SLENA, 18th October, 2022). The development of international airports equipped with advanced technologies to attract and accommodate huge passenger volume, the world over, is becoming a norm to a large extent that there is a widely held belief among aviation and tourism experts that a modern airport embodies a country’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP) given that it is always the first point of entry for visitors, especially first-time travelers. This, in itself, gravitates a positive reputation for a country.
President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction administration has been keen on changing the landscape of the once war-torn country characterized by Ebola, mudslide, and corruption into a global champion for education, women and girls’ empowerment and the fight against graft. With huge investments in these sectors over the last four years, Sierra Leone has gained its rightful place in the global development arena, standing tall among other respected nations. Through these efforts, the government has secured an appreciable number of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) for the country, notwithstanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
One such laudable foreign investment is the ongoing Freetown International Airport project pioneered by the Government of Sierra Leone in collaboration with Summa Group of Companies, a reputable group from Turkey. Before assuming office, His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio made a manifesto commitment to diversify the economy, focusing on a more sustainable means—tourism while reducing the heavy reliance on the mining sector. To achieve this feat, President Bio initiated plans to develop the aviation sector, which serves as the key enabler of tourism. During the State Opening of the fifth Parliament in May 2018, his speech accelerated the commitment to building a safe, secure, competitive, and environmentally friendly Aviation System in Sierra Leone.
Unlike the previous administration’s earlier proposal relative to the construction of the debt-ridden Mamamah airport that would have plunged the country into another colossal debt burden, the SLPP-led Government has ensured that the ongoing project is constructed on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT), bearing no cost on the government.
Dubbed Sierra Leone’s biggest-ever infrastructural initiative without a doubt, the project espouses the construction of a new terminal, an international airport hotel and new sea transportation services.
New Airport Terminal
The project offers Sierra Leone a brand-new airport terminal believed to accommodate an estimation of one million passengers per annum, thereby positioning Sierra Leone as an aviation hub in West Africa. The new terminal development presupposes that renowned global carriers will now consider Sierra Leone as an emerging destination with improved safety and security ratings in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and procedures. The facility will include also an ambulift, a medical technology used to ease the movement of physically-challenged and aged passengers. More importantly, it is worth noting that this new development will navigate Sierra Leone to better opportunities: increasing air traffic volume with more airlines and passengers frequenting the route, opening the Africa-South America route for trade and investment opportunities and fostering international competitiveness, which will serve as a catalyst for the reduction of ticket prices.
New Airport Hotel and Sea Transportation Service
Another key component of this project is the construction of five-star international airport hotels and convention centres. The hotels will accommodate crew members in the country while awaiting their next flights. It will also serve as a boost to Sierra Leone’s tourism architecture, whereas the convention centres will be utilized to host international conferences/seminars within the Mano River Union. Furthermore, the new sea transportation system will add to the already-functioning collection to ameliorate the burden on passengers travelling from Lungi to Freetown. Students, workers, and market women plying the route daily also stand to benefit greatly from this new service.
Job Creation
The project is currently providing direct employment to hundreds of Sierra Leonean nationals, both as skilled and unskilled workers, narrowing the youth unemployment margin as well as serving as a source of livelihood for many homes. In essence, the project is helping more families provide food and attend to other basic needs. This is what the New Direction is about – rebranding Sierra Leone, creating opportunities for all and incorporating youths in the development process. Thank you, President Bio – our Visionary Leader!
