Gento Group of Companies Limited is positioning itself as a major player in Sierra Leone’s infrastructure and industrial development, unveiling an ambitious investment vision aimed at connecting the country’s vast mineral resources, industries and businesses to regional and international markets through the proposed Banana Island deep-sea port, Kent Harbor Terminal and a modern railway network.
Under its development vision, “Gento Group: Connecting the World,” the company proposed an estimated US$2.7 billion investment in the Banana Island deep-sea port, alongside a US$3.2 billion railway project designed to establish a reliable transportation corridor between the mineral-rich Tonkolili District and the Atlantic coast.
The proposed developments represent a significant opportunity to transform Sierra Leone’s transportation and logistics infrastructure, improve the movement of minerals and industrial materials, attract investment and strengthen the country’s position as an emerging maritime and commercial hub in West Africa.
In a recently released video outlining its investment plans, Gento Group explained that its ambition extends beyond constructing a modern seaport. The company intends to establish an integrated infrastructure network capable of connecting inland mineral production areas with coastal shipping facilities, creating opportunities for industrial expansion, international trade and economic growth.
Central to the proposed development is Banana Island, whose natural deep-water conditions have been identified by the company as a major advantage for international shipping operations.
According to Gento Group, Banana Island has a reported natural water depth of approximately 22 metres at low tide, with a minimum channel depth of about 23 metres, as referenced in British Admiralty Nautical Chart 686, covering Yelibuya Sound to Banana Islands.
The company explained that those natural conditions could enable the proposed port to accommodate larger ocean-going vessels, potentially giving Sierra Leone a competitive advantage over several established West African ports operating at depths ranging from 16 to 18 metres.
Gento Group believes that developing the deep-sea port could strengthen Sierra Leone’s participation in international maritime trade by providing suitable facilities for larger vessels transporting minerals, industrial commodities and other commercial goods to overseas markets.
However, the company’s vision begins well beyond Banana Island, extending inland to the country’s mineral-producing communities and industrial centres.
Through the proposed 257-kilometre railway corridor linking Tonkolili to Kent and Banana Island, Gento Group intends to create an efficient transportation system capable of moving mineral resources and other industrial materials directly from production areas to export facilities.
The proposed railway, estimated to cost US$3.2 billion, includes a five-kilometre bridge connecting Kent to Banana Island. The infrastructure would form an important component of the wider development plan, linking mining operations, industrial facilities and maritime transportation into a coordinated logistics network.
Tonkolili, which the company identifies as a strategic starting point for the proposed railway, is reported to contain more than 12 billion tonnes of iron ore deposits.
According to Gento Group, connecting those mineral resources to a modern deep-sea port could reduce repeated cargo handling, improve transportation efficiency and strengthen the international competitiveness of Sierra Leone’s mineral exports.
The company believes that establishing a reliable railway connection between inland production centres and coastal facilities would also help address longstanding logistical challenges affecting the movement of heavy industrial materials.
While the Banana Island port and railway remain proposed developments, Gento Group has already commenced construction of Kent Harbor Terminal, which is expected to serve as the operational and logistical foundation for the wider investment programme.
The company disclosed that approximately US$35 million has already been invested in the construction of Kent Harbor Terminal, demonstrating its financial commitment to the infrastructure development initiative.
An additional US$40 million is estimated to be required to complete the facility, which is being developed to accommodate several industrial and commercial operations.
The planned facilities at Kent include a petroleum tank farm, cement bagging operations, warehousing, granite exports and container handling services. Those operations are expected to support industrial activities while providing the logistical infrastructure necessary for the construction and eventual operation of the proposed Banana Island deep-sea port.
Gento Group explained that Kent Harbor Terminal would function as a strategic industrial and logistics hub, connecting commercial activities on the mainland with the proposed deep-water facilities on Banana Island.
The company also highlighted the wider economic opportunities associated with the proposed investments, particularly their potential to create employment, encourage local entrepreneurship and expand business opportunities for Sierra Leonean suppliers and service providers.
According to Gento Group, the development of modern port facilities, railway infrastructure and supporting industrial operations could provide opportunities for young Sierra Leoneans seeking meaningful employment while enabling local businesses to participate in construction, transportation, supply chains and other commercial activities.
The company further indicated that improved logistics could benefit producers seeking access to international markets, businesses requiring dependable industrial supplies and investors interested in Sierra Leone’s growing infrastructure and natural resource sectors.
Gento Group maintained that the proposed developments are intended to connect more than mineral deposits and shipping facilities, emphasizing the importance of creating economic opportunities for communities, industries and businesses along the planned transportation corridor.
An important milestone in the company’s infrastructure ambitions was recorded in July 2024, when a concession agreement covering the financing, construction and operation of Kent Harbor Terminal and the proposed Banana Island deep-sea port received Cabinet approval and parliamentary ratification.
According to Gento Group, the agreement provides the institutional foundation for advancing the planned developments and supporting efforts to mobilize the substantial investments required for their implementation.
Although construction activities are progressing at Kent, the company has not announced a detailed construction timetable for the proposed Banana Island deep-sea port and railway corridor.
The completion of those major infrastructure projects will require significant additional financing, including the estimated US$2.7 billion earmarked for the proposed port and US$3.2 billion for the railway and associated bridge infrastructure.
Nevertheless, Gento Group considers the investments already made at Kent Harbor Terminal an important step towards translating its broader development vision into reality.
The company believes that Sierra Leone’s strategic Atlantic coastline, substantial mineral resources and potential for industrial expansion provide a strong foundation for developing an integrated transportation and logistics system capable of supporting long-term economic growth.
If successfully financed and completed, the proposed Banana Island deep-sea port, Kent Harbor Terminal and Tonkolili railway corridor could improve the movement of minerals and industrial goods, expand export capacity, attract commercial investment and create new opportunities within Sierra Leone’s shipping and logistics sectors.
Through its “Connecting the World” vision, Gento Group of Companies Limited is seeking to establish an infrastructure network that would connect Sierra Leone’s natural resources to international markets while creating opportunities for local industries, businesses and future generations.
The company’s broader ambition is to position Sierra Leone as an important gateway for regional and international trade, demonstrating how strategic investment in transportation, maritime infrastructure and industrial development could contribute to the country’s economic transformation.
