By Desmond Lewis
FREETOWN — The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), has concluded a two-day strategic workshop at Country Lodge focused on the reconstruction of the Kambia–Tomparie–Kamakwie road. The initiative falls under the Technology Development and Cooperation Program (TDCP) and marks a significant step toward modernizing Sierra Leone’s road infrastructure.
The workshop brought together international and local engineers, road construction administrators, Paramount and Section Chiefs, and district elders to deliberate on the technical and strategic aspects of the project. A key highlight was the introduction of a new road construction technology that eliminates the use of coal tar—an innovation being implemented in Sierra Leone for the first time.
Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Morie Momoh, expressed gratitude to Mr. Eddie Umarr, Country Director of the Islamic Development Bank, for the Bank’s continued support. He noted that Sierra Leone has enjoyed a 43-year partnership with the IsDB, which has funded projects in water, food security, transport, and health.
Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Dennis Sandy, emphasized the urgency of completing the road before the end of President Julius Maada Bio’s term.
“This project has resurfaced at a critical time. We must ensure it is completed and handed over before the President leaves office,” he said. “When President Bio visited China, he asked their President about the secret to development. The answer was simple: build roads. That’s the path we must follow.”
SLRA Director General Momodu Jalloh highlighted the Authority’s progress in connecting district headquarters and outlined plans to enhance inter-district road networks, particularly in the north, south, and east. He cited the 105-kilometer Bandajuma–Liberia border road as the largest project to date, with the Kambia–Kamakwie road spanning 1.5 kilometers.
Jalloh also stressed the importance of gender inclusion and community development in the project.
“We will prioritize gender, provide boreholes, and implement environmental safeguards as part of our broader development goals,” he stated.
IsDB Country Director Eddie Umarr revealed that the Bank has invested over half a billion dollars in Sierra Leone during his 13-year tenure. He announced that a delegation will travel to Senegal to study the durability and effectiveness of the new road technology.
Mr. Shin, a representative from Probase—the Malaysian firm behind the technology—expressed enthusiasm about introducing the innovation to Sierra Leone.
“The chemical used in this construction method is our own invention. We are ready to train local engineers so they can maintain and repair the roads independently in the future,” he said.
The workshop marks a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s infrastructure journey, signaling a shift toward sustainable, cost-effective, and locally managed road development.