By Sallieu S. Kanu
Lumley, Freetown — June 27, 2025: President Julius Maada Bio has officially unveiled the Chapter One Multipurpose Center in Lumley, Freetown — a modern facility that blends hospitality, entertainment, and cultural expression. The center, owned by Sierra Leonean entrepreneur Fassally Tarawally, is being hailed as a milestone in the country’s growing tourism and creative industry.
The launch drew government officials, industry stakeholders, and members of the public, all celebrating the growing influence of homegrown investment in the tourism sector. The facility includes a bar, restaurant, and entertainment lounge, and is set to enhance nightlife and tourism experiences in the area.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Edward Kwame Yankson, praised the President’s leadership and the private sector’s alignment with government’s Human Capital Development agenda. “This facility symbolizes the intersection of hospitality, culture, and job creation—vital pillars of our national development,” he said.
President Bio, in his keynote address, expressed pride in witnessing his call for private sector leadership come to fruition. “This is proof that local investors are answering the call to invest in Sierra Leone,” he said, commending Mr. Tarawally’s entrepreneurial spirit and underscoring the administration’s commitment to enabling local enterprise.
Highlighting recent achievements in tourism infrastructure—including a new international airport, direct UK flights, and the Innovation Center at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary—the President reaffirmed his vision to position Sierra Leone as a vibrant tourism destination.
“Let us celebrate not just this building, but the future we’re building—together,” he said, as he officially unveiled the center.
In his remarks, CEO Fassally Tarawally expressed gratitude to the government for creating the environment that made his project possible. “This is not just a structure—it’s the realization of a dream. And it’s only the beginning,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with applause for the center’s role in showcasing Sierra Leonean innovation, culture, and economic ambition.