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The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has wrapped up an intensive eight-day ferry operation that played a central role in the country’s hosting of the 2026 ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit.
From 17 to 24 July 2026, the Authority ran six scheduled crossings each day between the capital and Lungi, where the main summit sessions took place. The service moved Heads of State, government officials, diplomats, journalists and hundreds of delegates across the estuary, forming a backbone of the government’s logistical arrangements for the regional gathering.
Among those who travelled aboard the ferries were President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, and the presidents of The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania and Cabo Verde. The vessels also carried Cabinet members, ECOWAS ministers, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps throughout the summit period .
The operation was driven by the Authority’s Director General, Yankuba Askia Bio, who maintained a visible presence at the terminals and on the MV Muzuk. Rather than overseeing operations from an office, he was on the ground coordinating teams, welcoming dignitaries and motivating staff during the busy schedule.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bonapha, toured the ferry terminals and inspected the MV Muzuk during the summit, describing the Authority’s service and hospitality as “top-notch “.
Staff across SLPHA’s three terminals worked extended hours to manage passenger movement, vehicle loading and unloading, and safety protocols, ensuring that delegates could travel without delays throughout the week-long summit.
The ferry operation did more than move people. Every punctual departure and safe arrival helped project a professional image of Sierra Leone’s institutional capacity to visiting regional leaders and the international community.
The successful logistics support demonstrated that the country can handle the demands of major international events, reinforcing its reputation as a capable host for high-level diplomatic gatherings.
SLPHA has since expressed appreciation to its workforce, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, security agencies and other partners whose contributions made the operation possible.
