Hon. Alpha Jalloh, Member of Parliament representing Falaba District under the All People’s Congress (APC), has issued a passionate appeal to the government to urgently prioritize the reconstruction of the Makeni–Kabala Highway, describing it as a “death trap” that has endangered lives and crippled livelihoods across Falaba and Koinadugu districts.
Once a smooth journey of about an hour and a half, travel on the highway now takes up to four hours due to its deplorable state. Hon. Jalloh said repeated calls for refurbishment and reconstruction have been ignored, with only piecemeal patching done in the past – a practice that has now stopped entirely.
He lamented that in recent weeks several serious accidents have occurred on the road, including a timber-loaded truck crash and the overturning of a passenger bus carrying nearly 80 people. Though lives were spared, he stressed that the frequency of accidents shows how dangerous the highway has become and the urgent need for government action.
Beyond safety, the MP underscored the economic impact. Falaba and Koinadugu are among Sierra Leone’s most productive agricultural districts, supplying tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, lettuce and other produce nationwide. With the road’s current condition, transporting goods now takes days instead of hours, leading to spoilage, heavy financial losses and jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and traders.
Hon. Jalloh expressed frustration that despite claims from the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) that President Julius Maada Bio secured over 70 percent of valid votes in Falaba District during the 2023 elections, the government has shown little commitment to addressing the district’s basic infrastructural needs. He said such neglect sends a message that Falaba and Koinadugu have been forgotten despite their crucial role in national food security and economic contribution.
The MP warned that if urgent steps are not taken, both districts risk being cut off from the rest of the country, with devastating consequences for mobility, trade and development. On behalf of his constituents, Hon. Jalloh called on the government to make the Makeni–Kabala Highway a national priority, allocate resources for its reconstruction and deliver on promises of equitable development.
