The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma yesterday said that the long-awaited Lungi Bridge will start in the first half of his second term in office.
He made this statement during the commissioning of the Government Wharf jetty, kissy ferry terminal and jetty, Aberdeen Helipad, the Lungi Targrin jetty and helipads.
The commissioning took place at the Government Wharf Freetown.
The President also said that the project for the construction of a bridge linking Freetown and Lungi is ongoing and his Government is committed to it until the end. “These are projects that will be implemented in the first half of my second term in office”, the President promised.
In his keynote address, the President said that in his priority list, infrastructure is topmost. He also said that when going to Lungi from Freetown and Freetown to Lungi, it is very difficult and also passengers spend a minimum of one hour and with this, it will make tourism not attractive to the country, which is very bad for the economy.
He said because of these constrains, the initiative to embark on the bridge came up. The President went further to say that his Government has the responsibility to build infrastructure and in the same vein, create jobs, and also invite private investors into the country.
He said that what they have done is a short term reaction to the difficulties and as a long term, an Airport will be constructed.
After his statement, he officially commissioned the different jetties Helipad and said that he hoped that these structures will be maintained by the ministry and the units responsible, before unveiling the plaque and the cutting of the tape.
In an overview of the project, the Project Director of the Airport Transfer Programme. Hindolo Siaka, said that the ATP was signed in May 2009, the Government of Sierra Leone came in contact with International Climate Facility for Africa, which is Tanzanian- based through DFID.
A statement was made by the Honourable Minister of Transport and Aviation, the General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority Mr. Abdul Bangura, Acting Executive Director of Sierra Leone Maritime Association Mr. Wurie Jalloh, the General Manager of Sierra Leone Airport Authority Mr. John Sesay. The program ended with a conducted tour of the newly- constructed sites.
By Nancy Koroma
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