Kpanga Krim Chiefdom, 2026 — President Dr Julius Maada Bio inaugurated a trio of high-profile infrastructure projects in Pujehun District on Saturday, including the 25-kilometre Bandajuma-Pujehun Road, the Julius Maada Bio Bridge, and the new Gobaru Monument, as well as the formal start of construction on the Pujehun-Gbondapi Road. According to officials, the projects are a cornerstone of the government’s larger infrastructure and Feed Salone food security agendas, and many see them as a watershed moment in the district’s development.
At the commissioning ceremony, which drew a large crowd, President Bio described the projects as “pathways to dignity,” emphasising the importance of better roads and public works in increasing residents’ access to health care, education, markets, and economic opportunities. “Pujehun District has suffered historical injustice for many years, and we are righting that now,” he said, emphasising that “it should not be acceptable to have a district headquarters town without a paved road.”
The President emphasised a significant reduction in travel time as a result of recent road improvements, noting that the trip between Bo and Pujehun now takes about an hour, down from several hours previously. He described the shorter journey as transformative for trade, mobility, and the daily lives of citizens who rely on dependable transportation to access services and markets.
Aside from transportation, President Bio announced plans for an integrated energy solution in Pujehun, stating that the government will combine solar and fossil fuel systems while expanding electricity distribution infrastructure. The package, he said, includes installed generators and expanded power line networks to support increased economic activity and ensure Pujehun has a more consistent energy supply as other projects come online.
The President launched the Pujehun-Gbondapi Road, linking it directly to Feed Salone, the administration’s national food security programme. He stated that improved road access is critical for the movement of inputs and produce, ensuring farmers’ access to markets and the efficient transportation of agricultural output across the district and beyond. President Bio also praised First Tricon Limited for completing the projects to date and urged citizens to remain united as the nation prepares for the 2028 elections.
Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh described the President’s intervention as transformative for Pujehun. Dr Sengeh detailed complementary achievements, noting that 41 kilometres of feeder roads have been completed and that the striking Gobaru Monument, described by officials as a symbol of modernisation, civic pride, and urban renewal, was built with Africell’s assistance. He also mentioned progress under Feed Salone, citing the cultivation of 10,000 hectares of crops in Pujehun and the consumption of 13,000 bags of locally produced rice as signs of increased local production and market activity.
Dr Sengeh also discussed social-sector improvements related to the infrastructure push. He stated that the administration has hired 200 health workers, built four peripheral health units, and started work on a 100-bed hospital for the district. He noted an increase in the number of Pujehun students attending university, citing education gains alongside transportation and health investments.
Dr Denis Sandy, Minister of Works and Public Assets, told the gathering that the President had directed that outstanding road and bridge projects be completed as soon as possible, and that the current administration has delivered more such infrastructure than any previous government. First Lady Dr Fatima Maada Bio reflected on the difficulties residents previously faced in accessing Pujehun, stating that the new roads have already improved mobility and livelihoods in tangible ways.
According to Ing. Alfred Jalil Momodu, Director General of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), the scale and focus of the Pujehun intervention were unprecedented.
He stated that three major road-related projects had been completed concurrently in a single district for the first time, and that over the last six years, approximately 140 kilometres of roads and eight bridges had been built in Pujehun. Ing. Momodu singled out the Julius Maada Bio Bridge as a particularly long-overdue asset, noting that the structure’s need had gone unmet for more than 90 years before the current administration intervened.
Local leaders welcomed the developments. Foday Rogers, Chairman of the Pujehun District Council, stated that the upgraded infrastructure has significantly improved access to markets, schools, and health facilities, providing local businesses and households with new opportunities. Hon. Sidi Mohamed Tunis, a political leader, praised the President for appointing more Pujehun indigenes to key positions and described the new projects as historic achievements delivered in the face of challenging national resource conditions.
The commissioning of the Bandajuma-Pujehun Road, the Julius Maada Bio Bridge, and the Gobaru Monument, as well as the opening of the Pujehun-Gbondapi Road, were hailed by officials as watershed moments in the district’s development trajectory. Pujehun is entering a new phase of growth, civic identity, and economic opportunity, according to local and national leaders, thanks to improved connectivity, planned energy improvements, and concurrent investments in agriculture, health care, and education.
