Financial Structures in Sierra Leone

Download or read book Financial Structures in Sierra Leone written by Emmanuel S. E. Leigh and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sierra Leone exhibits the typical features of a developing country in the African economy with high ratio of foreign trade to gross domestic product (GDP), low level of urbanization and high level of monetization. The financial structure is narrow, with the central bank being the forefront of regulation; the commercial banks and other financial institutions being the key players. After independence the government pursued wide range of planning and development strategies with industrialization at the helm. With a shift in focus to implement rapid rate of economic development, monetary and financial institutions were designed to assume the responsibility of mobilizing domestic resources as capital for development. Therefore, the West African Currency Board (WACB) was found inappropriate in the changed environment and was thus replaced by the Bank of Sierra Leone. The Bank of Sierra Leone (Central Bank) was established to serve as an agency that would build up reputable standards of financial management and integrity. In this instant, the Bank formulated and implemented monetary and supervisory policies to foster sound financial environment. The Bank therefore continues to pursue tight monetary policy position consistent with positive economic growth. The Government has highlighted the importance of the financial sector to realize that long-term goal for 2035, and has designed a Financial Sector Development Plan as a framework for creating a sound and well-functioning financial system to support the Government's overall growth objectives and poverty reduction strategies. The book was written in perspective, to capture the attention of scholars and financial authorities in the country. Facts have been documented and perceptions taken from real life-experiences in some of the institutions mentioned in the text. For those scholars and researchers aiming to gain knowledge of financial structures in Sierra Leone, the book can lead them to major topics which should stimulate further studies.