By Mahmoud Kamara

In a bold step toward modernizing Sierra Leone’s Port and Harbours infrastructure, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Yankuba A. Bio, has led a powerful delegation to Egypt aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in port development, maritime safety, and logistics innovation.

The tour, which took place from July 8–9, 2025, saw Yakuba Bio with the Honorable Minister of Transport and Aviation, the Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Arab Republic of Egypt and other senior Sierra Leonean officials engaged with Egyptian maritime leaders, including Rear Admiral Hussein Elgheziry, Head of the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety. The visit followed strategic bilateral talks in Cairo and culminated in an extensive infrastructure tour of Alexandria Port, one of the most advanced maritime gateways on the African continent.

Mr. Bio used the opportunity to advocate for robust collaboration on new port infrastructure, including the proposed Inland Container Dry Port project in Sierra Leone and a broader expansion of coastal and hinterland port facilities to meet growing trade demands.

 “Egypt’s example provides a clear blueprint for how strategic planning, investment, and technical innovation can transform a nation’s maritime economy. We are laying the groundwork for an ambitious but achievable transformation of Sierra Leone’s ports and inland logistics capabilities,” Mr. Bio stated.

The Inland Dry Port and Port expansion was high on the agenda.

During high-level meetings and technical sessions, DG Bio outlined Sierra Leone’s vision to establish a state-of-the-art Inland Container Dry Port near Freetown or a strategic inland trade hub. This facility, he said, would serve as a logistics distribution and customs clearance center, easing congestion at sea ports and streamlining cargo flows to inland regions and neighboring countries.

Mr. Bio also discussed broader development plans under SLPHA’s modernization strategy, including key areas of intervention such as:

Formulation of a 25-Year National Port Master Plan, setting long-term strategic direction for maritime infrastructure, enhancement of Inter-land Connectivity, with a focus on boosting transit trade with Guinea and Mali through integrated road and rail links, construction of a port reception facility at Queen Elizabeth II Quay, to ensure environmental compliance with international maritime waste management standards, implementation of a National Electronic Single-Window System, aimed at streamlining cargo clearance, improving transparency, and reducing port dwell times, development of a Modernized Security Access Control System at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, to enhance safety, enforce port regulations, and improve personnel and cargo monitoring.

These interventions form part of SLPHA’s broader mission to create a modern, efficient, and regionally competitive maritime sector aligned with Sierra Leone’s national development priorities and AfCFTA goals.

Egypt committed to supporting Sierra Leone in three major ways:

1. Technical assistance: Egyptian port engineers will assist SLPHA in designing master plans for new port and inland logistics infrastructure.
2. Training & human capital development: There will be fully funded training courses for pilot and other marine engineers focusing on Flag State Procedures and Port State Control.
3. Private sector engagement: Egypt encouraged joint ventures and private investments to establish a direct maritime shipping route between Freetown and Alexandria or Damietta, which would boost trade volumes and reduce shipping costs.

The Sierra Leone delegation’s tour of Alexandria Port’s container terminals and maritime safety infrastructure highlighted the operational efficiencies, digital systems, and environmental strategies deployed in Egypt’s ports. These insights will inform Sierra Leone’s own transformation journey.

“We are not just improving our ports — we are building a trade network that connects Sierra Leone to the region and the world. These partnerships will help us turn plans into action,” Mr. Bio said.

The Director General closed the visit with a reaffirmation of SLPHA’s commitment to sustainable development, private sector collaboration, and regional integration.

“This cooperation marks the beginning of a new era for Sierra Leone’s maritime sector,” he concluded.