Post a comment 
Public concern has intensified in Makeni following reports of an unauthorised construction activity at Wusum Field, with residents, activists, and local stakeholders questioning the legitimacy and approval process behind the development.
The disputed structure, reportedly a shop or extension being built near the historic football pitch, is said to be separate from a $95,000 fencing and sanitation project supported by Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) President Babadi Kamara.
The SLFA-backed project is being implemented by a five-member committee tasked with overseeing fencing, dressing room refurbishment, and sanitation improvements at the facility.
Speaking on Hope Radio 93.3 FM on Saturday, 2 May 2026, committee member Hon. Mohamed Papa Bangura clarified that the committee’s mandate does not include any form of shop or commercial construction.
“Our mandate is strictly fencing, dressing room facelift, and sanitation. We are not involved in any extension or shop construction,” he stated.
Despite this clarification, construction work has reportedly continued on a separate structure without any publicly identified sponsor or official supervising authority.
Efforts to obtain clarification from the North-East Region Football Association (NERFA), which is believed to have oversight responsibility, have so far been unsuccessful. The Bombali District Football Association (BDFA), however, has distanced itself from the project, directing inquiries to the regional body.
Human rights activist Ibrahim Daramy, also speaking on the same radio programme, described the development as “faceless and concerning,” warning that it raises serious questions about governance and the protection of public assets.
He noted that apart from the FIFA-supported playing surface, Wusum Field falls under the jurisdiction of Makeni City Council and is designated for sporting and community use.
Residents have also expressed concern over the lack of public consultation and clarity regarding land ownership and project approval, calling for urgent intervention by relevant authorities.
Makeni City Council’s Information, Education and Communication Officer, Edward Kpukumu, confirmed that the Council was not aware of the construction and promised to investigate the matter.
The development comes shortly after Mayor Abu Bakarr Kamara returned to office following the end of a brief political boycott of local governance activities.
Meanwhile, a representative of the landowners has stated that they were not informed of the project and are prepared to challenge it through the relevant authorities, including NERFA and Makeni City Council, who were involved in earlier negotiations with SLFA regarding the pitch.
Wusum Field remains one of Makeni’s most important sporting and community landmarks. The emergence of an unauthorised structure has now raised broader concerns about land governance, institutional oversight, and the protection of public facilities.
