An investigation has revealed that Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, and her half-brother, Abdoul Mois Darboe, are constructing a 70-bedroom hotel.

This ambitious project is strategically located on the edge of a lush wetland and close to a thriving business district, making it a significant development in the area.

Construction on the hotel resumed in mid-2019, more than a year into President Julius Maada Bio’s administration, with significant progress made on one of its two four-story buildings.

Darboe claims that the financial support for this hotel and other recent acquisitions, including two upscale apartments in coastal estates, was entirely “self-funded” by his construction company.

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However, an examination of his tax records reveals a troubling lack of documented revenue related to these construction projects. Furthermore, his company, Alphonso King Investment (SL) Ltd., was named the fifth-largest government supplier in 2019, according to Sierra Leone’s Annual Public Procurement Assessment, which is publicly available for 2018 and 2019.

This situation raises questions about the project’s financial transparency and funding sources.