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The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority (NSA), engaged with stakeholders from the Bureh Beach surfing community to promote surfing as a viable sport and economic opportunity.
The engagement held on Friday, 11th April, 2025 aimed to initiate the establishment of a National Surfing Federation in Sierra Leone.
Held at Bureh Beach on the Peninsula in Freetown, the event featured a vibrant surfing exhibition organized by the Sierra Leone Surfing Association, attracting community leaders, youth groups, and government officials.
Abdul Malik Kamara, Senior Tourism, Travel and Exchange Programme Officer, represented the Hon. Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis. He highlighted 2025 as the “Year of Ecotourism” and focused on three core principles, which were Community, Conservation, and Eco-Consciousness.
Kamara stated, “The Ministry’s commitment to developing sports tourism, particularly surfing, aims to create jobs, boost community businesses, attract international tourists, and preserve the country’s unique coastal ecosystems.”
He also pointed out that surfing could provide a sustainable livelihood and help reduce harmful practices like unregulated sand mining, which threaten the environment. Kamara cited past support for events such as the 2024 National Surfing Competition at No.2 Beach and the construction of the Bureh Beach Surfing Facility, built with funds from the World Bank’s SLEDP project.
Emphasizing the need for collaboration, Kamara said, “It is crucial for the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Sports, the NSA, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs to work together in building a sustainable and internationally recognized Surfing Federation in Sierra Leone.”
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Sports, Director Haroun Korjie expressed his apologies for the Minister’s absence. He conveyed enthusiasm for integrating surfing into the national sports framework, stressing the importance of establishing a structured governing body with professional expertise for international recognition. Korjie also directed the Director of Participation and Sustainable Sports to expedite the establishment of the Surfing Federation.
The gathering’s host, the Vice President of the Sierra Leone Surfers Association, expressed gratitude for the government’s support. Reflecting on the community’s journey, he stated, “We were once called ‘sufferers,’ but with this timely intervention, the Surfing Federation will not only legitimise our passion but also end the suffering of surfers across the country.”
The event featured a stunning ocean surfing display led by female surfer Kadiatu Bangura, highlighting the growing inclusivity and talent within the sport. The day’s activities concluded with a guided tour of the new surfing facility at Bureh Beach, marking a promising step forward in Sierra Leone’s ecotourism and sports development initiatives.
