The Ministry of Works, Housing and Technical Maintenance holds centre stage in the reconstruction process. It is of major importance, working alongside other government departments in the restoration of Sierra Leone’s transport system and housing. It is not a job for the faint-hearted.

‘Agricultural areas must be accessible’ C. J. Boima

Minister C.J. Boima says there is a tremendous amount to do as a result of the war, and, as one of the largest ministries, others rely on it to achieve real progress quickly.

Substantial headway has already been made. In a little over a year, it has successfully reopened previously inaccessible parts of the country to road traffic, for example.

“We have made virtually the whole country accessible. It is not as accessible as people would like, it is not a comfortable drive, but there is no corner of the country where you cannot go today. That was not possible about 12 months ago.”

The development of the roads network, in collaboration with other agencies like the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, will play a major role in easing the free flow of trade around the country. Farmers in remote areas depend on roads to get their goods to market. The Minister recognises the importance of opening a lifeline for these rural communities.

“There is a need to further improve access to our agricultural areas, mostly in the east and south, and the north as well, the areas that produce our staple food. These areas must be reachable so that food can easily be brought to the urban centres where it is sold.”

There is an urgent need for new homes

There are several major road projects in the pipeline. In Freetown, the priority is to create fast access between east and west. Linking Freetown to Lungi and the international airport is another priority.

Nationwide, the roads from Kenema to Koindu, from Makeni to Kono and from Bo to Matotoka are all very important. A British group and a group of Arab investors have displayed interest in developing the bridge project.

Many of the country’s roads are straining under the sheer weight of traffic. Some of the provincial routes were built during the colonial era, up to 50 years ago, and were not meant for trucks of more than five tonnes. Today, trucks of 20-25 tonnes regularly travel the routes, causing immeasurable stress to the road surface.

Dr Boima says the government is going to pay serious attention to revitalising the railway, heavily damaged during the war. The railway is a means of helping with road construction in remote parts of the country.

“Without rail, we would simply be unable to bring the necessary material for their reconstruction,” he says.
On the housing side, there is an urgent requirement for thousands of new homes. Some estimates say up to 350,000 properties are needed, although money is the major constraint. The government hopes to entice the private sector to bridge the gap. There are also hopes of attracting expatriate Sierra Leoneans to return to the country and invest. As well as housing, the Ministry of Works takes responsibility for the repair of all government buildings and offices, as well as foreign embassies in the capital.

Dr Boima thinks that ordinary people could afford their own homes if they had access to the right financing schemes. “Thousands of people in this country have got mobile phones. The mobile phones cost £6.25 per month to maintain. That is exactly the money you would pay to a mortgage firm per month for 10 years to own a house. I think a system like that would work wonders in this country.”