President Bio Expresses Outrage SLRA & RMF In Serious Trouble
Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, is rapidly becoming a hazardous zone for motorists and pedestrians alike. With gaping potholes, eroding bridges, clogged drainages, and collapsing road shoulders, the once-promising urban landscape is now marred by treacherous roads — endangering lives, slowing economic activity, and sparking growing public outrage.
President Julius Maada Bio has reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction over the alarming state of roads in the Western Area, particularly in and around Freetown. His anger is said to be directed at two key government institutions tasked with road infrastructure management and funding: the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) and the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA).
Sources within State House describe the President as “deeply frustrated” over the poor implementation of maintenance programs and the lack of visible progress despite significant budgetary allocations made over the past few fiscal years. “This is not a budgetary problem. It is a governance, planning, and accountability problem,” one senior official close to the Presidency remarked.
Growing Public Risk
The physical dangers posed by the deteriorating roads are not abstract. Over the past six months, there has been a surge in reported accidents attributed directly to road defects — from vehicles flipping into roadside ditches to motorbike riders colliding with exposed iron rods from broken drainage covers. For residents of communities like Calaba Town, Kissy, Lumley, and Hill Station, each commute now comes with the risk of injury or worse.
Emergency responders have also raised concerns. “We are seeing more accident cases due to bad roads than any other single cause in recent weeks,” said a staff member of Connaught Hospital’s trauma unit.
Accountability Questions for SLRA and RMFA
The Sierra Leone Roads Authority, responsible for planning and implementing road infrastructure projects, is now under intense public and executive scrutiny. Critics accuse the SLRA of inefficiency, poor prioritization, and weak contractor supervision. Meanwhile, the RMFA, which manages funds for road maintenance through fuel levies and donor contributions, is being questioned about its disbursement patterns and monitoring mechanisms.
“How is it that so much money is collected every year, yet the roads keep getting worse?” asked Hon. Alusine Koroma, a member of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Works and Infrastructure.
In the past year alone, the RMFA collected billions of Leones in road user revenues — yet major trunk roads like Wilkinson Road, Bai Bureh Road, and the Eastern Police Roundabout remain in shambles.
Presidential Directive and Next Steps
In a closed-door meeting held last week, President Bio reportedly summoned the leadership of SLRA and RMFA to State House, demanding a detailed audit of all ongoing and planned road maintenance projects. He is also said to have ordered the Ministry of Finance to withhold further disbursements to both agencies until a comprehensive performance review is submitted.
Government insiders say the President is considering a major shakeup in both institutions, signaling his intention to restore public trust and deliver on infrastructural promises made during his re-election campaign.
Public Outcry and Civil Society Involvement
Civil society organizations and road safety advocacy groups have called for greater transparency and citizen engagement in infrastructure planning and monitoring. “The roads are not just infrastructure; they’re lifelines,” said Aminata Sesay, Executive Director of the Urban Citizens Network. “We need the government to treat this as an emergency, not a routine project.”
Conclusion
As the rainy season intensifies, the crisis on Freetown’s roads threatens to worsen, heightening risks to life, trade, and national stability. President Bio’s intervention is timely — but whether it translates into meaningful reform will depend on the swift execution of tough decisions and an unwavering commitment to accountability.
