President Dr Julius Maada Bio has completed a thorough inspection tour of three of Sierra Leone’s most important heritage, tourism, and conservation sites — Bunce Island, Leicester Peak Viewpoint, and the Tacugama Innovation Centre — demonstrating his administration’s dedication to preserving history, promoting sustainable tourism, and defending the country’s natural assets for future generations.
The President’s visit to Bunce Island was particularly significant because it was the first time in four decades that a sitting Sierra Leonean President had toured the island. Bunce Island, located on the Sierra Leone River, is one of West Africa’s most powerful reminders of the transatlantic slave trade. Since the late 17th century, the island has been a major British slave trading post, and it is still a site of great historical significance and communal memory.
During a guided tour of the island, President Bio was briefed on Bunce Island’s central role in the transatlantic slave trade and its ongoing importance in global history. He examined surviving elements of the old slave fortress, such as holding areas and defensive structures, which bear witness to the suffering and resilience of the thousands of Africans who were held there before being transported across the Atlantic. The visit also highlighted Bunce Island’s long-standing connections to diasporic communities, particularly in North America, where enslaved African descendants have strong cultural and ancestral ties to Sierra Leone.
Recognising the site’s educational and commemorative value, President Bio laid a wreath in memory of those who passed through Bunce Island, paying tribute to their lives and fortitude. He emphasised the importance of preserving such sites not only as tools for remembrance and historical reflection, but also as assets that can drive economic growth through heritage tourism and strengthen engagement with the global African diaspora.
The President travelled from Bunce Island to Leicester Peak Viewpoint, one of the government’s flagship tourism infrastructure projects. He was accompanied by Nabeela Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, on a tour of the newly upgraded facility, which provides sweeping views of Freetown and the Atlantic coastline. The facelift for Leicester Peak is part of a larger national strategy to reposition Sierra Leone as a competitive and appealing destination for both regional and international visitors.
President Bio praised the Ministry of Tourism for the quality of its work and urged that the site’s appeal be preserved through proper maintenance. “I’d like to thank everyone for the fantastic work you’ve done here. This facelift will attract visitors and help Sierra Leone reposition itself as a tourist destination. However, I urge everyone here to keep this place clean and tidy so that it can continue to serve its intended purpose,” he said. The President emphasised the importance of strategic investments in tourism infrastructure for creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and showcasing Sierra Leone’s natural beauty to the rest of the world.
The tour concluded at the Tacugama Innovation Centre, where construction is well underway on a multifaceted complex aimed at promoting tourism, education, environmental conservation, and creative enterprises. A green park, observation tower, greenhouse, visitor centre, hiking trails, amphitheatre, children’s play areas, and a canopy walk are among the planned features of the hub.
The completed centre will also include a cinema, library, studio, boardroom, rooftop cafeteria, and exhibition spaces, forming an integrated destination that combines learning, leisure, and environmental stewardship.
President Bio was pleased with the pace and quality of work at Tacugama, describing the Innovation Centre as a transformative project that aligns with Sierra Leone’s sustainable development goals.
He urged that the centre serve as a hub for creativity, conservation, and sustainable development. At the same time, he issued a strong warning against encroachment and land grabbing in protected conservation areas: “I want to issue a clear warning against encroachment here. “The law will take its full course against those who engage in land grabbing in conservation areas,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s natural assets.
The three visits, taken together, reflect the Bio administration’s integrated approach to national development, which involves leveraging historical heritage, tourism potential, and ecological resources to drive economic growth, reinforce national identity, and create opportunities for future generations. The government is signalling a commitment to remembrance, responsible tourism, and conservation by restoring and investing in sites such as Bunce Island, Leicester Peak, and Tacugama to benefit local communities while encouraging international engagement and investment in Sierra Leone’s unique cultural and natural offerings.
