The Parliamentary Committee on Sports has summoned the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority (NSA) to provide an update on the ongoing rehabilitation of the National Stadium.
The meeting was held on Tuesday at the Administrative Building in Tower Hill, Freetown, to assess progress on the project being undertaken by Chinese contractors.
Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Racheal Pessima, congratulated NSA Executive Director Mohamed Alphaka Conteh on his appointment and said the Committee’s objective was to receive a status report on the project and identify areas where parliamentary intervention may be needed.
She also commended the Ministry of Sports and the NSA for improving collaboration and urged them to maintain the partnership to advance sports development in the country.
Director of Sports at the Ministry of Sports, Haroun Mustapha Korgie, thanked the Committee for its continued support and engagement with the sector.
Providing an update on the project, NSA Deputy Executive Director Dr. Abdulai Rahman Swaray said the rehabilitation, which began in February 2022, has faced delays due to challenges in the project agreement. He noted that the delays had prevented Sierra Leone from hosting matches during the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
NSA Executive Director Mohamed Alphaka Conteh told the Committee that completing the stadium project would require both political will and practical action. He called for support from Parliament in finding solutions to ensure the project is completed.
Conteh also pledged to promote professionalism and unity within the sports sector under his leadership.
The Committee received a detailed briefing on the current status of the rehabilitation project, including recent discussions involving the Chinese Ambassador and other government stakeholders aimed at accelerating completion of the facility.
