Bo City, 10th May 2026:The recent construction of a community bridge linking Mano Bongor to Tuba and surrounding areas in the Tinkoko Chiefdom of Bo district, Southern Sierra Leone, has garnered praise from UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana. This 24-meter bridge, along with a 1.2-kilometer feeder road, was funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented through the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The UN Repemphasized that the impact of the bridge extends beyond mere transportation, highlighting its role in enhancing livelihoods and empowering vulnerable rural communities. She expressed gratitude towards IFAD and the government for prioritizing such infrastructural developments, which are particularly beneficial for women farmers and school children by improving access and mobility.“We are thankful to IFAD and the government through the Ministry of Agriculture for prioritizing the construction of bridges and feeder roads”, the UN Coordinator expressed.
During a community visit, including officials from the Ministry of Education and the Irish Ambassador, the positive effects of the bridge were assessed. IFAD’s Country Director for West and Central Africa, Pascaline Barankeba, noted that the construction of rural infrastructure is vital for linking farmers to markets and improving their income, aligning with the government’s “Feed Salone” initiative. “The AVDP stands as one of our fantastic achievements that aims at transforming agriculture beyond subsistence production level to commercialized agriculture that is backed by nutrition for farmers in Sierra Leone”,
Project Manager Monica Kwame-Greene highlighted that this bridge is crucial for the over 800 residents who previously relied on a weak crossing made from local materials, often trekking long distances with their produce. She emphasized that this infrastructure not only facilitates access to education and healthcare but also restores dignity and economic opportunities for rural communities. “With the rehabilitation/development of 10 hectares of inland valley swamp rice and 30 hectares of cocoa farmsfor a total of 180 farm families, this bridge is more than just an infrastructure; it is a lifeline that restores dignity,accessto education, healthcare and economic opportunities for rural communities”, the Project manager emphasized.
Community members described the project as transformational, fulfilling a long-held dream and enhancing trade, healthcare access, and school attendance, thereby fostering new socio-economic activities.The Chairlady of the Mano community, Aminata Foday expressed gratitude noting that “this project has fulfilled a dream long held by previous generations. Beyond improving trade, the bridge is already helping us access faster healthcare, increasing school attendance and attracting new socio-economic activities for our people”.
The Mano bridge project is part of a larger AVDP initiative, supported by IFAD, the OPEC Fund, and the Government of Sierra Leone, aimed at improving rural connectivity and agricultural growth while reducing isolation.
