Beverage Industry in Sierra Leone Under Fire
By: Edward Kabba Sesay
At the 35th Civil Society Conference held in The Gambia, Sierra Leone’s delegation made waves—particularly through a hard-hitting address by Ibrahim Bai Koroma, Executive Director of the Citizens Rights Network Sierra Leone. His presentation focused on the underperformance of Africa’s beverage industry, using Sierra Leone as a key example, and called for sweeping reforms across the sector.
Koroma singled out Kings Production, a prominent beverage company in Sierra Leone, as a case study to highlight both progress and limitations. He acknowledged the company’s strides toward aligning with ISO standards and expanding its regional reach. However, he emphasized that a single company cannot carry the weight of a nation’s entire beverage export capacity.
We cannot rely on one factory to represent an entire nation’s industrial output,” Koroma stated. “Africa’s beverage sector, in many parts, is underperforming and in desperate need of investment, innovation, and modernization to meet global standards.”
His frank remarks surprised many delegates and sparked a wave of discussion among civil society organizations (CSOs) across the continent. Several participants called for independent investigations and fact-finding missions to assess the realities of beverage production in Africa.
Koroma also pointed out the disparity between African and Western nations in terms of beverage innovation, research, and export development. He urged both local investors and international development agencies to rethink their approach toward industrial support.
The beverage industry isn’t just about refreshment it contributes significantly to nutrition and public health,” he said. “Drinks enriched with essential nutrients support tissue and cell development. Yet, investment in beverage research and development in Africa remains shockingly low.”
He went on to criticize the weak regulatory structures and inadequate policy support that have stifled the sector’s growth, arguing for a unified approach from government, the private sector, and civil society to build a more robust manufacturing and export ecosystem.
Despite his strong critique, Koroma expressed optimism for Sierra Leone’s future.
We are a nation of intelligence and innovation,” he concluded. “But potential without action is meaningless. It’s time to move from discussion to real implementation.”
Koroma thanked the international delegates and civil society partners for the platform to present Sierra Leone’s 2025 Beverage Sector Report. His address left a strong impression and re-centered the conversation around industrial development and export readiness in West Africa.
