By Chuku Cocker
The OPEC Fund for International Development has pledged support for the construction of a cancer treatment centre in Sierra Leone and reaffirmed its backing for projects in agriculture, energy and infrastructure, according to a statement following high-level talks.
OPEC Fund President Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa made the commitment during a meeting with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio at the fund’s headquarters in Vienna on April 10.
The proposed cancer centre, developed in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is intended to expand access to radiotherapy services in Sierra Leone, where such treatment remains limited. The fund said similar initiatives have been implemented in other African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The discussions also reviewed a series of ongoing and planned investments in Sierra Leone. These include a $30 million Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project, a $50 million Kambia Special Agro-Processing Zone, and a $50 million Bumbuna hydroelectric project awaiting board approval, according to the fund.
A feasibility study is also under review for the Kambia–Kychom road project, aimed at improving transport links and agricultural market access.
The OPEC Fund also expressed readiness to support Sierra Leone’s participation in the West African Integration and Investment Summit scheduled for October, and said it would assist efforts to cushion the impact of global energy price shocks driven by geopolitical tensions.
President Bio welcomed the commitments and praised the partnership, noting that earlier engagements, including a 2024 roundtable in Vienna, had generated about $850 million in pledges for Sierra Leone, with a portion already being implemented.
He warned that global disruptions in energy and fertilizer supply chains were increasing inflationary pressures and threatening economic stability in developing countries such as Sierra Leone.
According to the OPEC Fund, about 43% of the pledged $850 million has so far been converted into active or near-ready projects.
The planned cancer centre is seen as a key component of Sierra Leone’s efforts to strengthen its healthcare system and expand specialist treatment services.
