The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has received cross-section of participants for the Budapest-Bamako Freetown finish line RALLY at the Sierra Leone-Guinea border in Kambia. The participants were received by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, William I.K Robinson on behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone.
566 participants from over 40 countries with 242 vehicles and motorbikes have entered Sierra Leone through Balamuya and Madina Oula respectively to participate in the 2022 Budapest-Bamako Freetown finish line rally. The participants left Hungary for Sierra Leone on the 21th October, 2022. They journeyed through Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, West Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea into Sierra Leone. They covered a total of 11,000 kilometres to get into Sierra Leone. The participants overnight in Magbando village in Masiaka where they interacted and merry with the community people. They are heading to Bureh beach today 7th November for a beach fiesta and then attend the finish line event at Gigibonta car park, Lumley beach on the 8th November 2022.
The Director of Budapest-Bamako Rally, Andrew Szabo said Sierra Leone was a natural choice for the finish line as the government and people of Sierra Leone have been very hospitable and premium has been place on the Tourism industry. He mentioned that they were pleased to be in Sierra Leone and there are plans for more finish line event in Sierra Leone.
The rally participants donated educational materials, laptops to Emil Torday Elementary School in Mangbando village, Koya Chiefdom, Portloko District.