West African Leaders’ Statements on Job creation, Infrastructure and Economic Development resonated with the Gento Seaport Project

Kent and Banana Island spotlighted    

By Lamin Bangura

The successful hosting of the 69th ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit by Sierra Leone was more than a diplomatic achievement. It was an opportunity for the country to demonstrate leadership, showcase its investment potential, and reposition itself as a destination for regional trade, infrastructure and economic transformation. The summit brought together Presidents, policymakers, business leaders and development partners who collectively echoed one unmistakable message: West Africa’s future lies not merely in political declarations but in bold economic action.

That message should not be allowed to fade with the lowering of conference banners and the departure of visiting delegations. Instead, it should become the guiding principle for Sierra Leone’s next phase of national development.

President Julius Maada Bio perhaps captured the essence of the summit best when he declared:

“Our responsibility is to move from commitment to implementation.”

These are powerful words that deserve to become more than a summit slogan. They should become the blueprint for government action.

Implementation means ensuring that strategic investments already approved by Cabinet and Parliament do not remain trapped in bureaucratic delays. Implementation means translating policy commitments into cranes, ports, highways, logistics centres, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.

The President further challenged regional leaders by asking:

“All these priorities lead to one fundamental question: can our institutions deliver?”

That question deserves an honest answer.

Institutions deliver not by making promises but by facilitating investments that improve the lives of citizens.

One project that perfectly aligns with the President’s implementation agenda is the proposed Gento Banana Island Transhipment Port and Kent Logistics Harbour Project, a transformative investment valued at approximately US$1.5 billion.

The project is not merely another infrastructure proposal. It represents an entirely new economic vision for Sierra Leone.

During the summit, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Business Council, Aliko Dangote, challenged West African governments to think beyond ceremonial gatherings.

He observed:

“Fifty years is long enough for reflection, but, more importantly, it is time for renewal.”

That renewal cannot occur without large-scale productive investments.

Dangote further reminded regional leaders that:

“Transformation is when we create productive jobs for our people.”

Few projects illustrate productive job creation better than the proposed Banana Island and Kent developments.

According to the project’s projections, construction alone could generate over 1,000 direct jobs, while long-term operations could sustain as many as 10,000 permanent employment opportunities across logistics, shipping, engineering, warehousing, customs, transport, hospitality and related industries.

Those are not abstract statistics. They represent livelihoods for thousands of Sierra Leonean families. They represent hope for unemployed graduates. They represent opportunities for skilled artisans, technicians, transport operators and small businesses.

Dangote also noted that although ECOWAS economies continue to demonstrate resilience, with regional growth projected at approximately five percent this year, millions of young Africans remain unemployed.

That observation is particularly relevant to Sierra Leone. Economic growth figures alone cannot satisfy citizens unless they translate into jobs. This is precisely where strategic infrastructure investments become indispensable.

President Mamady Doumbouya of Guinea equally delivered a practical message that deserves serious reflection.

He urged regional leaders:

“Let us refocus on the economy, investment, and well-being of our people. A strong community is one that helps its members prosper together.”

He added another statement that should resonate across Sierra Leone:

“Our people are waiting for roads, hospitals, energy, markets, and jobs—not just words.”

That sentence captures the expectations of ordinary Sierra Leoneans. Citizens are increasingly interested in projects that improve daily life rather than political rhetoric. Infrastructure remains one of the most effective ways to unlock sustainable economic growth.

Likewise, Senegal’s President and incoming ECOWAS Chairperson, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, emphasized that:

“Our institutions must be stronger, more efficient, and better aligned with member states. Our priorities must be agriculture, industry, and trade.”

Trade cannot flourish without efficient ports. Industry cannot expand without reliable logistics. Agriculture cannot compete internationally if exports remain expensive and inefficient.

That is why the proposed Banana Island Transshipment Port deserves careful national attention.

Sierra Leone’s existing maritime infrastructure, particularly at Queen Elizabeth II Quay, has experienced increasing congestion over the years. The establishment of the Hastings Dry Port itself demonstrates that additional capacity has become necessary to accommodate growing container traffic.

Rather than viewing new infrastructure as competition, policymakers should recognise it as complementary.

Modern economies rarely depend on a single port.

Successful maritime nations build networks of specialised facilities that increase efficiency, reduce shipping costs and attract international investors.

The proposed Banana Island facility offers precisely that opportunity. Its naturally deep waters could accommodate some of the world’s largest cargo vessels without requiring the extensive dredging associated with many ports elsewhere in the region.

Its connection to the Kent Logistics Hub would create an integrated supply chain capable of handling cargo destined not only for Sierra Leone, but for neighbouring West African markets.

The concept is straightforward.

Large international vessels would unload cargo at Banana Island. Smaller regional vessels would redistribute goods across West Africa. This transshipment model could significantly reduce transportation costs, while positioning Sierra Leone as a regional maritime gateway.

Importantly, such development need not diminish the role of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority. On the contrary, if properly structured, it could enhance the Authority’s strategic importance through increased throughput, expanded maritime services, greater concession revenues and broader economic activity. A stronger national port ecosystem has the potential to generate higher revenues for the state, while reinforcing public ownership and oversight.

Government has already demonstrated confidence in the initiative through Cabinet and Parliamentary approvals.

Equally significant is its reported commitment to provide a US$20 million counterpart contribution to facilitate implementation.

If Sierra Leone is serious about becoming a logistics and maritime hub, fulfilling such commitments promptly would demonstrate policy consistency and strengthen investor confidence.

International investors pay close attention to how governments honour commitments. Confidence grows when approvals are followed by implementation. Confidence weakens when approved projects stall indefinitely. The broader significance of the Banana Island and Kent projects extends beyond economics.

Kent once stood as one of the painful reminders of the transatlantic slave trade. Today, history offers Sierra Leone an opportunity to redefine that narrative. Instead of serving as a symbol of forced human departure, Kent could become a gateway for commerce, investment, technology and prosperity.

That transformation would carry powerful historical symbolism.

Ultimately, the greatest lesson from the recently concluded ECOWAS Summit is that Africa’s future will not be built through speeches alone. The summit repeatedly emphasised implementation, productive investment, institutional effectiveness, regional trade and job creation. Those priorities align remarkably well with Sierra Leone’s own development aspirations.

The challenge now is whether the country will convert summit declarations into tangible national progress.

President Bio’s own words provide the answer.

“Our responsibility is to move from commitment to implementation.”

If those words are to define Sierra Leone’s legacy following a successful ECOWAS Summit, then strategic investments such as the Gento Banana Island Transshipment Port and Kent Logistics Harbour deserve to move from approved plans to visible reality.

History rarely rewards nations for opportunities they merely discussed. It rewards those bold enough to build them.