Parliament has approved two major agreements for the construction of an 85-kilometer toll road from Mano Junction through Tongo to Bumpeh. The agreements, signed between the Government of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, and Societe Djura Maritel Construction (SDMCO) Ltd, follow a public-private partnership model. The project is expected to improve infrastructure and support economic growth.
While presenting the documents, the Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Denis Sandi, said the project is a major step toward national development. He described it as a key part of President Bio’s agenda to expand road networks across the country.
The agreement sparked strong debate in Parliament. Opposition MPs, including Hon. Aaron Koroma, questioned the financial terms, especially the fact that the government is contributing 50% of the funding without a guaranteed share of the revenue. He also raised concerns about the number of tollgates, warning that four toll points in a rural area could burden poor communities.
Other MPs also raised concerns about the number of tollgates, the lack of consultation with Parliament, unclear clauses in the agreement, and the use of US dollars in the contract. Many suggested the agreements needed more review and that Members of Parliament should be more involved in the planning and negotiation process.
Hon. Rugiatu Tarawallie Mussaffa from Kenema District called for reducing the number of tollgates to two. Hon. Lolo Tongi and Hon. Alice Kornya Sandy raised concerns about road maintenance and procurement processes. Hon. Daniel Koroma said some procedures were not followed properly and asked for certain clauses to be clarified. He also called for agreements to be done in the local currency to avoid over-reliance on foreign exchange.
In response, the Acting Majority Leader, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, defended the agreement, saying it is more favorable than the Wellington–Masiaka toll road deal. He said the road will last for 30 years and promised that Parliament will play its role in ensuring accountability.
Parliament made several changes to the agreement before passing it. These include a requirement that 15 kilometers of road must be built before tolls are collected, toll fees must be paid in Leones instead of US dollars, the government will have a 20% stake in the project, and 25% of the gross revenue will go to the state.
The Speaker of Parliament urged lawmakers to carefully review all agreements in the future to protect the country’s interests.
