Mamamah International Airport
{{EngvarB|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Mamamah International Airport
| nativename =
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
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| IATA = none
| ICAO = none
| pushpin_map = Sierra Leone
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Mamamah International Airport in Sierra Leone
Placement on map is approximate
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| type = Public, civilian
| owner = Government of Sierra Leone
| operator = Sierra Leone Airports Authority
| city-served = Freetown & Koyo Town
Sierra Leone
| location = Songo Village, Port Loko District
| elevation-f =
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| coordinates = {{coord|08|22|49|N|12|54|20|W|type:airport_region:SL|display=inline|name=Mamamah International Airport}}
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| metric-elev =26
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| r1-surface = Asphalt
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Mamamah International Airport {{airport codes|none|none}} was an airport under construction in Sierra Leone. It was part of the infrastructure to be built as Sierra Leone prepared to shift its political and administrative capital, away from over-crowded Freetown.{{cite web | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Sierra-Leone-launches-Chinese-funded-airport-/2558-4332072-qvhsx5z/index.html | title=Sierra Leone launches $318 million Chinese-funded airport
|access-date=27 March 2018 |date=7 March 2018 |newspaper=The EastAfrican |first=Kemo |last=Cham |location=Nairobi}}
Location
Mamamah Airport was to be located in Mamboima, near Songo Village, Koya Chiefdom in Port Loko District,{{cite web|url=http://cocorioko.net/president-koroma-commissions-mamamah-airport-project/ |title=President Koroma commissions Mamamah airport project |access-date=26 March 2018 |date=3 March 2018 | publisher=Cocorioko.net |author=State House Communication Unit | location=Freetown}} approximately {{convert|50|km|0}}, by road, south-east of Freetown, the capital and largest city in the West African country.{{cite web| access-date=27 March 2018 |date=27 March 2018 | url=https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Sierra_Leone_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Freetown%2C%20Sierra%20Leone&toplace=Songo%2C%20Sierra%20Leone&dt1=ChIJMwbms1bCBA8RHjwBr8jIt5c&dt2=ChIJ8aa0D4H3BA8RD7uK6BgzM5k |title=Distance between Freetown, Sierra Leone and Songo, Sierra Leone |publisher=Globefeed.com |author=Globefeed.com}} The average elevation of Songo Village is {{convert|26|m|0}}, above sea level.{{cite web| url=http://sl.geoview.info/songo,2403753 |title=The Elevation of Songo Town, Port Loko District, Northern Province |date=27 March 2018 |access-date=27 March 2018 |publisher=Geoview.info |
author=GeoView.Info}}
==Overview==
This airport would be a large international airport capable of handling large passenger and cargo aircraft. The airport development was expected to be followed by the construction of a new State House, parliament building, ministry buildings, court houses and other support facilities. The developments were intended to improve Sierra Leone's competitiveness as the country prepares to become a middle income country by 2035.{{cite web| url=http://www.constructionkenya.com/5362/mamamah-airport-sierra-leone/ |title=Work Begins on Mamamah Airport in Sierra Leone | last=Mwangi |first=Peter |date=21 March 2018 |access-date=21 March 2018 |publisher=ConstructionKenya.com |location=Nairobi}}
Other related development projects are the planned bridging of Tagrin Bay, which separates Freetown from the peninsula on which Freetown International Airport is located, and the ongoing expansion of the port of Freetown.
The Mamamah airport contract has been terminated.
A SLPP government led by President Maada Bio cancelled the contract with the Chinese construction company, that was contracted to build the airport.
Construction
China Railway International Group (CRI), a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited (CREC),{{cite web|url=https://www.cccme.cn/shop/cccme9772/index.aspx |
title=Company Profile: China Railway International Group |
date=September 2021 |work=China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) |author=CCCME |access-date=18 September 2021 |location=Beijing, China}} had been contracted to build the airport at a cost of US$318 million, borrowed from the Exim Bank of China. Work began in March 2018 and completion was expected in 2022.
Controversy
This development project had drawn criticism from the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF){{cite web|url=http://www.africareview.com/business-finance/Sierra-Leone-launches-Chinese-funded-airport/979184-4333716-jcjdd9z/index.html |title=Sierra Leone launches $318 million Chinese-funded airport |author=Kemo Cham |location=Nairobi |publisher=Africa Review |access-date=27 March 2018 |date=8 March 2018}} because of the level of debt that the country would be left with.
Cancellation
The project was cancelled in October 2018, following a change in government/president. The new Aviation Minister Kabineh Kallon said that the president saw no need for a new airport and preferred to refurbish the airport at Lungi (which officially became Freetown International Airport) and possibly build a bridge to link Lungi directly to Freetown.{{cite web |title=Mamamah airport: Sierra Leone cancels China-funded project |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45809810 |website=BBC News}} The Lungi Bridge project was later announced by the president.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180327144728/http://standardtimespress.org/?p=4490 A Modern Airport Is A Gateway To Prosperity]}}
{{Airports in Sierra Leone}}
{{Port Loko District}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Airports in Sierra Leone