For generations, the hand-operated pontoon ferry across the Little Scarcies River at Kabba has served as a vital link for communities between Sella and Tambakha in Karene District.

But after decades of service, repeated accidents and disruptions, residents are increasingly calling for the ageing ferry to be replaced with a permanent bridge that can provide safer and more reliable passage.

Head of the Kabba Ferry, Morlai Sillah, popularly known as MZ, said the community would prefer a bridge because of the greater security it would provide.

“We prefer a bridge to this because it’s more secure,” Sillah said.

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His comments reflect long-standing concerns among residents and commuters who depend on the crossing for transportation, trade and access to surrounding communities.

The Kabba Ferry represents a significant transport bottleneck along the route to Outamba-Kilimi National Park and remains an important crossing for communities in the area.

Over the years, the river crossing has been associated with serious accidents.

In October 2024, a wooden boat reportedly capsized in the Kabba Ferry River, resulting in the drowning of a nursing mother and putting the lives of seven schoolchildren at risk.

The incident renewed concerns about the safety of river transportation and highlighted the vulnerability of residents who rely on boats and the ferry to cross the waterway.

The area has experienced similar tragedies in the past, including a 2007 incident near the mouth of the river that reportedly claimed multiple lives.

The Little Scarcies River forms part of the wider river system running from Guinea into Sierra Leone, passing through communities in the northwest, including the Ballo Wharf area.

After years of concerns and calls for improved infrastructure, the government has indicated plans to construct a permanent bridge at Kabba.

In April 2026, Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah announced that construction of the proposed 250-metre Kabba Ferry Bridge was expected to begin during the year.

The project forms part of a wider infrastructure programme that includes the construction of 39 bridges across the country and the paving of the 105-kilometre Kambia–Tomparie–Kamakwei Road.

Another major crossing in the region is the Tomparie Bridge, a 160-metre structure being constructed to replace a long-standing ferry crossing. At the time of the announcement, the bridge was reported to be approximately 85 per cent complete.

The push for a permanent bridge at Kabba is also part of a longer history of efforts to replace ferry crossings in Sierra Leone’s northwest with safer infrastructure.

A permanent crossing could improve the movement of people and goods, provide more reliable access to surrounding communities and reduce the disruptions associated with ferry operations.

It could also strengthen connectivity to Outamba-Kilimi National Park and support economic activity in communities that depend on the route for trade and transportation.

While the government’s commitment has raised hopes among residents, the communities that have relied on the Kabba Ferry for generations are now waiting to see construction begin.

For Sillah and other residents, the priority is clear: replacing the ageing ferry with a permanent bridge that can provide safer and more dependable access across the Little Scarcies River.

If completed as announced, the 250-metre Kabba Ferry Bridge would remove one of the region’s longstanding transport constraints and provide a more secure connection for communities in Karene District and beyond.