By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Chief Minister David Sengeh has announced sweeping reforms to tackle mounting congestion at Sierra Leone’s main port, where rising cargo volumes have strained operations and slowed container clearance.
The port is currently handling about 9,000 containers monthly, a sharp increase from an average of 2,000 during the same period last year. Officials say the surge—driven by more than a 20 percent rise in imports—has created bottlenecks, particularly at the buffer zone and other critical areas, raising safety concerns and delaying transactions.
Chairing a stakeholder problem-solving session, Chief Minister Sengeh outlined measures to improve efficiency, including extending container exit hours, opening the trucking sector to wider participation, reducing bureaucratic delays, adjusting banking arrangements, and strengthening enforcement.
“These reforms are necessary to improve the movement of goods, reduce inefficiencies, and ease the impact of port challenges on ordinary citizens,” he said, noting that the changes follow President Julius Maada Bio’s directive to urgently address trade bottlenecks affecting livelihoods and economic growth.
Officials emphasized that the reforms aim to restore order at the port, cut costs for businesses, and ensure smoother clearance of goods at a time when Sierra Leone’s import volumes continue to rise.