‘GOOD FOR NOTHING’ RMFA & SLRA UNDER FIRE
…As Potholes Take Over
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
The Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) are under fire for what many citizens call a collective failure to fulfill their core responsibilities. Despite billions of old Leones spent annually, the country’s roads remain a treacherous network of potholes and broken promises—none more glaring than the perilous stretch of Old Road in the eastern part of Freetown.
Once a vital artery for commuters and commerce, Old Road has now become a hazard zone. Craters—some large enough to engulf entire tires—dot the road every few meters, causing gridlock, damaging vehicles, and risking lives. For many, the daily commute is a test of endurance and a stark reminder of institutional neglect.
Citizens are asking the right questions: where is the money going, and who is holding these institutions accountable?
The RMFA is tasked with financing road maintenance projects through allocations from the national budget and a levy on every liter of petrol sold in the country. SLRA, meanwhile, is the executing agency responsible for road construction and rehabilitation. On paper, this partnership should ensure timely repairs and sustainable infrastructure. In reality, both institutions appear paralyzed—or worse, complicit in systemic inefficiency.
“The RMFA and SLRA are just two sides of the same broken coin,” said a frustrated commercial driver who plies the Old Road route. “We pay at the pump, we pay with our taxes, and still, we suffer.”
Public outrage has surged in recent months, as the visible decay of roads becomes harder to ignore. Citizens are demanding transparency, audits, and concrete action—not more press statements and vague assurances.
With each new pothole, public trust erodes further. And as the rainy season approaches, the urgency becomes even more pressing.
Billions have been spent. Yet for the average Sierra Leonean, the only visible result is a worsening commute and a growing sense of betrayal.