The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Sanitation and the National Public Procurement Authority(NPPA), by this press release informs the general public that contracts for the supply and installation of window curtains in the government hospitals listed below; supply of hospital beds and beddings; and the rehabilitation and refurbishment of government hospitals across the country are about to be awarded to the listed suppliers and works contractors evaluated as eligible and lowest responsive bidders in a National Competitive Bidding (NCB) conducted in April 2010.

The Public is hereby informed that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will be organising the FY2011 Policy Hearings on key Sectors Policies on Tuesday, 31st August 2010 at the Miatta Conference Hall starting at 9:00 a.m. This Year’s Policy Hearings will focus on programmes, projects and activities (mainly energy, water and infrastructure) that would be implemented in FY 2011 and the medium term to meet the objectives spelt out in the PRSP II (Agenda for change).

“The Government and people of Sierra Leone are glad to be your host to the 2010 meetings of the African Caucus.” This was in the key note address of H.E the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma at the opening ceremony of the African Caucus meetings; which is the meeting of African Ministers of Finance and Bank Governors held at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown. The President said that the African Caucus provides an opportunity once every year for high level African policy makers and advisers to meet, discuss and share ideas and experiences in the management of their economies.

The African Caucus, comprising of African Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, met in Freetown, Sierra Leone on August 16 - 17 to prepare the 2010 Memorandum to the heads of the Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIs) - the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG). The Memorandum will be submitted to the heads of the BWIs during the IMF/WBG Annual Meetings in October 2010. This event was chaired by Dr. Samura Kamara, Minister of Finance and Economic Development for Sierra Leone and Chairman of the African Caucus and formally opened by his Excellency, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.

Sierra Leone will be hosting this year’s conference of the African Finance Ministers and Bank Governors from 16th to 17th August 2010 at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown.  The meeting will discuss issues relating to African in the context of global financial and economic crises, lessons learnt and the way forward.