By: Sylvester Abdul Dangima
NEWS UPDATE:
On Saturday, 14th March 2026, the Kenema City Council, under the leadership of His Worship the Mayor, Thomas Karimu Baio, officially handed over the construction site for 11-meter Bridge that will connect Maxwell Khobie Street and Show Field in Kenema. The project site was formally handed over to Jawalans Trading and Construction Company Ltd for the commencement of construction works.
The ceremony attracted a wide range of stakeholders, including the Deputy Mayor, the Chief Administrator, and core staff of the Council, as well as representatives from the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), led by its Chief Executive Officer ; Ing. Mohamed Kanneh, together with Ing. Sama Banya and other technical team members. Also present were the Town Chief of Kenema, Chief Momoh Ngombulango, Chief Bockarie Kargbo; section chief, councilors of Kenema City Council, civil society representatives, and community members.
In his welcome address, Town Chief Momoh Ngombulango expressed appreciation to all attendees for honoring the occasion. He stated that he was pleased to witness the commencement of another important development initiative led by the Mayor. The Chief recalled that, in the past, movement through Maxwell Khobie Street was extremely difficult, particularly during the rainy season. However, he noted that through the leadership and development initiatives of Mayor Thomas Karimu Baio, significant improvements are being made, making many parts of Kenema more accessible and desirable places to live.
Providing an overview of the project, the Council Works Engineer, Mohamed Mattia, explained that the gathering was to fulfil a long-standing vision of the Mayor to establish a direct link between Maxwell Khobie Street and Show Field. According to him, the Mayor had reflected on the route many years ago and envisioned improving it for easier access. The engineer announced that an 11-meter standard bridge would be constructed at the site and that, within the next few months, residents would be able to use the bridge to access the Central Business District (CBD) of Kenema more conveniently instead of travelling around the outskirts of the city.
Speaking on the technical aspects of the project, Engineer Sama Banya elaborated on the details earlier provided by the Council Works Engineer. He also highlighted several road maintenance and rehabilitation projects he has supervised within and outside Kenema. He disclosed that the bridge structure would be expanded and that tarred road markings would also be included along the sides where the audience had gathered.
Delivering his statement, the CEO of the Road Maintenance Fund Administration, Ing. Mohamed Kanneh, expressed satisfaction with the Mayor’s development agenda for Kenema. He commended the Mayor’s passion for the city and highlighted the productive collaboration between the RMFA and the Kenema City Council. The CEO thanked all stakeholders for leaving their busy schedules to attend the programme and encouraged community members to serve as monitors and supervisors of the project. He emphasized that construction materials such as cement, iron rods, and other resources must be protected and not diverted for sale.
Ing . Kanneh further informed the audience that 30% of the total project cost for the bridge construction had already been paid to the contractor. He explained that the project is funded through national road maintenance resources, noting that citizens indirectly contribute to such development through payments such as vehicle licenses and fuel levies, which support the RMFA’s operations and infrastructure development nationwide.
The CEO also commended His Excelle…
