SLPHA Boss Yankuba Bio Clarifies Port Operations, Urges Fact-Based Reporting
Sahid Bangura The Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Yankuba Askia Bio, has clarified the responsibilities of institutions operating at the Port of Freetown while urging journalists to verify information and understand the respective roles of port stakeholders before publishing reports.
Bio made the clarification during a media engagement with port stakeholders at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, where he addressed recent developments in port operations, cargo clearance and the Authority’s responsibilities under the current landlord port model.
A key issue discussed was the recent improvement in cargo movement at the Port of Freetown. Bio said coordinated interventions by SLPHA and other stakeholders involved in the cargo clearance chain had significantly reduced congestion at the port.
He attributed the improvement to the combined efforts of SLPHA, the National Revenue Authority’s Customs and Excise Department, Freetown Terminal Limited (FTL), Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal (NSBT) and other port stakeholders. He said the progress had resulted in the Port of Freetown being removed from the list of congested ports in Africa.
The SLPHA boss also encouraged importers and cargo owners with consignments awaiting clearance to take advantage of the available space and complete the necessary procedures to collect their goods.
Bio further disclosed that plans were underway to introduce a single-window system for cargo clearance and forwarding, with implementation expected to begin in March 2027. He said the digital system would allow users to complete a significant part of the clearance process electronically, reducing the need to move physically between different offices.
According to Bio, the initiative forms part of SLPHA’s broader efforts to modernise port operations, improve efficiency and advance digitalisation within the maritime sector.
The Director General also explained the Authority’s responsibilities under the landlord port model. He said SLPHA previously operated largely as a service port, undertaking many operational functions itself, but now focuses on regulation, supervision, infrastructure, oversight, safety and security compliance, as well as creating an enabling environment for concessionaires and other operators.
He stressed that SLPHA does not directly undertake clearing and forwarding activities at the Port of Freetown, noting that several institutions and private-sector operators have distinct responsibilities within the cargo clearance process.
NSBT handles bulk and break-bulk cargo under its concession agreement, while FTL manages containerised cargo and part of the break-bulk segment. The NRA’s Customs and Excise Department is responsible for collecting government revenue on imported goods, while Integrated Trade Services (ITS) handles container scanning. Logistics Solution Services (LSS) provides cargo tracking, while haulage services are undertaken by the Indigenous Transport Owners Association and private investors.
Bio used the engagement to reject an online publication alleging that he had regularly visited the port at midnight between 2022 and 2025, halted operations, and personally facilitated cargo clearance outside established procedures with the assistance of military personnel.
Describing the allegation as untrue, Bio pointed out that he became Director General of SLPHA in October 2023 and was therefore not serving in that position in 2022. He also noted that 24-hour operations at the Port of Freetown only commenced in 2026.
Deputy Commissioner Kpana Conteh of the NRA Customs and Excise Department, alongside other port stakeholders present, supported Bio’s position, stressing that cargo clearance is subject to established procedures. Conteh said no individual, including the SLPHA Director General, could bypass the required processes.
ITS General Manager John Brima similarly dismissed the publication, stating that the claim did not reflect actual operations at the Port of Freetown.
Bio therefore called on journalists to exercise greater diligence when reporting on port operations and other matters of national economic importance. He urged media practitioners to verify facts, dates and official records and to seek clarification from relevant institutions before publishing allegations.
Captain Fabjanko Kokan of AGL also urged journalists to maintain professional and balanced reporting, noting that inaccurate publications could affect not only the reputation of SLPHA officials but also that of international and multinational companies operating within the port community.
The stakeholders further reaffirmed the Port of Freetown’s zero-tolerance position on illegal drugs and other maritime crimes. Brima explained that suspicious cargo identified through established checks and due-diligence procedures is referred to the appropriate security and law-enforcement institutions for further investigation and action within their respective mandates.
He added that port operators do not have the legal authority to make pronouncements on suspicious goods intercepted at the quay, stressing the importance of allowing the relevant security and law-enforcement agencies to handle such matters.
The engagement ended with a renewed call for stronger cooperation between the media and the port community. Bio reaffirmed SLPHA’s commitment to transparency, improved service delivery and continued engagement with journalists, while noting that the port community maintains an open-door policy through its Media and Public Relations Unit under the Company Secretary’s Department.