The World Bank and Government Officials Assess Progress on SLEDP Tourism Destinations
On Wednesday, 2nd April 2025, a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone embarked on a strategic field assessment of key tourism destinations currently being developed under the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP).
The World Bank delegation was led by Dr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, who visited Sierra Leone to engage on the country’s broader development agenda. He was accompanied by Dr. Abdu Muwonge, Sierra Leone’s World Bank Country Manager; Mehnaz Safavian and Scherezad Latif, Practice Managers; Stefano Curto, Lead Country Economist; and Alari Mahdi, SLEDP Task Team Leader, alongside other members of the World Bank Team.
The Government of Sierra Leone delegation was led by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Nabeela Tunis, who received the team alongside the Chief Economist, Alimamy Bangura and the Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh. Mary Jalloh, Project Coordinator of SLEDP, guided the visit and presented the project’s strategic progress across the tourism infrastructure component.
Dr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien and Tourism Minister, Hon. Nabeela Tunis
SLEDP Coordinator, Mary Jalloh, led Dr. O’Brien and his delegation on a guided tour of key SLEDP tourism project sites.
The delegation visited Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Leicester Peak, two iconic sites benefiting from ongoing infrastructure upgrades. At Tacugama, works are progressing on a state-of-the-art innovation center, a multi-purpose auditorium, and a botanical garden, with a hiking trail and 48-car parking space also under construction to enrich visitors’ experience and strengthen the site’s eco-tourism appeal. At Leicester Peak, three scenic viewing decks are under construction, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Freetown and its surroundings. A critical aspect of the intervention includes the improvement of a 1.6-kilometer section of the existing hillside road which not only facilitates access to the viewpoint but also provides long-awaited relief to residents of surrounding communities who have faced challenges using the route.
Although the visit did not extend to Bureh Beach, the site remains a core part of SLEDP’s coastal tourism initiative. Major infrastructure works are at an advanced stage, including the construction of a surf club structure, modern market stalls, a 420-meter boardwalk, a 60-meter jetty, and a 32-car parking area, positioning Bureh Beach as one of Sierra Leone’s premier tourism assets.
The Tacugama Innovation Center currently under construction
The West Wing of the Leicester Peak Viewing Deck
Dr. O’Brien and Alari Mahdi, SLEDP Task Team Leader
The delegation also visited Creative Hub Africa, one of the Business Development Services (BDS) providers supported by SLEDP. The stop offered Dr. O’Brien a meaningful experience of the project’s impact on entrepreneurship, SME growth, women’s empowerment and youth innovation, a critical area of focus within the broader economic diversification agenda.
Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Muwonge in discussion with Isatu Harrison, CEO of CHA
Isatu Harrison showcasing Sierra Leonean local fashion designs to the World Bank team
Dr. O’Brien expressed strong appreciation not only for the visible progress at the tourism sites but also for the creative energy and potential being harnessed through SLEDP’s SME and innovation support. He commended the collaborative efforts of the government and project team while underscoring the importance of delivering on timelines to ensure sustainable and measurable impact.
The visit highlighted the World Bank’s continued support for Sierra Leone’s development priorities, particularly through SLEDP’s blend of infrastructure investment, enterprise development, and long-term economic transformation.
Dr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien and Tourism Minister, Hon. Nabeela Tunis
SLEDP Coordinator, Mary Jalloh, led Dr. O’Brien and his delegation on a guided tour of key SLEDP tourism project sites.
The delegation visited Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Leicester Peak, two iconic sites benefiting from ongoing infrastructure upgrades. At Tacugama, works are progressing on a state-of-the-art innovation center, a multi-purpose auditorium, and a botanical garden, with a hiking trail and 48-car parking space also under construction to enrich visitors’ experience and strengthen the site’s eco-tourism appeal. At Leicester Peak, three scenic viewing decks are under construction, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Freetown and its surroundings. A critical aspect of the intervention includes the improvement of a 1.6-kilometer section of the existing hillside road which not only facilitates access to the viewpoint but also provides long-awaited relief to residents of surrounding communities who have faced challenges using the route.
Although the visit did not extend to Bureh Beach, the site remains a core part of SLEDP’s coastal tourism initiative. Major infrastructure works are at an advanced stage, including the construction of a surf club structure, modern market stalls, a 420-meter boardwalk, a 60-meter jetty, and a 32-car parking area, positioning Bureh Beach as one of Sierra Leone’s premier tourism assets.
The Tacugama Innovation Center currently under construction
The West Wing of the Leicester Peak Viewing Deck
Dr. O’Brien and Alari Mahdi, SLEDP Task Team Leader
The delegation also visited Creative Hub Africa, one of the Business Development Services (BDS) providers supported by SLEDP. The stop offered Dr. O’Brien a meaningful experience of the project’s impact on entrepreneurship, SME growth, women’s empowerment and youth innovation, a critical area of focus within the broader economic diversification agenda.
Dr. O’Brien and Dr. Muwonge in discussion with Isatu Harrison, CEO of CHA
Isatu Harrison showcasing Sierra Leonean local fashion designs to the World Bank team
Dr. O’Brien expressed strong appreciation not only for the visible progress at the tourism sites but also for the creative energy and potential being harnessed through SLEDP’s SME and innovation support. He commended the collaborative efforts of the government and project team while underscoring the importance of delivering on timelines to ensure sustainable and measurable impact.
The visit highlighted the World Bank’s continued support for Sierra Leone’s development priorities, particularly through SLEDP’s blend of infrastructure investment, enterprise development, and long-term economic transformation.
