By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for the Freetown East Region, Brima Kanneh, has reaffirmed the Sierra Leone Police’s commitment to supporting strategic interventions aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion along the Eastern Corridor, particularly on routes used by the Waka-Fine Bus service. He made this assurance during a high-level stakeholder engagement held on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, at the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA) headquarters on Kissy Road.
The meeting, chaired by the Deputy Director of SLRSA, Mr. Jose Abraham Scot Manga, brought together key stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to persistent traffic challenges affecting commuters and commercial transport along the corridor. Discussions focused on identifying sustainable measures to improve road accessibility and enhance the efficiency of public transportation services.
Addressing participants, Mr. Scot Manga noted that one of the major causes of congestion along the route is the prolonged presence of trailers and container trucks stretching from Shell New Road to Fourah Bay Road while waiting for access to the Queen Elizabeth II Quay. He said this situation has significantly hindered the smooth movement of vehicles and contributed to delays for passengers using the Waka-Fine Bus service.
As part of efforts to address the challenge, stakeholders were presented with a newly developed Traffic Management Plan designed to keep Waka-Fine routes free from unnecessary obstructions while ensuring safer and more efficient movement of vehicles and commuters. The plan is expected to serve as a framework for coordinated action among institutions responsible for traffic regulation and transport management.
In his remarks, AIG Brima Kanneh stated that the Sierra Leone Police would deploy officers along the affected routes to ensure strict compliance with traffic regulations. He further warned that individuals found violating traffic rules would be prosecuted through the Fast-Track Court system. He also recommended the rehabilitation of the Kissy Dockyard route, stretching from St. Helena Secondary School to Ferry Junction, to serve as an alternative route for trailers and container trucks, thereby reducing pressure on the main corridor.
The meeting ended with a collective commitment to deepen stakeholder consultations through a broader workshop aimed at refining the proposed traffic management measures. Plans were also discussed for the identification of a designated terminal point for Waka-Fine buses, strengthened enforcement mechanisms, and enhanced collaboration among institutions such as the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), Indigenous Transport Owners Association (ITOA), Sierra Leone Public Transport Association (SLPTA), Quay Management, and the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA).
Participants expressed optimism that the proposed interventions would significantly improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion across Freetown’s Eastern Corridor.