Lungi ECOWAS Facility: Journalist Mansaray Questions Value of $124 Million Project

Journalist Melvin T. Mansaray has raised concerns over the construction of the new ECOWAS facility in Lungi, questioning whether the project was necessary given the availability of existing venues such as the Lungi hotel facilities and the Bintumani International Conference Centre.

Speaking on Epic Radio, Mansaray referenced the reported $124 million cost of the facility and questioned whether the investment represented value for money, considering that Sierra Leone already has venues capable of hosting regional and international events.

“Painting a picture that the Lungi hotel and Bintumani doesn’t have the capacity is something to debate on,” Mansaray said.

He argued that the scale of investment and public attention given to the project created expectations that the Lungi facility would become the main venue for hosting ECOWAS Summit activities.

“The kind of hype the Lungi facility had, even the President did his inspections and even government officials also posted on their handles,” he said.

Mansaray added that the level of attention surrounding the project led him to believe the facility would become the “epicentre” of the ECOWAS Summit.

He also highlighted the Bintumani International Conference Centre, noting that the venue is already familiar to regional and international dignitaries and has previously hosted major gatherings.

“Bintumani is not a strange place for those dignitaries,” he said.

The journalist questioned whether the resources committed to the Lungi project could have been directed towards improving or expanding existing facilities instead.

His comments come as Sierra Leone hosts ECOWAS Summit-related activities, with some meetings being held at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown, while major summit events are expected at the new ECOWAS facility in Lungi.

The remarks have contributed to ongoing public discussions surrounding infrastructure development, the use of existing facilities, and the allocation of public resources for major international events.