SLRSA Storms Water Quay
By Yusuff Moseray Suma
The Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA) has taken a tough stance against unlicensed vehicles with fake registration operating in the country.
On Tuesday, 10th March 2026, a team from the SLRSA, led by Director General James B. Bio, stormed the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbor Authority (Water Quay) in Freetown to crack down on vehicles shipped and exiting the ports without the necessary permits and registration from SLRSA.
During the visit, SLRSA officials impounded several vehicles, mostly heavy-duty vehicles set to operate in various mining companies across the country, as well as vehicles and taxis for commercial purposes, for failing to comply with licensing regulations.
Director General James B. Bio said unlicensed vehicles exiting the ports are at risk of causing mayhem while plying the streets of Freetown and other parts of the country. He further stated that the authority will make sure that any vehicle shipped through Water Quay must be registered and licensed before leaving the ports, as it is part of SLRSA’s mandate.
“We will deploy our personnel at Hastings, where these vehicles are parked, to ensure compliance before departing them to various mining sites upcountry,” Director Bio said.
Josie A. Scott-Manga, Deputy Director General of SLRSA, said vehicles that are not registered and licensed but continue plying the road are not fit for purpose. Scott-Manga further said these are some of the vehicles causing havoc in the streets, and that this time the authority will be robust in sweeping them off the roads across Sierra Leone.
The Acting Director of Licenses at SLRSA, Mohamed Fofanah, said the operation was part of a broader effort to enforce road safety and transport laws in the country.
He further explained that the SLRSA has been warning vehicle owners to regularize their documents and obtain the required licenses, but many have ignored the warnings. Director Fofanah said the authority’s tough stance aims to bring order to the country’s transport sector and reduce accidents.
In her response to the unannounced inspection at the ports, the Deputy Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbor Authority, Judith Boi Kosseh, assured the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority of her institution’s compliance and commitment. She said one of the port’s mandates is to ensure that any vehicle exiting from the ports has the required documents as per laws and other necessary documentation.
In addition, Madam Kosseh said the ports are not actually in the position of seizing vehicles because they are not licensed but will ensure compliance before departing to other places for safety’s sake. “Moving forward, we will work with the SLRSA to ensure that vehicles coming and going outside the ports are fully registered and licensed,” Deputy Director SLPHA maintained.
As similar operations continue in other parts of the country, the move has been welcomed by some road users, who hope it will improve safety on the roads. However, others are concerned about the impact on their livelihoods. The SLRSA has urged vehicle owners to comply with regulations to avoid penalties.
