support has been crucial in stabilizing the economy against external shocks, including global inflation and debt pressures that have persisted since 2018.