FROM DREAM TO DECK: CHERNOR BAH SAYS U.S. PRIVATE CAPITAL, NOT AID, WILL FINALLY BUILD THE FREETOWN-LUNGI BRIDGE

By David K.Fengai

Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah has set the record straight on the proposed role of the United States in the long-awaited Freetown-Lungi Bridge, saying the government is pursuing private-sector investment from American companies, not direct U.S. government funding.

Speaking on AYV’s State of the Nation program on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Minister Bah explained that the strategy is deliberate: attract American private capital through a commercial arrangement that can move the project from decades of planning and negotiations to actual construction.

“This is about investment, not aid,” Bah stated. “We want to create a bankable project that allows U.S. companies to participate in Sierra Leone’s growing economy while delivering a transformational piece of infrastructure for our people.”

According to the Minister, the bridge represents more than concrete and steel. It is expected to cut travel time between Freetown and Lungi, reduce transport costs, boost trade, tourism, and regional integration, and open new commercial opportunities for investors on both sides.

The clarification comes amid years of public anticipation and stalled talks. By targeting U.S. private firms, the government hopes to leverage expertise, speed, and financing models that can finally break ground on a project Sierra Leoneans have waited for across multiple administrations.

With this approach, Bah said, the Freetown-Lungi Bridge can become a symbol of partnership — where Sierra Leone provides the vision and market, and private capital provides the build.