By mohamed Daramy
Sierra Leone has stepped up efforts to complete key infrastructure projects ahead of a planned regional summit, with officials urging faster delivery of a new hotel, conference centre and presidential villas in Lungi.
Chairman of the Office of Presidential Infrastructure Initiative (OPII), Eldred Taylor, chaired a meeting of the Project Management Technical Committee in Freetown on Wednesday, where he praised President Julius Maada Bio for what he described as a transformative initiative.
The project, which includes an internationally branded hotel, a congress centre and presidential villas, is being developed under a public-private partnership model aimed at boosting tourism and positioning Sierra Leone as a destination for international events.
Taylor said priority was being given to completing the congress centre and villas in time for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit of heads of state scheduled for June 2026.
“We are under instructions to deliver this project, and all efforts must be geared towards completing it in record time,” he said, adding that the initiative would support regional integration and enhance Sierra Leone’s capacity to host high-level engagements.
Government officials said the project aligns with broader ambitions by Bio, who currently chairs ECOWAS, to promote economic diplomacy, peacebuilding and regional cooperation.
A representative from the Ministry of Finance, Alhassan Mansaray, said the financing structure of the project would not place additional strain on the government’s balance sheet.
Meanwhile, National Revenue Authority official Richard Hindolo Senesie called for transparency and pledged support in facilitating waivers for imported construction materials.
Project Manager Tejan Abdul Tejan said construction was ongoing across multiple components, with contractors working to meet deadlines.
Officials also commended the contractor, FB Group, for accelerating work on the project.
The Project Management Technical Committee, comprising representatives from multiple institutions, adopted its terms of reference during the meeting and pledged to ensure the project is delivered within agreed timelines and regulatory frameworks.
The development forms part of Sierra Leone’s broader push to upgrade infrastructure and attract investment, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
