Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rtd. Col. Amb. Alhaji Fanday Turay, joins other Ministers of Transport within African countries in strategizing transport, transcontinental and interregional infrastructure, and energy within the framework of Africa’s Agenda 2063.

The Minister of Transport and Aviation in collaboration with other Ministers of Transport within Africa, and partner International Organizations including the AU Commission, NEPAD, JIKA, and the UN have approved the blueprint which was developed by a Specialized Technical Committee on transport, transcontinental and interregional infrastructure, and energy.

The Agenda 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the Pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress, and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.

Among other things within the transport sector, the member countries agreed on a Single African Air Market that will lower the burden of travel within Africa, a complete digitalization of seaports for enhanced productivity and cost efficiency, a harmonized road safety framework with the objective of reducing road accidents and incidents, a revised African maritime charter, a highway and railroad master plan that connects all of Africa by road and rail.

When all are realized, the benefits for Sierra Leone include heightened and cheaper passenger connectivity to other African countries, increased intra-African trade, increased tourism, and economic growth.

The Minister was accompanied by Dr. Adams B. Steven, who is also a member of the Specialized Technical Committee that developed the strategic plan.