Throughout the 69th ECOWAS Summit, the Queen Elizabeth II Quay was busy at all hours. Newly repaired and repainted SLPHBA ferries moved ministers, drivers, media crews, and crates of summit logistics between Freetown and Lungi.
The fare? Le 0.
For 8 straight days, that was the story. No tickets. No delays. Just free, safe water transport.
That operation was led by Mr. Yankuba Bio, Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports, Harbours and Border Authority (SLPHBA). And it’s why his name has been on everyone’s lips since the summit ended.
“THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE”
“We have never witnessed such a gesture from any government,” said Alhaji Musa Kamara, a Lungi businessman who moves goods daily. “Before, we would pay for vehicle and passengers. This time, nothing. SLPHBA even helped us load.”
MPs, diplomats, NGO workers, and ordinary citizens all used the service. SLPHBA repaired and repainted existing vessels, chartered additional ferries, and ran extended shifts to avoid bottlenecks between Freetown and Lungi during the summit.
BEYOND THE SUMMIT: BIO’S TRACK RECORD
Officials and residents say the free ferry was not a one-off. It reflects a wider reform agenda since Mr. Bio took office. Key achievements cited include:
- Fleet Rehabilitation: Repair and repainting of government ferries that had been grounded for years, reducing breakdowns on the Freetown-Lungi route.
- Extended Operations: Longer service hours to ease congestion and support trade, not just during summits.
- Port Efficiency: Streamlined cargo clearance and vehicle processing at Queen Elizabeth II Quay, cutting waiting times for importers.
- Border Coordination: Closer work with Immigration and Customs to improve safety and record-keeping at sea and land borders.
- Infrastructure Push: Support for ongoing projects in Lungi, including groundwork for a planned four-star hotel and improved jetty facilities aimed at boosting local tourism and business.
A former APC Councillor in Lungi said: “Even as opposition, we must say this is a landmark. The people are feeling it.”
LEADERSHIP RESPONSE
Residents have credited President Julius Maada Bio for backing the initiative, calling it visionary leadership focused on service delivery.
For Mr. Bio, the goal was simple. “The summit was for Sierra Leone. So the service had to be for Sierra Leoneans first,” a senior SLPHBA official quoted him as saying during planning meetings.
WHAT’S NEXT
With the summit over, SLPHBA says it will maintain extended hours on the route and continue vessel maintenance. The authority also plans to roll out digital ticketing and passenger manifests to improve safety and data collection.
The free ferry operation is now being hailed as one of the key logistical successes of the 69th ECOWAS Summit, and as proof that public institutions can deliver when properly resourced and led.
