FREETOWN – Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has intervened in the stalled BADEA-supported infrastructure project at the historic Prince of Wales (POW) School, Kingtom, calling on the contractor, project managers and the Old Princewaleans Association (OPWA) to work together to get the project over the line.
The Vice President made the call during an inspection visit to the school this week to assess progress, examine challenges, and identify areas requiring urgent support.
Dr Jalloh urged dialogue, cooperation and collective responsibility, stressing that all parties must work hand-in-hand to resolve outstanding issues.
He requested a clear and realistic work plan from the contractor and assured stakeholders of his personal supervision, promising to visit the site every two months until completion.
Why This Matters – The BADEA Project
What many call the “BADEA Project” is actually the Sierra Leone Education Sector Support Project (ESSP) – a flagship programme to rebuild education infrastructure across the country.
According to Ministry of Finance and NaMEA reports:
– Total Cost: US$68 million (approx. US$65m for the 5 lots + supervision)
– Funders: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), OPEC Fund, Saudi Fund for Development. Government of Sierra Leone provides 5% counterpart funding.
– Coverage: Bo Government Secondary School, Kenema Government Secondary School, Magburaka Government Secondary School for Boys, Eastern Technical University Bunumbu, Milton Margai Technical University (Congo Cross, Brookfields, Goderich) and Prince of Wales School, plus a new 7-floor Ministerial building for MBSSE/MTHE in New England.
– Scope at POW: Construction of new multi-purpose buildings, rehabilitation of existing classrooms, staff quarters, internal roads, and critical sea defence / banking to stop coastal erosion – a long-standing threat to the school.
– Timeline: Started July/August 2023 with 12-month initial deadline. Now extended. Official completion deadline is now 31st December 2026. As of September 2026, US$48.38m had been disbursed.
The project is part of President Bio’s Human Capital Development and Free Quality Education agenda to decongest schools after over 1 million additional pupils enrolled since 2018.
Old Boys Had Raised Alarm
The VP’s visit comes months after the *Old Princewaleans Association (OPWA)* in May 2026 issued a strong statement demanding urgent government action.
OPWA complained of:
– Very slow pace of work and few workers on site
– Long periods of inactivity
– Alleged removal of key components like internal roads from the scope
– Misuse of the school compound as a store yard for other projects
– Rising theft and insecurity due to poor site management
– Lack of communication on funding and new completion date
In a recent monitoring report, the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) also flagged similar delays and called for more workers, better security and faster implementation.
Civil society representative Charles Mambu, who joined the VP’s inspection tour, said the focus should not only be on finishing fast but on quality, safety and durability.
VP Satisfied With Old Boys’ Role
Dr Juldeh Jalloh said he was impressed with the interest shown by the Princewaleans, noting that their involvement provides an extra layer of supervision and adds value.
He welcomed further exchange of ideas and appealed to OPWA to sustain their support to help bring the project to the finishing line.
When completed, the project is expected to transform the 100-year-old school – which celebrated its Centenary in April 2025 – from its historic colonial buildings and old dirt fields into modern state-of-the-art facilities, improving the learning environment for thousands of pupils.
He described the investment as a significant boost to the institution and urged all stakeholders to ensure the Prince of Wales community fully benefits.
