By Zachariah Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
The Feed Salone Project has marked a major milestone with a significant infrastructural enhancement, as His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio officially commissions the Mattru-Senehun Bridge, one of four new bridges constructed under the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP), implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with support from the World Bank.
The four bridges, Manowa Bridge in Kailahun District, Gendema Bridge in Kenema, Tompare Bridge in Karene, and Mattru-Senehun Bridge in Bonthe, were built to enhance agricultural connectivity, ensure the safe movement of people and goods, and strengthen community resilience. These projects fall under the broader framework of supporting food security and market access for farming communities across Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony at Mattru Jong on Friday 4th July, President Bio emphasized the critical role infrastructure plays in advancing national food security. “Farmers cannot access markets without roads and bridges. If our farming communities are not connected, we cannot achieve food sufficiency,” he stated. “That is why my government has prioritized infrastructure development as a core pillar of our agricultural agenda. These bridges will not only benefit farmers and traders, but also health workers, students, and entire communities by reducing travel time and cost. They restore dignity and hope for the people.”
President Bio further revealed that procurement is already at an advanced stage for the construction of four additional bridges under the Connectivity and Agricultural Market Infrastructure Project (CAMIP) in Komrabai, Kabba Ferry, Sumbuya, and Moselolo.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, praised President Bio’s unwavering leadership, referring to him as the “Father of Infrastructure” in Sierra Leone. “This is part of the President’s visionary agenda to ensure that farming communities are not left behind. The Mattru-Senehun Bridge is a strategic piece of the broader Feed Salone Infrastructure Strategy that aims to unlock productivity and increase access to markets,” he said.
The newly commissioned Mattru-Senehun Bridge replaces the previously used manual cable ferry and dug-out canoe. At 160 meters long, the bridge is built to last with a lifespan of 100 years, symbolizing a lasting investment in national development and rural transformation.
The commissioning of this bridge marks another tangible step in the Feed Salone vision to transform agriculture from subsistence to sustainability, anchored by infrastructure that connects people, opportunities, and hope.
