SLPHA Clarifies Partner Roles and Outlines Plans for New Administration Headquarters
The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbour Authority convened a major press conference at the Quay Conference Centre in Cline Town to dispel persistent rumors and provide official clarity regarding the distinct roles of key operational partners within the harbour.
Addressing members of the press, Director General Yankuba Bio stated that the primary objective of the briefing was to clear the air following misleading reports published by several local media outlets regarding port administration.
Mr. Bio clarified that his executive mandate centers strictly on overseeing and regulating the various private entities operating within the facility, rather than directly managing their day-to-day operations. He emphasized that the Port Authority is not responsible for occasional operational delays encountered by individual partner companies.
Highlighting institutional progress achieved since assuming office in late 2023 following parliamentary confirmation, Mr. Bio revealed that the Authority has successfully transitioned from manual, paper-based processes to a modern digital cargo-clearing system. This shift enables importers and exporters to process documentation remotely without needing to visit the seaport.
Additionally, in response to severe congestion experienced during 2025, the Authority instituted round-the-clock (24-hour) operational schedules early this year to eliminate cargo backlogs. Consequently, Sierra Leone has been officially removed from the regional list of congested West African ports.
Looking forward, Mr. Bio outlined plans to construct a dedicated administrative headquarters for the Port Authority outside the immediate quay premises.
Detailing cargo inspection and clearance protocols, John Brima, Scanning Manager for Integrated Trade Services, explained that his fully Sierra Leonean-staffed enterprise focuses on three fundamental pillars: classification, valuation, and non-intrusive inspection of goods.
Operating in strict compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, the company leverages advanced mobile scanning software at the Water Quay to ensure all import and export shipments accurately match manifest descriptions in both quality and quantity.
Concurrently, Siamba Kamara, General Manager of Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal—a subsidiary of the UK-based Nectar Group, which has operated globally since 1988—outlined her firm's specialized responsibilities regarding non-containerized cargo.
Ms. Kamara explained that her company handles the verification of bulk commodities entering and leaving the port to guarantee their safety for consumption.
Equipped with specialized automated bagging machinery, the terminal processes loose bulk cargo, such as rice and cement, into bagged units while systematically identifying and reporting substandard shipments to regulatory authorities when discrepancies arise.
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