Misplaced Priority… Govt Prefers Conference Centre Over Bridge

By Abdul Rahman Bah

President Julius Maada Bio’s inspection of the ECOWAS International Conference Centre under construction in Lungi has once again ignited debate about Sierra Leone’s infrastructure priorities. While the government views the project as a strategic investment designed to elevate the country’s international profile, many Sierra Leoneans are asking whether the nation is placing prestige before practicality.

The figures are striking. The proposed ECOWAS International Conference Centre, together with a hotel and Presidential Villas, carries a reported price tag of approximately $124 million. The facility is expected to include a 1,400-seat auditorium, a 500-seat banquet hall, presidential-level meeting facilities and accommodation for visiting dignitaries. Government officials argue that the project will boost tourism, attract international conferences and strengthen Sierra Leone’s role within the ECOWAS region.

However, the project’s critics are focusing on a different set of numbers.

Freetown International Airport remains Sierra Leone’s only international gateway. Every year, thousands of Sierra Leoneans, investors, tourists and development partners arriving at Lungi must still cross the Sierra Leone River Estuary by ferry, speedboat or undertake a road journey through Port Loko before reaching the capital. Despite decades of discussions, studies and announcements, the long-promised Lungi Bridge remains a vision rather than a reality.

The comparison has become unavoidable.

Government officials describe the conference centre as a catalyst for investment and tourism. Yet many economists argue that transportation infrastructure often produces wider economic benefits than conference facilities. A bridge connecting Freetown and Lungi would not simply serve visiting Presidents and diplomats. It would serve traders, farmers, students, workers, investors and ordinary citizens every day of the year.

The economic implications are enormous. Reduced travel time between Freetown and Lungi could encourage real estate development, industrial expansion, tourism growth and increased commercial activity across Port Loko District and surrounding areas. Property values would likely rise, logistics costs could decline and businesses would gain faster access to the country’s primary international gateway.

Meanwhile, the conference centre’s success depends heavily on its ability to attract a steady stream of international events. Across Africa, several governments have invested heavily in conference infrastructure with varying results. Some facilities have become thriving centres of economic activity, while others have struggled with low occupancy rates and high maintenance costs. The difference often depends on strong supporting infrastructure, efficient transportation systems and sustained international demand.

The timing of the project has also generated scrutiny. Reports indicate that construction has been accelerated to prepare for major ECOWAS engagements and high-level regional meetings. The urgency reflects Sierra Leone’s desire to showcase itself as a modern destination capable of hosting world leaders and international summits.

Yet many citizens argue that development should not be measured solely by the ability to host conferences. Across Sierra Leone, communities continue to struggle with poor road networks, inadequate healthcare facilities, unreliable electricity supply and high youth unemployment. In many districts, access to clean drinking water remains a challenge. Public hospitals often face shortages of equipment and essential medicines. Schools continue to operate with limited resources.

Against this backdrop, questions about priorities are inevitable.

Supporters of the project respond that infrastructure development should not be viewed as a zero-sum game. They argue that Sierra Leone must invest in facilities that attract international capital while simultaneously addressing domestic challenges. They point to the potential for job creation during construction, increased tourism revenue and enhanced international visibility.

However, visibility alone does not guarantee economic transformation.

The central issue is not whether the conference centre should be built. It is whether Sierra Leone’s most urgent infrastructure needs are receiving the same level of political commitment and financial attention. For decades, the Lungi Bridge has been presented as a project capable of reshaping the nation’s economy. Successive governments have described it as transformational. Yet, while conference halls are rising from the ground in Lungi, the bridge that could permanently connect the airport to the capital remains on paper.

The contrast is difficult to ignore. One project is designed to host international visitors for a few days at a time. The other would serve millions of Sierra Leoneans for generations.

As construction continues on the ECOWAS International Conference Centre, the government faces the challenge of proving that the investment will deliver measurable economic returns rather than simply becoming a symbol of political ambition. Sierra Leoneans are not merely looking for impressive structures; they are looking for infrastructure that changes lives.

Until the Lungi Bridge becomes a reality, the debate is unlikely to disappear. Instead, it will continue to raise a fundamental question about the country’s development path: should Sierra Leone prioritize projects that showcase the nation to the world, or projects that first connect and transform the lives of its own people?