President Dr. Julius Maada Bio recently conducted an inspection tour of key heritage and tourism sites, including Bunce Island, the Leicester Peak Viewpoint, and the Tacugama Innovation Centre. The tour aimed to assess progress and potential at these locations across Sierra Leone. The Tacugama Innovation Centre project, a significant development, is planned to include a green park, observation tower, greenhouse, and a visitor centre. Additional features will encompass hiking trails, an amphitheatre, children’s recreational facilities, and a canopy walk, according to project details.
Honoring History at Bunce Island
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio visited Bunce Island, marking the first time a sitting Sierra Leonean President has toured the site in four decades. The island served as a significant British slave trading post from the late seventeenth century. During his visit, President Bio laid a wreath to honor the thousands of enslaved Africans who passed through the island.
President Bio expressed appreciation for restoration efforts, stating, "I want to thank you all for this tremendous job you have done here. This facelift will attract tourists and help reposition Sierra Leone as a tourism destination. However, I urge all of you to keep this place clean and tidy so that it can continue to serve the purpose for which it was built." He also issued a warning, saying, "I want to give a clear warning against encroachment here. The law will take its full course against those who engage in land grabbing in conservation areas."
Boosting Tourism Infrastructure
The Leicester Peak Viewpoint has been designated as one of the Government’s flagship tourism infrastructure projects. This site aims to enhance the country’s appeal to visitors. Additionally, the Tacugama Innovation Centre, upon its completion, is slated to feature a cinema, a library, and a studio. The center will also incorporate a boardroom, a rooftop cafeteria, and dedicated exhibition spaces, expanding its utility beyond previously announced features like a green park and observation tower. These developments are part of broader efforts to upgrade and diversify Sierra Leone's tourism offerings.
Safeguarding Natural Resources
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio's inspection tour, which included visits to Bunce Island, the Leicester Peak Viewpoint, and the Tacugama Innovation Centre, was conducted on Thursday, 11 June 2026. The full tour aimed to assess the status of these key heritage and tourism sites. The President's engagement shows the government's focus on preserving natural resources while also developing infrastructure for tourism. This initiative seeks to balance ecological protection with economic growth through sustainable tourism practices. The sites visited represent key elements of Sierra Leone's natural and historical landscape, necessitating careful management and conservation efforts.
President's Vision and Warnings
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio issued a direct warning against unauthorized occupation and acquisition within protected conservation areas. "I want to give a clear warning against encroachment here," President Bio stated. "The law will take its full course against those who engage in land grabbing in conservation areas." He also thanked those involved in restoration, saying, "I want to thank you all for this tremendous job you have done here. This facelift will attract tourists and help reposition Sierra Leone as a tourism destination. However, I urge all of you to keep this place clean and tidy so that it can continue to serve the purpose for which it was built." President Bio added that "The Tacugama Innovation Centre should be utilized as a space for creativity, conservation, and sustainable development."
