AYV News, May 20, 2025
In a bold move to enhance rural connectivity and boost agricultural trade, the Government of Sierra Leone has unveiled plans to construct four climate-resilient long-span bridges and modern agricultural markets across four districts—Moyamba, Tonkolili, Bo, and Kerene.
The project is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation under the Sierra Leone Connectivity and Agricultural Market Infrastructure Project (SL-CAMIP), with financial support from the World Bank and government counterpart funding.
Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Amb. Rtd. Col. Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq., made this statement during a two-day stakeholder engagement held on May 15–16 in Bagruwa and Lower Banta Chiefdoms in Moyamba District and Lugbo Chiefdom in Bo District.
The engagements served to reaffirm the government’s commitment to advancing infrastructure in underserved communities.
“These projects are not just about roads and bridges—they are about transforming lives, ensuring safer movement, expanding market access, and driving local economic growth,” Minister Turay stated. “By replacing ferry and boat crossings at Kabba, Komrabai, Moseilolo, and Sumbuya with modern bridges, we are fulfilling His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s manifesto promise to deliver inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure.”
The Minister emphasized that the interventions, by SL-CAMIP through his Ministry will directly improve access to agricultural markets, promote regional integration, and significantly reduce the time and risk associated with travel, especially during the rainy season.
Welcoming the government delegation, Paramount Chief Robert Coker Seilolo Papapwe III of Bagruwa Chiefdom lauded the initiative as a long-overdue response to the transport challenges faced by his people for generations. He expressed his full support for the project and assured that the chiefdom would provide a peaceful and cooperative environment for its implementation.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Paramount Chief John Jibao Russell Nyana II of Lower Banta Chiefdom and Paramount Chief Ensah Badara Nallo VI of Lugbo Chiefdom, who both called on their subjects to take ownership of the project and safeguard it as a legacy of progress for future generations.
Chief Administrator of Moyamba District Council, Mohamed Alusine Kabba, who chaired the engagement, described the project as a “historic milestone” in the district’s development narrative. He noted that poor infrastructure had long hindered socio-economic growth, leading to losses in agricultural productivity, restricted market access, and even preventable fatalities during flood seasons.
“This is more than infrastructure—it’s a foundation for prosperity,” Kabba said. “We urge all stakeholders, especially residents of Maseilolo and Lower Banta, to support this project and help build a better future.”
Providing an overview of the tour, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Charles Tommy Kamanda, explained that the Ministry, together with its technical team and the Project Coordination and Implementation Unit (PCIU), is conducting similar stakeholder engagements across the four beneficiary districts to reaffirm the government’s commitment to inclusive development and community participation.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bonapha, also addressed the gathering, extending appreciation to the communities for their enthusiastic participation and assuring them of the Ministry’s unwavering dedication to ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable transport infrastructure nationwide.
Youth Leader of Lower Banta Chiefdom, Augustine Nyaama, emphasized the importance of youth involvement in the project, urging young people in his chiefdom to actively support the initiative and recognize its long-term benefits. “This project will not only open roads, it will open opportunities,” he noted.
Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the people of Gbanbatoke, Councilor Nancy Marvel praised the Ministry for bringing to life what she described as “a long-standing dream of our ancestors—to connect communities through durable, modern infrastructure.”
The Ministry’s high-powered delegation included the Minister, Deputy Minister, Permanent Secretary, Technical Transport Advisor, SL-CAMIP Project Coordinator, and PCIU staff.
Once completed, the new bridges and markets are expected to drastically reduce travel time, improve agricultural trade efficiency, and enhance access to essential services for thousands of rural Sierra Leoneans, especially women and youth who dominate local farming and trade.
