PAC Probes SLRA Over Poor Roads Maintenance
By Desmond Isaac Macauley
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Monday 30th June 2025 summoned officials of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) to address concerns raised in the 2023 Audit Report.
The hearing took place at the Conference Hall of the Administrative Building in Parliament and focused on the poor state of national road networks despite budget allocations for maintenance.
According to the audit findings, SLRA received a total of Le56,538,321 for road maintenance during the period under review. However, a physical inspection of roads including Sani Abacha Street, Goodrich Street, Juba-Tokeh Road, Old Railway Line, and Circular Road revealed persistent potholes and deteriorating conditions.
In response, SLRA officials, led by Engineer Alfred Jalili Momodu, acknowledged and emphasized that, some roads were too old for routine maintenance to be effective.
He highlighted Circular Road as an example, noting that, it was constructed over 40 years ago without consideration for modern traffic demands and urban growth. “As long as the road is in disrepair, no amount of maintenance will bring it back to its past glory,” he stated.
He further explained that while the authority undertakes maintenance work where feasible, many of the roads require full reconstruction. This, he stressed, cannot be achieved without increased financial support. The current budget constraints, he added, hinder SLRA’s ability to embark on large-scale reconstruction projects that would deliver long-term solutions.
The PAC encouraged SLRA to present a realistic national road reconstruction plan and to engage with the Ministry of Finance. While calling for accountability, the Committee also acknowledged the need for a strategic approach to funding and planning the revival of Sierra Leone’s critical road infrastructure.
