Resident representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to Sierra Leone, Norihito Yonebayashi, has paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Mr. James Baggie Bio, at his Kissy Road office in Freetown.

During the meeting, Mr. Yonebayashi highlighted JICA’s ongoing interventions in Sierra Leone, particularly in the education and agricultural sectors. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to strengthening the country’s human resource capacity, which he described as a critical focus of JICA’s development support.

Welcoming the JICA delegation, Mr. Bio acknowledged the significant progress made since his appointment on March 7 this year. He commended JICA for its consistent support in enhancing human resource development—an essential pillar of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s “Big Five Game Changer Agenda.”

“Human capital and safer roads go hand-in-hand,” Mr. Bio stated. “No matter the strides in agriculture or education, their success is intricately tied to the condition of our roads and road safety infrastructure.”
In this regard, Mr. Bio outlined key initiatives implemented under his leadership. “We have launched a toll-free line (844) on Africell to ensure swift responses to road safety concerns and emergencies,” he revealed.

He also announced the establishment of a highway management system, with dedicated personnel deployed along the Masiaka–Mile 91 corridor to address road-related incidents in real time.
Impressed by these strides, Mr. Yonebayashi praised the Authority’s proactive approach and recognized road safety as a cornerstone of sustainable national development. He expressed intent to engage the Japanese Embassy for further collaboration, particularly in advancing road safety initiatives.

Following the discussions, SLRSA Deputy Executive Director, Josie Scott Manga, led the JICA team on a tour of the Authority's Motor Vehicle Testing (MOT) facility. The visiting delegation expressed admiration for the facility’s operations and infrastructure.

The visit marks a promising step toward strengthening bilateral cooperation to enhance road safety and contribute to Sierra Leone’s overall national development.

Credit: SLRSA Outreach & Communications Hassan Nelson Barrie Public Relations Unit