By Alusine Sesay
FREETOWN – Calls are mounting for the Government of Sierra Leone to treat the Kent Harbour Project as a strategic national investment, with stakeholders urging timely fulfilment of financial commitments under the concession agreement and action to address high commercial lending rates that continue to stifle local investment.
The appeal gained momentum during a high‑profile inspection visit to the Gento Group’s Kent Harbour Project by Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Senge, accompanied by Transport and Aviation Minister Fanday Turay Esq., Deputy Minister Rex Bhonapha, Permanent Secretary Kwame Yankson, and Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) Harbour Master Alpha Yayah Bangura.
Welcoming the delegation, Gento Group CEO Mohamed Gento Kamara outlined the project’s strategic importance, noting that Kent Harbour is designed to complement the Banana Island Deep‑Sea Transshipment Port. He said the facility would ease congestion at Queen Elizabeth II Quay by handling cargo bound for provincial communities and neighbouring West African states.
Kamara disclosed that the US$75 million project has already consumed US$30 million in private investment, with US$45 million still required to complete construction. He stressed that government support was critical to accelerate progress, adding that dredging works would increase harbour depth to 10–12 metres, enabling larger vessels to berth.
The project, which currently employs 600 Sierra Leoneans, is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and operation. Beyond cargo handling, Kent Harbour will serve as a gateway for tourists travelling to Banana Island, boosting Sierra Leone’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
Industry observers argue that the initiative deserves stronger government backing, particularly given the burden of high bank interest rates that inflate project costs. Many business leaders insist that while foreign investment is vital, Sierra Leone must also create an enabling environment for indigenous investors willing to commit substantial capital to national infrastructure.
Harbour Master Bangura confirmed that SLPHA had approved the project’s design after rigorous technical assessments, describing Kent as an ideal location for cargo operations. He highlighted Banana Island’s natural depth of 22 metres, which could accommodate some of the world’s largest cargo vessels and attract major international shipping lines.
Transport Minister Turay praised Kamara’s vision, noting that government holds a 10 per cent equity stake in the project. He described Kent Harbour as a legacy development that would ease congestion at Freetown’s main port and facilitate regional trade.
Kamara reiterated that the project was not merely a private venture but a national development initiative aimed at industrialisation, tourism expansion, and positioning Sierra Leone as a regional logistics hub. He announced plans to commence granite exports by December and expressed optimism that the harbour would receive its first commercial vessels before year‑end.
The Kent Harbour Project has already attracted visits from President Julius Maada Bio, Parliament leadership, and senior officials, all commending its potential to reshape Sierra Leone’s maritime sector. Economic analysts contend that timely government counterpart funding and policies to reduce lending rates would accelerate completion and signal Sierra Leone’s commitment to empowering local investors capable of delivering transformational infrastructure