By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, Daily Scope
September 5, 2025
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha, officially deposited the Instrument of Ratification of the African Road Safety Charter at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 5, 2025. This significant milestone marks Sierra Leone as the 14th country to ratify the Charter, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing road safety across the continent.
The ceremony took place at the African Union Directorate of Legal Affairs, where Professor Hajer Gueldich, Legal Counsel and Director for Legal Affairs, welcomed Bhonapha and his delegation. She noted that Sierra Leone’s ratification serves as an encouragement for other member states to follow suit.
Dr. Kamugisha Kazaura, Director of Infrastructure and Energy, congratulated Sierra Leone on this decisive step, stating that it demonstrates the country’s leadership in safeguarding the lives of its citizens and advancing the continental road safety agenda. He emphasized the alarming reality that Africa experiences a disproportionate number of road traffic fatalities despite having the lowest motorization rates globally.
“Road crashes continue to claim the lives of our citizens—especially the young and productive members of our populations—causing immeasurable suffering to families and communities,” Kazaura noted. He added that the Charter provides a framework for strengthening institutions, harmonizing policies, and ensuring accountability in road safety efforts.
Kazaura urged other African Union member states to ratify the Charter promptly, allowing it to enter into force and providing a unified platform to tackle the road safety crisis effectively.
David Niyonsenga, Head of Secretariat at the African Road Safety Observatory, also commended Sierra Leone on this achievement, pledging support for the country’s development of a road safety policy and strategy. “This is not the end, but the beginning of our collaboration,” he assured.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister Bhonapha thanked the African Union Commission for their warm reception and highlighted that the ratification was a promise fulfilled through diligent efforts by his ministry and the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority. He credited the swift ratification process to the political will and support from President Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
Bhonapha reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to working closely with the African Union Commission to promote the Charter’s objectives and encourage other member states to ratify it.
After the ceremony, Bhonapha and his delegation visited Sierra Leone’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the African Union, His Excellency Harold Bundu Saffa, at the embassy. Ambassador Saffa congratulated them on their successful deposit of the Charter and praised their efforts.
The visiting team expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and support received from the embassy staff in facilitating this important achievement.
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