By Ibrahim Sesay
A high-level mission from the World Bank has expressed satisfaction with ongoing construction works on the Manowa Bridge in Kailahun District, describing the project as a critical investment in rural connectivity and agricultural transformation in eastern Sierra Leone.
The assessment followed an inspection tour conducted on Sunday, April 26, 2026, during which a delegation led by World Bank Executive Director, Zarau Kibwe, visited the project site. The team, comprising more than nine representatives, was joined by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority and the Project Coordination Unit overseeing implementation under the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP).
During the visit, the delegation examined progress on the 180-metre bridge and its accompanying 250-metre approach roads. Once completed, the modern structure will replace the existing manual cable ferry system, which has long posed safety risks and logistical challenges for residents and traders in the area.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, welcomed the World Bank team and underscored the strategic importance of the bridge to agricultural productivity. He noted that improved infrastructure will significantly ease the movement of farm produce to markets, thereby increasing efficiency, reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing incomes for smallholder farmers across the district.
According to project data shared during the visit, the initiative has already impacted 155,632 direct beneficiaries, including 67,717 women, representing 44 percent of participants. That figure exceeds the project’s initial gender inclusion target of 40 percent, reflecting deliberate efforts to empower women within the agricultural value chain.
Community leaders in Kailahun also lauded the development, describing it as a long-awaited solution to persistent transportation challenges. Foday Musa Nyandebo Gbogboto Gahn, Chiefdom Secretary of the Kailahun Paramount Chiefs Council, emphasized that the bridge will transform access to essential services, including healthcare and education, while reducing travel time and associated costs for residents.
He further highlighted that the elimination of ferry crossings would greatly enhance safety, particularly for schoolchildren, farmers and traders who have long depended on the unreliable and often hazardous river crossing.
While commending the overall quality of work and project management, Executive Director Zarau Kibwe encouraged implementing agencies to address concerns raised by local communities regarding the condition of approach roads. She stressed that ensuring full accessibility to the bridge is essential to maximizing its impact and delivering long-term benefits to the population.
Funded by the World Bank and implemented with technical support from the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, the Manowa Bridge project is widely seen as a transformative intervention. Upon completion, it is expected to strengthen economic linkages between Kailahun and neighboring Kenema District, facilitate trade and unlock new opportunities for thousands of Sierra Leoneans engaged in farming and small-scale commerce.
The project forms part of broader national efforts to modernize rural infrastructure and support inclusive economic growth, particularly within the agricultural sector, which remains a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s economy.
