The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has announced a series of operational reforms aimed at accelerating cargo clearance at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, as persistent delays at the countryās main seaport continue to impact importers, traders, and the cost of goods.
In an exclusive interview with Spear News, Director General Yankuba Bio said the Authority is implementing measures to improve efficiency across the port while strengthening collaboration with key institutions involved in the cargo clearance process.
Bio explained that cargo clearance is a multi-agency operation involving several government institutions, stressing that delays at the port cannot be attributed solely to the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority.
He noted that the clearance process encompasses customs assessment, documentation, physical examination, and final exit procedures, with each stage falling under the responsibility of different agencies.
āCargo clearance is a multi-agency process,ā Bio said. āSLPHAās role as the landlord authority is mainly at the final stage, which is the exit gate. We are working to ensure that part moves faster, but we cannot do it alone.ā
He urged importers, clearing agents, and other stakeholders to avoid assigning blame to individual institutions and instead work together to improve coordination throughout the clearance chain.
Responding to concerns that transit cargo destined for Guinea receives preferential treatment over goods intended for Sierra Leone, the Director General dismissed the claim, maintaining that all cargo is processed under the same operational procedures.
According to him, transit containers are transferred to the Inland Container Depot at Hastings immediately after being discharged from vessels, a practice designed to decongest the quay and create additional space for incoming cargo rather than provide preferential treatment.
Bio further explained that the Queen Elizabeth II Quay was constructed several decades ago and was never designed to accommodate the volume of cargo currently passing through the port.
He said modern container vessels now discharge between 1,000 and 2,000 containers during a single call, placing considerable pressure on the portās storage capacity, operational infrastructure, and logistics systems.
The Director General acknowledged that cargo delays sometimes arise from operational bottlenecks but said documentation-related challenges also contribute significantly to prolonged clearance times.
He advised importers and licensed customs brokers to commence pre-clearance procedures before cargo arrives in Sierra Leone by ensuring that invoices are accurate, cargo declarations are correctly submitted, and all required documentation is lodged promptly with the Customs Department of the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
He said timely submission of documents enables customs processing to begin earlier, reducing unnecessary delays once consignments arrive at the port.
The Authority also confirmed that consignments containing perishable goods continue to receive priority handling to minimise spoilage and reduce financial losses for importers.
Bio disclosed that under his leadership, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority has introduced extended operational hours to increase cargo handling capacity, strengthened coordination with the National Revenue Authority, the National Protected Areas Authority (NPAA), where applicable, and shipping lines, while improving cargo handling operations at the quay to shorten vessel turnaround times.
He added that dedicated customer help desks have been established at the port to assist importers experiencing clearance challenges, while a joint taskforce comprising representatives of the Authority and the importing community has been created to improve communication, resolve operational concerns, and ensure that documentation is completed in a timely manner.
According to Bio, the reforms are part of a broader mandate entrusted to him by President Julius Maada Bio to modernise the countryās principal seaport and improve service delivery for businesses and the wider public.
āThe team is working day and night. Not every delay comes from SLPHA,ā he said.
The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority reaffirmed its commitment to making the Queen Elizabeth II Quay more efficient, transparent, and business-friendly through sustained operational improvements and stronger collaboration with all agencies involved in the cargo clearance process.