The Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh today chaired a high-level stakeholder meeting to address congestion at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay and agree on practical measures to improve port efficiency, facilitate trade, reduce the cost of doing business, and strengthen Sierra Leone’s logistics sector.
The meeting brought together the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Rex Bhonapha, and representatives from the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Sierra Leone Chamber of Business and Industry (SLCBI), Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Office of National Security (ONS), Indigenous and Transport Owners Association (ITOA), Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other relevant institutions.
Opening the discussion, Chief Minister Sengeh said the meeting was intended to bring all relevant stakeholders together to identify the challenges affecting port operations, agree on practical solutions, and ensure that those solutions are effectively implemented.
He stressed the importance of an efficient port system to Sierra Leone’s economy, noting that reducing delays and operational bottlenecks would improve trade, lower business costs, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness.
In a brief statement, Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation Hon. Rex Bhonapha reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with the Chief Minister and other stakeholders to address the challenges affecting the smooth movement of goods and improve efficiency across the transport and port sectors.
Representatives of the various institutions highlighted operational challenges within their respective areas and proposed measures to address congestion, improve coordination, streamline procedures, and strengthen compliance. Stakeholders also emphasised the need for clear institutional responsibilities, timely implementation of agreed actions, and sustained collaboration among agencies operating within the port ecosystem.
The meeting further agreed on a number of practical actions, including stronger coordination among relevant institutions, improved arrangements for the movement and clearance of containers, enhanced services for port users, and measures to address operational bottlenecks contributing to congestion.
Chief Minister underscored the need for these decisions to move beyond discussion and translate into concrete action, with relevant institutions expected to take responsibility for implementing agreed measures.
The interventions are expected to contribute to the Government’s Big Five Game Changers by improving the business environment, facilitating private-sector activity, strengthening trade and logistics, supporting investment, and creating conditions for sustainable economic growth and job creation.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to implement the agreed reforms, reduce congestion and delays, improve trade facilitation, lower the cost of doing business, and position Sierra Leone as a more efficient and competitive regional trade hub.
The initiative forms part of Government’s broader efforts to strengthen economic efficiency and ensure that institutional reforms and improved service delivery directly support the implementation of the Big Five Game Changers.
