Deputy Minister of Works Conducts On-the-Spot Assessment

Deputy Minister of Works Conducts On-the-Spot Assessment of Government Assets in Lungi

By PRO Ministry of Works and Public Assets

Lungi, 4th April 2025 — The Deputy Minister of Works and Public Assets, Mrs. Christiana Queen Fofanah, accompanied by a technical team, carried out an on-the-spot visit to Lungi on Friday, 4th April 2025, to identify properties owned by the Government of Sierra Leone under the supervision of the Ministry of Works amongst others.

The visit forms part of the Ministry’s broader initiative to ensure the effective maintenance and optimal use of state-owned properties.

During the inspection, the Deputy Minister and her team assessed the old Presidential Lodge, and wide range of government buildings which are owned by state enterprises including the Sierra Leone Airport Authority, Fire Force, SALWACO , PWD Works Yard, SALWACO Dam to name a few. It was evident that the works yard was in a very deplorable state (See attached photograph). The need for a complete overhauling on these facilities was also evident. 

The team also gathered firsthand information about the occupants of government quarters, illegal occupants of Ministry of Works and Public Assets quarters were listed to be evicted with immediate effect so as to ensure the Ministry’s assigned staff to Lungi secure accommodation.

Addressing some government workers present, Mrs. Fofanah emphasized the government’s commitment to infrastructure development and efficient asset management. She noted that several challenges, including structural degradation and poor maintenance, were observed during the visit. The workers were delighted to receive the Deputy Minister and team as they informed that she is the first in over twenty years to conduct such exercise in Lungi. They added that the visit is timely, now that the airport is going through transition, government will take full possession of its facilities. 

“We are here to get firsthand information on the condition of government properties and the status of their occupants in Lungi. Our assessment will help inform decisions on rehabilitation and future investment in public infrastructure,” she stated.

The team discovered that some government quarters in the Tintafur Community were occupied by non-civil servants, with some occupants altering the structure and appearance of the buildings. At Banda Wharf, the quarters were found to be occupied by members of the community. No issues were reported at the Perimeter area. However, the Lungi PWD Works Yard was noted to be an urgent need of attention, as it was reported that it poses security threats to the peace of the community as hoodlums uses it as hideouts.

As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen government asset management, similar inspections are scheduled to take place in other regions in the coming months.

•  LAUNCH OF THE MAKOLO JUNCTION TO MABANG BRIDGETHE MINISTER OF WORKS AND PUBLIC ASSETS DR DENIS SANDY AND THE MINISTER OF LANDS DR TURAD SENESIE COMMISSION THE BARGE FERRY AT BUMPEH.   THE MINISTER OF WORKS AND PUBLIC ASSETS DR. DENIS SANDY, ALONG WITH THE MINISTER OF LAND DR. TURAD SENESIE, COMMISSIONED THE BERGE FERRY AT BUMPEH.  BEFORE STARTING HIS STATEMENT, MINISTER SANDY CONVEYED A SPECIAL GREETING FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE PEOPLE OF BUMPEH AND BONTHE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE. HE MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE ON A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT GIVEN BY PRESIDENT BIO A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE DIRECTIVE WAS TO TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE CROSSING BOARDING AND CONSTRAINT ISSUES BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE THE BEST GIFT FOR THE PEOPLE OF BUMPEH. DR. SANDY EXPLAINED THAT SINCE PRESIDENT BIO GAVE THEM THIS DIRECTIVE, THEY HAD BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY. THEY FORMED A COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF THE MINISTRY OF WORKS, MINISTRY OF LANDS, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, AND THE SIERRA LEONE ROADS AUTHORITY (SLRA). THEY VISITED THE SITE MULTIPLE TIMES AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO DISBURSE FUNDS, LEADING TO THE ASSEMBLY OF THE BARGE FERRY IN BUMPEH. THIS WAS THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT HIS EXCELLENCY DECIDED TO GIVE TO THE PEOPLE OF BUMPEH, SHOWCASING A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ACTION RATHER THAN MERE TALK.  MR. SANDY MENTIONED THAT THE BARGE HAD STARTED OPERATIONS FIVE DAYS AGO. AS A COMMITTEE, THEY NEEDED TO ASSESS THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE BARGE REMAINED FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE BRIDGE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN EARLY 2024. HE EXPRESSED HIS HAPPINESS TO BE PRESENT ON THE GROUND, REPRESENTING PRESIDENT DR. JULIUS MAADA BIO, TO COMMISSION THE BARGE. THE MINISTER OF LAND, DR. TURAD SENESIE, STATED THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD INSTRUCTED HIM TO OVERSEE ALL THE PROJECTS IN BONTHE AND MOYAMBA. HE COMMENDED DR. SANDY FOR HIS EFFORTS AND COLLABORATION IN FULFILLING THE PRESIDENT'S VISION FOR ONGOING ROAD PROJECTS. DR. TURAD THANKED THE PEOPLE OF BONTHE DISTRICT FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND ASSURED THEM THAT THE BRIDGE WOULD SOON BECOME A REALITY. HE PLEDGED TO CONTINUE MONITORING AND COLLABORATING WITH DR. SANDY TO BRING DEVELOPMENT TO ALL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY. PATRICK H. WALKER AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS PERFORMED A CUSTOMARY LIBATION CEREMONY TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THEIR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MR. WALKER EXPRESSED HIS HAPPINESS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BARGE, AS IT COINCIDED WITH HIS HOLIDAY VISIT FROM FREETOWN. HE PRAISED THE MINISTERS AND THE GOVERNMENT FOR RESPECTING THE PEOPLE AND EMPHASIZED THAT NO MATTER THE WORK DONE FOR THEM, THEY DESERVED SUCH RESPECT. THE MINISTERS' COMMISSIONING OF THE BARGE IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY, BY POURING LIBATION FOR THE DECEASED ELDERS OF THE COMMUNITY, WAS A TESTAMENT TO THIS RESPECT.  SENIOR ENGINEER PAUL H. LEBBIE, REPRESENTING THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SLRA, STATED THAT THE AGENCY'S ROLE WAS TO PROVIDE ECONOMICAL ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE. HE MENTIONED THAT DURING THEIR PREVIOUS VISIT, THEY HANDED OVER THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE TO THE CONTRACTOR, CSE. THE SLRA HAD PROMISED THE PEOPLE THE BARGE, AND TODAY, THE MINISTER OF WORKS AND PUBLIC ASSETS WOULD COMMISSION IT. HE ASSURED THAT THE SLRA WOULD VISIT PERIODICALLY DURING THE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR.   

• The Minister of Works and Public Assets , Dr.Denis Sandy ,  Permanent Secretary and Chief Director MWPA  engage Interns and Volunteers of the Ministry on Wednesday 20th September , 2023 . 
• The meeting is to welcome the INTERNS  to the Ministry for the first time as Minister . Dr Sandy advised the Interns to take their Education and placement at MWPA very seriously . He gave them words of encouragement and stress on the importance of Education . 

• Minister Sandy highlighted the position of the Ministry to the Interns on Dress code , Mutual Respect and Dedication to Work. At the end of your Internship at MWPA , I will award the best Interns , he concluded. 

• The Interns and Volunteers were very happy for the first time to meet with the Leadership of MWPA and made commitments to take their temporary placement at MWPA  meaningful. 

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• The Minister of Works and Public Assets Dr.Denis Sandy on Wednesday 23rd August, 2023 (after the end of Cabinet meeting) monitored the Circular Road to Pademba Road Rehabilitation works of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority. 
• The road has been so terrible because of the heavy down pour of rains and therefore needed a swift fix. Being one of the economic city centre roads and  leading to several institutions, it will be completed by  September, 2023 latest. " I will continue to monitor SLRA and  the work of the contractors to bring this  work to a speedy conclusion", the minister responded when asked by the contractors.

• The Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Denis Sandy and his Deputy Mrs. Queen Fofanah on Thursday, 10th August, 2023 met with the Chairman and Board members of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) at his New England Ville office.
• The Board, congratulated the Minister and his Deputy on their appointment by his Excellency the President. They highlighted the role of the Board, successes and proffer some suggestions on the effective management of the Road sector based on their experiences working with sector players. 
• The Minister in his statement, thank the Board of SLRA for paying him and his Deputy a courtesy all. I have listen and noted all the submissions of have made as a Board. I will take a look at the key recommendations you have highlighted and engage sectors accordingly, he added.
• I will work to harmonize the roles of all the entities on Works and Public Assets .My Deputy and I will push for a cordial working relationship with respect to produce results in the Road sector. I will endeavor to revamp the Road sector, he concluded.