By Salllieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone — The Parliamentary Committee on Sports on Tuesday, 23rd June 2026, summoned the Ministry of Sports (MOS) and the National Sports Authority (NSA) to provide a status update on the long-delayed rehabilitation of the Siaka Stevens National Stadium, a China-aided project that has exceeded its implementation timeline.
The session, held at the Administrative Building, Tower Hill, brought together senior officials from the Ministry and the NSA to brief lawmakers on progress and challenges facing the project.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Racheal Pessima opened the hearing by congratulating NSA Executive Director Mohamed Alphaka Conteh, Esq., on his appointment. She emphasized that the Committee’s objective was to receive a comprehensive status report and identify areas where parliamentary intervention could accelerate completion.
Hon. Pessima commended the Ministry and NSA for what she described as “renewed synergy and collaboration” between the two institutions. “The Committee has observed, through the media, that the Ministry of Sports and the NSA are working closely together. I urge this sector to sustain this momentum with the objective of developing sports in the country,” she said.
Director of Sports at the Ministry, Haroun Mustapha Korgie, praised the Committee’s leadership for consistently fostering cooperation between the two bodies on matters of national importance.
Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, Dr. Abdulai Rahman Swaray, presented a detailed update, noting that the project launched in February 2022 has suffered significant delays due to gaps in the project agreement. “We have been disadvantaged by the delay. We missed out on hosting matches in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers. For the first time in our nation’s history, we accumulated up to 15 points in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers,” he said.
NSA Executive Director Mohamed Alphaka Conteh, Esq., stressed that completion of the rehabilitation requires “political will and practical action.” He assured lawmakers of his commitment to professionalism and unity within the sector, apologizing for past misunderstandings between the Ministry and NSA. “Under my leadership, decorum will be maintained. The mandate I have is to restore professionalism and unity,” he said, urging Parliament to suggest practical solutions for timely completion.
Alie Sesay, Director of Corporate Operations, also briefed the Committee on recent engagements, including a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs involving the Chinese Ambassador and other stakeholders from relevant MDAs.
Background
The Siaka Stevens National Stadium, built in 1979 and opened in 1980 as a Chinese government grant, remains Sierra Leone’s largest sporting venue with a 45,000 capacity. It is the only FIFA-certified stadium in the country, symbolizing national pride and unity across generations.
The ongoing rehabilitation, funded by a revised US$50 million Chinese grant, was initially scheduled for completion in 2024 but has now been extended to late 2026 or early 2027. The project includes upgrades to seating, drainage, floodlighting, electronic displays, and athlete hostels. A three-phase plan will also reduce seating capacity to 23,000 in line with modern safety standards.
Public frustration has mounted over the delays, especially as Sierra Leone missed hosting international fixtures during the rehabilitation. Comparisons have been drawn with Senegal, which built a new 50,000-capacity stadium in just 18 months at a cost of US$270 million.
The Parliamentary Committee’s intervention underscores growing pressure on authorities to deliver the project, balancing accountability with the aspirations of citizens who view the stadium as a cornerstone of national heritage.