By: Zacharia Jalloh, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
SLPTA Office, Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown, 5 December 2025 – The Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority (SLPTA) convened a high-level consultative meeting with transport stakeholders at its office on Wallace Johnson Street, Bus Station, bringing together transport operators, NGOs, unions, journalists, and civil society organizations.
The meeting focused on discussing two draft regulations designed to regulate the public transport sector: the Public Transport Tariffs and Fares Regulations 2025 and the Public Transport Licensing Regulations 2025.
Addressing the gathering, SLPTA Director General Issac Ken-Greene welcomed stakeholders and expressed gratitude for their presence at short notice. He said that the public transport sector had long operated without a regulatory body, unlike the media, telecommunications, and aviation sectors. “The Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority Act 2023, enacted on 24 April 2023, established SLPTA to regulate public transport. This was a timely and transformational step intended to bring the sector to international standards. Sierra Leone is set to experience a transformation in public transport,” he stated.
Deputy Director General Christian Ngombu Esq. presented the two regulations for public scrutiny, emphasizing that the consultation was essential for gathering stakeholder feedback before submission to Parliament for approval. He noted that the regulations are critical to implementing the SLPTA Act effectively, establishing standard procedures for public transport, integrating technological tools, enhancing operators’ work, and protecting passengers from extortion.
On the Tariffs and Fares Regulations, Ngombu Esq. explained that the aim is to ensure affordability, cost-reflectiveness, service quality, predictability, transparency, and financial sustainability in Sierra Leone’s public transport system. “These regulations ensure fares remain fair to passengers while allowing operators to cover reasonable costs and reinvest in service improvement,” he said.
The draft regulations apply to road-based transport services, including buses, minibuses, taxis, tricycles, and motorcycles, and do not cover air or maritime transport. A notable feature is the social protection scheme, which proposes concessionary fares for vulnerable groups such as students, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The government will compensate operators for up to 50% of the costs incurred under this scheme.
Regarding the Licensing Regulations, Ngombu Esq. highlighted that they provide a framework for passenger road transport activities, ensuring efficient, sustainable, and orderly operation of public transport services. The licensing framework will regulate vehicle types and classifications suitable for public transport operations.
Stakeholders actively engaged in the discussions, offering constructive contributions. Many expressed gratitude for the consultation process, while others recommended additional outreach to transport owners and operators prior to the regulations being taken to Parliament.
The consultative meeting underscores SLPTA’s commitment to transforming Sierra Leone’s public transport sector through effective regulation, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of a more organized and sustainable system.
