The headquarters of the Sierra Leone Postal Services, SALPOST, on Siaka Stevens Street, once a symbol of national communication, has deteriorated into what workers and customers describe as an eyesore, exposing what many call years of administrative neglect under current Managing Director Mr Brima Kaitta
An investigation carried out by The Informant found the main building in a state of near-collapse. Portions of the roof have been cleared off, leaving offices exposed to rain and dust. Broken ceilings, leaking walls and broken vehicles have become the daily working reality for staff who say they have been pleading for repairs since Mr Brima Kaitta took office.
“Since he came in, nothing has changed,” a senior staff member who asked not to be named said. “No facelift, no reforms, no plan. The building is falling apart and so is the service.
One of the staff interviewed described poor working conditions, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of basic maintenance. Desks are overcrowded, equipment is obsolete, and sections of the building have been cordoned off over safety concerns.
Some employees told The Informant that they are considering resigning to claim their benefits, citing low motivation and what they described as a leadership vacuum. “People are tired,” another staff member said. “You come to work every day in a building that is collapsing around you, with no hope that anything will be fixed.”
Attempts to reach the MD’s office for comment were unsuccessful at press time, as this was said to be out of the country.
The decay at headquarters mirrors a wider decline in service delivery, according to customers and postal users.
Investigations show customer turnout at the Siaka Stevens Street office has dropped sharply. Long queues have been replaced by empty counters. Traders, pensioners, and businesses who once relied on SALPOST for mail, parcels, and money transfer services say they have shifted to private courier services due to delays and poor customer care.
“Why would I come here?” said Aminata Kamara, a trader who used to send parcels weekly, The place looks abandoned.”
Postal experts note that without urgent reforms and infrastructure investment, SALPOST risks becoming completely irrelevant in a market now dominated by private logistics firms and digital payment platforms.
Sources within the institution allege that no structural reforms or strategic initiatives have been undertaken since Mr Brima Kaitta assumed leadership as Managing Director. It was revealed that there has been no staff welfare program, no building rehabilitation plan, and no effort to modernize operations to compete with private operators.
The situation has raised questions about oversight and accountability at the state-owned enterprise, which is mandated to provide universal postal service across Sierra Leone.
Labor observers warn that if conditions are not addressed, a wave of resignations could further cripple operations and deepen public distrust in the postal service.
As rain continues to beat through the exposed roof of the Siaka Stevens Street headquarters, staff and customers are asking the same question: who will take responsibility for saving SALPOST before the building and the institution collapse completely?. Our investigation continues.