The Ministry of Transport and Aviation has taken a step towards improving rural transport infrastructure with the signing of two construction contracts for four climate-resilient bridges across four districts in Sierra Leone.
The agreements were signed on Friday, 16 October 2026, by the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Amb. Col. (Rtd.) Alhaji Fanday Turay, Esq., at the Ministry’s conference room on the seventh floor of the Youyi Building in Freetown.
The contracts were awarded to Matiere and Secon JV and China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) under the Sierra Leone Connectivity and Agricultural Market Infrastructure Project (SL-CAMIP), which is supported by a US$74 million World Bank grant.
Matiere and Secon JV will be responsible for constructing bridges at Komrabai in Tonkolili District and Kabba in Karene District. CRSG will undertake the construction of bridges at Sumbuya in Bo District and Moselolo in Moyamba District.
The project is intended to improve access between rural communities and essential destinations, including farms, markets, schools and health facilities. It will also replace existing hand-drawn ferries and dugout canoes with safer crossings designed to withstand the effects of flooding and heavy rainfall.
Addressing stakeholders at the ceremony, Minister Turay said the signing marked an important stage in the Government’s efforts to strengthen transport links and expand access to economic opportunities in rural areas.
He emphasised that the Ministry would work closely with the contractors and relevant institutions to ensure that the bridges were delivered within the agreed timeframe and budget, while meeting the required standards for quality, safety and environmental protection.
The Minister also called on the contractors to maintain regular communication with beneficiary communities, comply with national laws, create opportunities for local employment and observe the applicable environmental and social safeguards throughout construction.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, particularly their roles in resource management, agricultural market access and technical oversight.
The Ministry’s Senior Permanent Secretary, Edward Kwame Yankson, urged Paramount Chiefs and residents of the beneficiary communities to cooperate with the contractors and regard the infrastructure as a shared community asset.
He highlighted the importance of local participation in project implementation, including employment opportunities and the protection of construction equipment and materials. He further encouraged community leaders to help create an environment that would allow the works to proceed without unnecessary delays.
SL-CAMIP Project Coordinator Hindolo Shiaka explained that the initiative brings together efforts to improve urban mobility, rural bridge infrastructure and agricultural market facilities. He said the project builds on previous interventions, including the Integrated and Resilient Urban Mobility Project (IRUMP) and the Smallholder Commercialization and Agricultural Development Project (SCADeP).
According to the coordinator, the bridge component is designed to address transportation challenges faced by communities that depend on ferries and canoes to cross waterways. Following the contract signing, implementation will proceed with monitoring to ensure compliance with the project’s requirements and schedule.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Parliament’s Oversight Committee on Transport and Aviation, Hon. Dickson M. Rogers, assured stakeholders of Parliament’s commitment to overseeing the project. He urged the contractors to uphold transparency and accountability, stressing that the funds were intended to deliver tangible benefits to the people of Sierra Leone.
Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority also pledged their support for the project.
The ceremony brought together Paramount Chiefs from the beneficiary communities, government representatives, the two contracting parties and members of the media.
Through the project, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation aims to improve the reliability of rural transport connections, facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and make essential services more accessible to communities in Tonkolili, Karene, Bo and Moyamba districts.
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