Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday commissioned a new flour milling facility in Cline Town, Freetown, describing the investment as a boost for local production, food security and private sector-led economic growth.
The modern plant, operated by Sierra Leone Flour Mill and owned by businessman Alhaji Amadu Juldeh Sowe, is expected to significantly increase domestic flour output and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bio said the project represented a major step in Sierra Leone’s industrial transformation agenda and aligned with government efforts to expand value-added manufacturing using local and imported raw materials.
“This is not merely the commissioning of infrastructure or the unveiling of a private investment. It is the continuation of a national story of resilience, renewal and economic sovereignty,” the president said.
Bio also referenced the history of flour production in Sierra Leone, noting that the original Freetown Flour Mill, established in 1968 by Seaboard West Africa Limited, had once played a key role in supplying bakeries across the country.
He said the revival and expansion of the facility would help restore domestic production capacity, cut import dependence and improve Sierra Leone’s competitiveness in the regional agro-processing market.
According to company officials, production capacity has increased from 200 metric tonnes to 600 metric tonnes, a move expected to improve supply and potentially lower flour prices in Sierra Leone and neighbouring Liberia and Guinea.
Chief Executive Officer Alhaji Amadu Juldeh Sowe thanked the government for creating what he described as a more enabling environment for business through policy reforms and tax incentives.
Sowe said his rise from baker to factory owner demonstrated the opportunities available through entrepreneurship and perseverance.
World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone Abdu Muwonge said the investment reflected growing collaboration between the government, development partners and the private sector.
He added that the flour mill had benefited from financing and technical support linked to World Bank-backed initiatives and said the project was consistent with Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone agricultural strategy.
The commissioning comes as Sierra Leone seeks to expand local manufacturing, create jobs and reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves caused by heavy import dependence.
