By Amin Kef (Ranger)
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has officially commissioned the Manowa Bridge over the Moa River in Peje Bongre Chiefdom, Kailahun District on Saturday 20 June 2026, marking a significant milestone in the Government’s efforts to strengthen connectivity, facilitate trade and accelerate socio-economic development across Sierra Leone.
The modern bridge, constructed under the World Bank-supported Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP), spans the Moa River and is designed to provide safe and reliable access for communities for generations to come.
The newly completed two-lane bridge replaces one of Sierra Leone’s longest-serving ferry crossings and is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Peje Bongre and Upper Bambara Chiefdoms while enhancing access across Kpeje West, Upper Bambara, Penguia and Luawa Chiefdoms. The infrastructure is expected to reduce travel time and transportation costs, improve access to markets, healthcare, education and other essential services, and strengthen the movement of agricultural produce from eastern Sierra Leone.
Addressing a large gathering at the commissioning ceremony, President Bio reflected on the decades-long challenges faced by residents of Manowa, Pendembu and surrounding communities due to inadequate transport infrastructure.
“For generations, the journey between these communities was never measured by distance alone. It was measured by whether the ferry was operating, whether the rains had arrived and whether crossing the Moa River was possible at all,” the President said.
He noted that since Sierra Leone gained independence in 1961, communities on both sides of the river had relied on a manual cable ferry that often restricted access to markets, healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
“Today, that changes. Today, we commission the Manowa Bridge, a modern, all-weather crossing that replaces uncertainty with reliability, isolation with connection and delay with opportunity. This bridge is a declaration that no Sierra Leonean should be disadvantaged because of where they live,” President Bio stated.
The President emphasized the transformative impact the bridge will have on local communities, particularly farmers and traders.
“A mother no longer has to wonder whether a ferry is operating before seeking medical care for her child. A farmer no longer has to risk delays in transporting cocoa, oil palm, rice, cassava and other produce to market. This bridge will transform lives and livelihoods,” he added.
President Bio described the bridge as the result of a deliberate Government strategy aimed at connecting isolated communities and investing in infrastructure that directly improves the daily lives of citizens.
“Through our partnership with the World Bank under SCADeP, we committed ourselves to replacing unreliable ferry crossings with resilient bridge infrastructure that can serve communities safely throughout the year. The Manowa Bridge is a flagship symbol of that commitment,” he said.
The President further recalled that in 2020, the Government secured a US$30 million World Bank grant to replace seven manual ferry crossings nationwide with modern bridges. He announced that four of those bridges, Manowa, Mattru-Senehun, Gendema and Tomparie, have now been completed.
“These projects form part of a broader national programme to connect communities, unlock economic potential, strengthen resilience and ensure that development reaches every corner of Sierra Leone,” he stated.
First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio described the commissioning of the bridge as another clear demonstration of President Bio’s commitment to national development and inclusive growth. She praised the Government’s efforts to replace ageing ferry crossings across the country, noting that such investments directly benefit rural communities and support agricultural productivity.
World Bank Country Manager, Abdu Muwonge, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting the Government’s development agenda and President Bio’s Big Five Game Changers.
“With the completion of this bridge, farmers in this region are expected to generate an estimated annual agricultural turnover of more than US$7 million. The bridge will reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access within Sierra Leone and neighbouring Guinea and strengthen trade and connectivity across the region,” he said.
Abdu Muwonge assured the Government of the World Bank’s continued partnership in advancing infrastructure development and improving livelihoods across the country.
The commissioning of the Manowa Bridge marks another major achievement in Sierra Leone’s infrastructure development drive and is expected to play a vital role in enhancing economic activities, improving service delivery and fostering regional integration in the eastern part of the country.
