Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority

04/09/2026

How much do you know about the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority?

01/09/2026

PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE ASSESS SLPHA OPERATIONS

A Parliamentary Select Committee has visited the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) to assess the Authority’s productivity, achievements and contributions to .

The delegation, led by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, and comprising senior Members of Parliament, was received by Director General, Yankuba Askia Bio, who highlighted key gains recorded by the Authority in recent years. Notably, SLPHA has transferred US$19 million to over the past three years (US$4 million in 2023, US$7 million in 2024 and US$8 million in 2025). The DG also highlighted improvements in berth infrastructure, which have increased operational capacity and enabled larger vessels, including Panamax vessels, to call at the Port.

The Members of commended SLPHA Management and staff for the progress made, while emphasizing the importance of consistently communicating the Authority’s activities, achievements and contributions to national development.

The visit concluded with a tour of the port facilities and a visit to the proposed Kent and Banana Island Seaports.

31/08/2026

SLPHA BOOSTS PORT SAFETY AND SECURITY WITH VEHICLES FOR PATROL OPERATIONS

The Management of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has provided dedicated patrol vehicles to the Safety and Security Departments to enhance their operations at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay.

The vehicles, one each for the two departments, were formally handed over by the Director General of , Yankuba Askia Bio, on Wednesday, 26th August 2026.

The support is expected to improve the departments’ ability to conduct regular patrols, respond promptly to incidents and strengthen monitoring across port facilities.

Speaking during the handover, Director General said the provision of the vehicles demonstrates Management’s commitment to creating the necessary conditions for staff to effectively execute their responsibilities. He stressed that safety and security remain critical to the smooth and efficient operation of the port, noting that a modern port must have the capacity to monitor its facilities, identify risks and respond swiftly to emerging situations. The DG urged the Safety and Security teams to make effective use of the vehicles and remain proactive in carrying out their respective duties.

The intervention forms part of Management’s broader efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, and at the country’s seaport.

29/08/2026

PROMOTING INTEGRITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE: SLPHA SUPPORTS ‘CATCH THEM YOUNG’ INTER SCHOOLS DEBATE

The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in young people and promoting integrity through education, following its support to the “Catch Them Young” initiative.

The initiative, led by Rotary Peace Fellow, Alex A. Bah, concluded on Thursday 27th August, 2026 with a debate competition involving seven secondary schools from the Western Area, held at the Babatunde Cole building, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. The competition, dubbed the “Ibrahim Jamil Sesay Esq. Memorial Trophy,” focused on themes around power and integrity, with the broader objective of shaping young minds into ethical and responsible future leaders.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) commended the SLPHA as the major sponsor of the initiative, describing its support as significant to the success of the “Catch Them Young: Combating Corruption through Educational Debates and Peace & Integrity Training,” programme.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the SLPHA, Head of Media and Public Relations, Mac’Ivan Kakpindi Vandy, assured the gathering of the Authority’s continued support for initiatives that develop young people and ethical leaders for a better Sierra Leone. Speaking on the theme “The Power of Young Voices: Integrity, Leadership and the Responsibility to Shape Sierra Leone’s Future,” Vandy encouraged pupils to think independently, ask difficult questions at all times, identify problems and propose solutions with courage, competence and integrity.

He reminded them that their classrooms are preparing them not only for examinations, but also for the responsibilities they will assume in shaping Sierra Leone’s future.

The debate was won by St. Joseph’s Secondary School (Convent) after a highly competitive contest.

22/08/2026

SLPHA BACKS ‘CATCH THEM YOUNG’ INITIATIVE TO BUILD A GENERATION OF ETHICAL LEADERS

The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting integrity, accountability and ethical leadership among young people through its support for the “Catch Them Young: Combating Corruption Through Educational Debates and Peace & Integrity Training” initiative.

Spearheaded by Rotary Peace Fellow Alex A. Bah, the initiative brings together Senior Secondary School pupils from across the Western Area for training in peace building, integrity, accountability, ethical leadership and responsible citizenship.

SLPHA is supporting the initiative as an Integrity Champion Partner; a reflection of the Authority’s belief that the fight against corruption and the promotion of responsible leadership must begin early.

Speaking at the training, SLPHA’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Mac’Ivan Kakpindi Vandy, challenged the pupils to see integrity not simply as a concept, but as a way of life. “Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching,” he said, reminding the youngsters that “public office is not personal property. Public resources are not personal resources.” Vandy gave the young participants who are often described as ‘leaders of tomorrow’ that “you are leaders today.”

Through this partnership, SLPHA is investing in young people who will carry the values of integrity, accountability, peace and responsible leadership into their schools, communities and, ultimately, Sierra Leone; for building a better Sierra Leone begins with building better citizens.

17/08/2026

A month ago, the supported the government of as it hosted the 2026 Mid-Year Summit.

For 8 straight days, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority provided ferry services between Freetown (Government wharf) and Tagrin, running at least six trips a day.
As the country’s gateway to international trade, the mission during such a regional gathering was simple: connect nations via water transport, ensuring safety and good hospitality. During those eight days, the Authority transported Heads of States from the ECOWAS Bloc, the President of Sierra Leone, H.E. Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, Government ministers from Sierra Leone and across the ECOWAS region, Ambassadors to Sierra Leone from nations outside ECOWAS region, journalists, civil society activists, and other citizens of Sierra Leone.
During those eight days, and with our Director General, Yankuba Askia Bio leading from the frontline, we showed our unwavering commitment to national development and regional integration by providing seamless ferry transportation and exceptional hospitality services.

Checkout a recap 🎥 of those eight days.

14/08/2026

EXTENDED BANKING HOURS AT QUEEN ELIZABETH II QUAY TO BOOST PORT EFFICIENCY

The Bank of Sierra Leone has extended the operating hours of commercial bank branches serving the Queen Elizabeth II Quay and Cline Town vicinity, in a move expected to further improve the ease and efficiency of doing business around the country’s principal seaport.

Per a directive issued by the Bank of Sierra Leone, commercial bank branches in the designated areas will now operate from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The decision follows a stakeholder meeting held on July 30 2026, and is aimed at strengthening banking services in these strategic zones. The extended banking hours are expected to provide greater convenience for port users, importers, exporters, clearing agents, and other stakeholders, particularly those whose transactions require banking services beyond conventional operating hours.

This development represents another significant step in the collective effort the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) put to address operational bottlenecks and create a more responsive business environment at the Port. Commenting on the development, the Director General of the Authority, Yankuba Askia Bio, said that “an efficient port is not only about vessels berthing and cargo being handled, but also depends on the availability and coordination of the wider services that support the movement of goods.” He noted that at the Port of Freetown from banking and customs services to cargo handling, documentation, transportation and other essential processes, every link in the chain matters. “The extended banking hours complement our ongoing efforts to make the Queen Elizabeth II Quay more efficient, accessible and business-friendly, thereby supporting faster transactions and smoother port operations,” DG Bio commented.

This development also reflects the importance of strategic collaboration among government institutions, regulators, service providers and private-sector stakeholders in achieving a common objective of being a port that delivers effective, efficient and reliable services to the people and businesses of Sierra Leone. As the port continues to strengthen its operations and improve the overall customer experience, initiatives such as this demonstrate that when stakeholders work together, the barriers to efficient port service delivery can be progressively addressed.

13/08/2026

13/08/2026

396 Cartons of Tramadol Publicly Destroyed By TOCU, Facilitated by SLPHA.

This is more than the destruction of illegal drugs. It is a clear demonstration that the SLPHA has heightened vigilance, stronger port security and decisive action against illicit drug trafficking.

SLPHA remains committed to working with security and regulatory agencies to keep the Port of Freetown safe and secure.

13/08/2026

PAN AFRICAN VISIONS SPOTLIGHTS SLPHA’S STRATEGIC TRANSFORMATION

The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has received significant Pan-African media visibility following the publication of a comprehensive feature by Pan African Visions (PAV) titled “Sierra Leone: The Strategic Transformation of SLPHA.”

The feature takes a broad look at the Authority’s transformation and its growing role in Sierra Leone”s economic development, highlighting improvements in governance, revenue performance, port modernization, operational efficiency and trade facilitation.

It also examines SLPHA’s contribution to key sectors of the economy, the importance of an efficient port system to investment and regional trade, the Authority’s role within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the leadership and reforms driving the transformation.

For SLPHA, the feature represents more than media coverage. It provides an opportunity for the Authority’s transformation story to reach a wider Pan-African Audience, while reinforcing the growing recognition of the Port as a strategic enabler of Sierra Leone’s trade, investment and economic growth.

This recognition further strengthens SLPHA’s commitment to building a modern, efficient, secure and competitive port that delivers value to Sierra Leone and connects the country to the wider African and global economy.

Read the full feature by Pan African Visions here: https://panafricanvisions.com/2026/08/sierra-leone-the-strategic-transformation-of-slpha/