Tourism Committee Pushes for Increased Investment in Heritage Sector

The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs has called for increased investment and stronger institutional support to preserve and promote Sierra Leone’s museums, monuments, relics and other cultural heritage assets.

The call was made during the Committee’s engagement with the Monuments and Relics Commission, Sierra Leone National Museum and Sierra Leone National Railway Museum at the Speaker’s Conference Room in Parliament. The institutions presented their achievements, ongoing activities, challenges and future plans.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara, said the engagement was aimed at helping Parliament better understand the challenges facing heritage institutions and identify areas requiring legislative or government intervention. He encouraged the institutions to be open about their difficulties and assured them of the Committee’s support.

The Monuments and Relics Commission highlighted its Heritage School Clubs programme, which currently involves about 25 to 30 schools and introduces students to heritage education, traditional games and cultural activities. It also reported progress in maintaining and rehabilitating sites including the Museum Heritage Tower, Writer’s Stone and King’s Yard, while rehabilitation of the National Museum following the 2024 fire is substantially complete.

However, the Commission cited outdated legislation, the absence of a substantive Board for about six years, inadequate staffing, limited vehicles and motorcycles, low staff remuneration and delays in receiving its Management and Functional Review report as key challenges.

The Sierra Leone National Museum reported progress in conservation, documentation, exhibitions, educational visits and partnerships with schools and communities. However, it continues to face inadequate funding, ageing infrastructure, limited exhibition and storage space, insufficient conservation equipment and a shortage of trained professionals. Security concerns and limited outreach beyond Freetown were also identified as challenges.

The Museum plans to digitise its collections and establish a National Digital Artefact Database, while expanding its Mobile Museum Outreach Programme to take heritage education and exhibitions to communities across the country. It also plans to improve conservation facilities and expand heritage education to support domestic tourism.

Meanwhile, the National Railway Museum highlighted efforts to preserve Sierra Leone’s railway heritage, including the historic 1897 steam locomotive, diesel locomotive, and former Governor’s and Queen’s Coaches. It has also established Railway Heritage Clubs in about 25 schools to educate young people about the country’s railway history.

The Railway Museum identified poor accessibility caused by dust and heavy traffic, termite damage, pigeon infestation, inadequate maintenance resources and limited access to specialised training among its major challenges.

Committee Chairman Honourable Tom Tucker commended the heritage institutions and stressed the importance of preserving Sierra Leone’s cultural and historical assets for future generations. He called for stronger collaboration among heritage institutions, universities, international organisations, development partners and investors.

Tucker also emphasised the need for proper planning, accountability and documentation, including annual work plans, financial statements, procurement records, project documents and monitoring reports.

The Committee assured the institutions that concerns relating to staffing, logistics, remuneration and other operational challenges would be raised with the relevant authorities.

The engagement concluded with a commitment to strengthen cooperation between Parliament and heritage institutions through further engagements and site visits, with the Committee stressing that continued collaboration is essential to preserving, promoting and developing Sierra Leone’s heritage as an educational and tourism resource.