Samuel Kallon 
The Speaker in the House of Parliament, Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu has stated that “the deplorable condition of the 22km road at Mattru-Bonthe District is a threat to the safety of the President.”
The Speaker made the submissions on Thursday 16th November 2023 when responding to the statement made by Hon Aaron Koroma in the well of Parliament.
According to the Speaker, the Mattru-Bothe road links the village of the President, adding that it is an embarrassment and life threatening for the President’s life.
During the last sitting, the Speaker also cried in the Well of Parliament about the deplorable condition of Port Loko/Gbinti road.
He said the 2024 budget failed to cater for the construction of the road, adding that as a Speaker, his home district is in dire need to see their road condition be improved.
The Speaker promised to engage the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura to see how Gbinti can be factored in the road development agenda.
The Deputy Leader of opposition II, Hon. Aaron Koroma spoke about the construction and improvement of roads across the country.
Hon. Aaron Koroma praises the Bank Governor for the gradual appreciation of the leones to the US dollar but drew his attention on the cost of borrowing interest rate.
The MP from Bo District, Hon Kekura C. Vandy said: “We must collectively work to revive our economy.”
During the delivering of the budget in Parliament, the Minister of Finance stated that of this amount, NLe186.7 million is allocated to the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) for the ongoing construction, rehabilitation and completion of trunk and township roads.
He said of this, NLe45 million is for the completion of township roads, NLe30 million for the rehabilitation of major highways and NLe8.5 million for the re-gravelling works on selected trunk roads.
According to the Minister, the allocation also includes budgetary provision for the reconstruction of Kabala-Falaba-Krubola road; Targrin-Lungi-Conakry Dee road, Bandajuma-Pujehun-Gbondapi road, Kenema/Zimmi-road, Taiama-Njala road and Bo-Tinkoko road.
He went further that the African Development Bank, BADEA and the Kuwaiti Fund will also disburse NLe137.4 million to support the implementation of several road projects including the Tinkoko-Kpetema-Mattru-Jong road and the Mano River road and Development and Transport Facilitation project.
In addition, he said government is providing NLe99.0 million from the domestic capital budget as counterpart contribution towards the implementation of these road projects. The wages and salaries of staff of the SLRA will amount to NLe35.6 million.
