SLPHA DG EARNS WIDESPREAD ACCLAIM FOR FREE, SAFE AND SEAMLESS FERRY SERVICE:
By David K.Fengai
The successful hosting of the 69th ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government Summit in Lungi has continued to attract praise for the Government of Sierra Leone, with the Director General of the Sierra Leone Port and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), DG Yankuba Bio, receiving widespread commendation for delivering a free, safe and efficient ferry service throughout the regional gathering.
As Sierra Leone welcomed Presidents, Prime Ministers, diplomats and high-level delegations from across West Africa, the movement of people, vehicles and essential logistics between Freetown and Lungi became one of the most critical aspects of the summit’s operations. Under the leadership of DG Yankuba Bio, the SLPHBA rose to the challenge by repairing, repainting and chartering a befitting ferry that operated continuously for eight days.
The ferry service ran day and night without interruption, transporting government officials, ministers, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, diplomats, international NGO personnel, summit logistics teams, members of the public and private vehicles between Freetown and Lungi. Remarkably, the service was offered completely free of charge, allowing both passengers and vehicle owners to travel without paying any fare.
The initiative has been widely described as one of the outstanding logistical successes of the ECOWAS Summit and a practical demonstration of government’s commitment to efficient public service delivery.
Residents of Lungi and beneficiaries from different walks of life expressed profound appreciation for what they described as an unprecedented intervention.
Resident of Lungi, described the initiative as historic.
I have never witnessed such a gesture from any government. This is a great service to the people of Sierra Leone,” he said.
Traders, noted that the free ferry service significantly reduced transportation costs for business owners moving goods between Lungi and Freetown.
It has helped traders and ordinary citizens alike,” they stated.
Mariatu Kargbo of Annie Walsh Memorial School also praised the initiative, explaining that the free transportation eased the burden on students moving between Lungi and Freetown during the school week.
Citizens commended Maada Bio for the construction of the new international conference centre, describing it as a transformational project that has elevated Lungi’s national importance. Residents stated that although Lungi has hosted Sierra Leone’s international airport for decades, previous administrations had not delivered comparable levels of infrastructure development. They further pointed to the planned four-star hotel and other ongoing projects as strong indicators of the area’s promising economic future.
Many other residents echoed similar sentiments, expressing gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio and the Director General of SLPHBA for what they described as visionary leadership, effective coordination and a people-centred approach to national development.
With the summit successfully concluded, the free ferry service remains one of its most celebrated legacies, highlighting the importance of strategic planning, efficient transportation and responsive public institutions in projecting Sierra Leone’s capacity to host major international events while placing the welfare of its citizens at the forefront.
