President Julius Maada Bio has officially opened the newly completed Mattru Jong–Senehun Bridge in the southern district of Bonthe. The bridge is expected to improve transport and access for farmers and over 20,000 people in the area.

The 160-metre bridge replaces a dangerous and unreliable manual ferry system across the Jong River, which was especially difficult to use during the rainy season. The project, supported by a $30 million World Bank grant through the Ministry of Agriculture’s SCADeP programme, is expected to boost local trade and ease travel for farmers, schoolchildren, and patients in that part of the country.

“This bridge is not just concrete and steel – it brings dignity, hope, and opportunity to our people,” President Bio said during the commissioning ceremony. He praised the World Bank and local partners for helping bring the project to life, calling it a promise fulfilled under his government’s infrastructure agenda.

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World Bank Country Manager, Dr Abdu Muwonge, said the bridge will greatly help farmers, women, and schoolchildren who have struggled for years with access. Minister of Agriculture, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, also noted that the bridge will encourage more food production by helping farmers move their goods to markets more easily.

While the bridge is a major improvement for the people of Jong Chiefdom and surrounding areas, many farmers across Sierra Leone still face serious challenges. Poor and damaged feeder roads in rural communities make it difficult to transport crops, especially during the wet season. As a result, some produce spoils before reaching the market, and transport costs remain high.

With Sierra Leone’s economy heavily reliant agriculture, farmers continue to call for more road improvements to support their hard work and boost the country’s food supply.