By: Aminata Turay
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Tuesday, 31st March 2025, led a high-level delegation including the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, the Minister of Environment, and other senior government officials on an inspection tour of Tacugama Resort and the Leicester Peak viewing deck. The visit underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s tourism sector and formed part of ongoing efforts to assess progress on key tourism infrastructure projects and promote eco-tourism nationwide.
During the tour, the Vice President praised the transformation within the sector, describing the Tacugama facility as a “massive” and internationally competitive development. He noted that the resort, which features a multipurpose hall, cinema, restaurant, library, conference spaces, and classrooms for conservation education, represents a significant step in positioning Sierra Leone as an attractive destination for both local and international tourists. He commended the Minister of Tourism for her leadership, as well as the support from the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project and the World Bank in delivering one of the country’s few EDGE-certified constructions.
Vice President Jalloh also emphasized the importance of protecting such investments, warning against environmental degradation and land encroachment around key tourism sites. With security agencies and regulatory bodies present, he called for a coordinated government approach to safeguard these natural assets for future generations. He expressed optimism that, once completed, the facilities will provide Sierra Leoneans with a unique recreational and educational space while significantly boosting the country’s tourism potential.
Providing technical insight, Project Engineer Saidu Conteh explained that the Tacugama Innovation Centre is one of three flagship tourism destination projects aimed at diversifying the economy away from over-reliance on extractive industries and enhancing tourism performance. He noted that construction is at an advanced stage, with the centre conceived as a comprehensive eco-tourism hub featuring a main complex with a cinema, library/resource centre, conference and training rooms, gift shop, and rooftop restaurant. The site will also include attractions such as a children’s playground, botanical garden with a butterfly dome, amphitheatre, hiking trails, and a bird-watching tower.
He added that the facility is designed to deliver a complete conservation and eco-tourism experience, supported by additional amenities including a greenhouse, first aid and baby care spaces, as well as ticketing and waiting areas. On conservation, he disclosed that the government has deployed rangers to protect the park but noted ongoing challenges, such as land encroachment and the risk of missing the April 30, 2026, completion deadline if outstanding issues are not addressed.
Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh concluded the tour by reaffirming the government’s commitment to developing Sierra Leone’s tourism potential. He urged all stakeholders to work together in protecting and promoting the country’s natural and cultural attractions and expressed confidence that projects like Tacugama will not only attract international visitors but also inspire Sierra Leoneans to explore and appreciate the nation’s unique ecological and recreational offerings.
