Govt Suffers Drop In Revenue Collection
By John Kelly Marah
Revenue Dip Signals Weak Fiscal Impact as Gains Fail to Offset Tax Slump and Missing Mineral Inflows
Sierra Leone’s domestic revenue collection recorded a slight decline in February 2026, raising concerns about the strength and sustainability of fiscal performance, despite gains in some revenue streams.
According to the Accountant General’s Statement of Fiscal Operations, total revenue fell from SLE 1.18 billion in January to SLE 1.15 billion in February. While the decline is modest, it reflects a broader imbalance in revenue generation.
Key tax categories recorded mixed performance. Income tax declined from SLE 430.9 million to SLE 416.6 million, while Goods and Services Tax (GST) dropped sharply from SLE 279.9 million to SLE 204.1 million, pointing to possible weaknesses in economic activity and compliance.
On the positive side, customs and excise duties rose from SLE 77.9 million to SLE 99.9 million, while other departmental receipts increased from SLE 70.7 million to SLE 91.9 million. The Treasury Single Account (TSA) also improved, climbing from SLE 132.8 million to SLE 157.6 million, helping to cushion the overall decline. Import duties remained relatively stable at SLE 161.1 million, slightly below January’s SLE 165.6 million.
However, a major concern persists over the continued absence of mineral resource revenues, which were budgeted at SLE 1.28 billion for the year. No inflows were recorded in either January or February, leaving a significant gap in expected fiscal support.
Overall, while some revenue streams showed resilience, the declines in key tax categories and the absence of mineral inflows suggest that current gains are not yet sufficient to offset broader fiscal pressures.
