By: Aminata Sesay
Farming communities in eastern Sierra Leone are set to benefit from improved access to markets and essential services following the commissioning of a new bridge in Tangabu community, Kissi Teng Chiefdom.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, officially opened the bridge as part of his ongoing nationwide tour of agricultural infrastructure under the government’s flagship Feed Salone initiative.
Strategically located at the boundary between Kissi Teng and Kissi Kama Chiefdoms, with onward access to Luawa Chiefdom, the bridge is expected to reconnect a cluster of high-potential cocoa-producing communities that have long struggled with poor road access. For years, residents relied on unsafe, makeshift crossings after the previous structure deteriorated, limiting movement and stifling local economic activity.
The new bridge now provides safe, all-season access to key routes linking farming communities to major towns such as Koidu and Kailahun, significantly improving the transportation of agricultural produce.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Dr. Kpaka emphasized the government’s focus on practical, farmer-centered investments. He noted that improving feeder roads, bridges, and storage infrastructure is essential to reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening market access for rural farmers.
“Feed Salone is deliberate about supporting farmers. By improving feeder roads, storage facilities, and bridges, we are making it easier to move produce, access markets, and reduce losses,” he said.
The bridge project forms part of the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), a broader intervention aimed at boosting productivity and rural livelihoods. AVDP Project Manager Monica Kwame-Green disclosed that beneficiary communities are also receiving additional support, including the development of 2,430 hectares of cocoa plantations, inland valley swamp rehabilitation, oil palm cultivation, solar-powered water systems, and rural storage facilities.
Beyond agriculture, the bridge is already delivering social benefits. A local chief highlighted that a nearby school, which previously struggled to attract students due to poor accessibility, can now serve children from multiple chiefdoms improving access to education and expanding opportunities for young people.
The Tangabu bridge is part of a wider national rollout of rural infrastructure under AVDP. In 2026 alone, the program is delivering 6,000 hectares of inland valley swamp development, 9,000 hectares of cocoa expansion, 5,000 hectares of oil palm cultivation, 55 grain storage facilities, and 420 kilometres of feeder roads. So far, seven bridges have been completed, with six more expected before the end of the year.
Government officials say these investments are central to transforming Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector, strengthening value chains, and improving the livelihoods of rural communities across the country.