Only 8 of 100 Government Buses Purchased Under Ernest Bai Koroma’s Government is Operational
Osman Tolo Sesay The Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority says only eight of 100 buses acquired by the previous government remain operational, citing years of breakdowns and recent fires.
SLPTA Director General Isaac Ken-Green disclosed the figure during an interview with Truth Media, where he outlined the authority’s plans to rebuild the infrastructure needed to sustain public bus services.
Ken-Green said several of the buses had already become non-functional before he assumed leadership of the transport institution in 2018.
He also disclosed that more than five buses were recently destroyed by fire. According to him, the circumstances surrounding the incidents remain unclear.
The SLPTA chief said the cases were referred to the Criminal Investigation Department, with some drivers arrested during the investigation. However, he said the investigations did not produce a conclusive outcome at the time.
Ken-Green said the authority is still awaiting reports from the police and the Sierra Leone Fire and Rescue Service to establish the causes of the fires.
He said restoring the bus fleet requires more than acquiring replacement vehicles, emphasizing the need to establish and maintain the infrastructure required to keep buses operational.
According to Ken-Green, the authority has access to land in several locations that could be developed into transport facilities, including depots and terminals.
He said the immediate priority is to establish fully functional public transport infrastructure, including depots, terminals and properly equipped mechanical workshops staffed by personnel capable of servicing the buses.
Ken-Green also stressed the importance of secure parking facilities, saying the authority needs designated locations where buses can be safely parked, serviced and maintained.
Looking ahead, he said the SLPTA is considering establishing depots at strategic locations, including Number Two River and Jui, as part of efforts to create a functional network capable of supporting its bus operations.
He said the authority intends to ensure that the proposed depots are fully operational before expanding the bus fleet, with maintenance capacity considered an essential part of any future investment in public transportation.
The comments come as the SLPTA seeks to strengthen Sierra Leone’s public transportation system and address the infrastructure and maintenance challenges affecting the availability of government-backed buses.